RWS Diana 34

[LaneP]

I took out 2 squirrels in the backyard yesterday (about 20 yard shots), using my old .22 cal RWS 34. This pellet rifle has been under-appreciated over the years. I bought it in the 90's from an LGS near here. It hasn't been shot a ton, but when the kids were little we would set up targets in the backyard and I would do the cocking/loading and they did the shooting (that was my workout for the day).



I'm a novice on airgun knowledge, and didn't know till relatively recently they have rifles you charge up with compressed air. Those sound like they might be interesting. This particular RWS was made in W. Germany and I have no idea how it compares to later models or if it's still in production. Where I live currently they built some new houses down the hill from me a few years ago (one occupied by a state trooper btw). They are still about 100 yds away with woods in the way, but I have to be extra careful nowadays, and these squirrels wandered into the "danger zone" where I could safely take a shot. One punched out on the spot, and then later when the other came along he made it to the edge of the woods before expiring.



While I was out today I chronographed 6 of the same type of anti-squirrel projectiles used yesterday, the RWS Super-H point. I randomly weighed a couple and they came in at 14gr. Velocities were pretty consistent at 701, 709, 708, 701, 712, 709.

That's a Bushell Banner 2.5x shotgun scope, which I understand is not correct for airguns due to its construction, but it's been holding up for a long time. I suppose if I break it, it will be time to upgrade.

Anyone else have one of these and/or any tips, tricks or insider secrets I need to know? Thanks all.

 

[Armored farmer]

I took out 2 squirrels in the backyard yesterday (about 20 yard shots), using my old .22 cal RWS 34. This pellet rifle has been under-appreciated over the years. I bought it in the 90's from an LGS near here. It hasn't been shot a ton, but when the kids were little we would set up targets in the backyard and I would do the cocking/loading and they did the shooting (that was my workout for the day).

View attachment 1085252

I'm a novice on airgun knowledge, and didn't know till relatively recently they have rifles you charge up with compressed air. Those sound like they might be interesting. This particular RWS was made in W. Germany and I have no idea how it compares to later models or if it's still in production. Where I live currently they built some new houses down the hill from me a few years ago (one occupied by a state trooper btw). They are still about 100 yds away with woods in the way, but I have to be extra careful nowadays, and these squirrels wandered into the "danger zone" where I could safely take a shot. One punched out on the spot, and then later when the other came along he made it to the edge of the woods before expiring.

View attachment 1085253

While I was out today I chronographed 6 of the same type of anti-squirrel projectiles used yesterday, the RWS Super-H point. I randomly weighed a couple and they came in at 14gr. Velocities were pretty consistent at 701, 709, 708, 701, 712, 709.

That's a Bushell Banner 2.5x shotgun scope, which I understand is not correct for airguns due to its construction, but it's been holding up for a long time. I suppose if I break it, it will be time to upgrade.

Anyone else have one of these and/or any tips, tricks or insider secrets I need to know? Thanks all.

View attachment 1085254

Yes!
Order a pellet pen!

It's like a speedloader for pellets!
Cheap....
I think Amazon...but maybe it was airgun depot? I don't recall. It holds 10 pellets. A couple of them would be perfect for a squirrel hunt.

 

[LaneP]

Yes!
Order a pellet pen!

It's like a speedloader for pellets!
Cheap....
I think Amazon...but maybe it was airgun depot? I don't recall. It holds 10 pellets. A couple of them would be perfect for a squirrel hunt.
View attachment 1085387

I'm all over that one, that is a great concept. Thanks AF!

EDIT: just ordered it

 

[Remington1911]

The pivot points but a little drop of oil, not in the chamber itself, but on the barrel where it moves to where you cock it. Metal to metal contact and some kind of lube is good here.

 

[tominboise]

I have a 34 that I have shot thousands of pellets through in my basement. As mentioned, oil the pivot once in awhile. I don't clean mine until accuracy goes south. That means I've cleaned it once or maybe twice as long as I've owned it. Wipe it down when done to keep the outside looking good and check the action screws for looseness every so often (another thing to check if your groups start growing).

 

[LaneP]

I have a 34 that I have shot thousands of pellets through in my basement. As mentioned, oil the pivot once in awhile. I don't clean mine until accuracy goes south. That means I've cleaned it once or maybe twice as long as I've owned it. Wipe it down when done to keep the outside looking good and check the action screws for looseness every so often (another thing to check if your groups start growing).

Good info, thanks.

 

[Remington1911]

For cleaning grab a bore snake in your caliber, just drag it through a time or two, all you need. Let in pellets is pretty soft and it will come out pretty easy. But like suggested only do it if things start to go south.....and it might take years for that to happen even if you shoot a tin a week.

 

[jmorris]

I'm a novice on airgun knowledge, and didn't know till relatively recently they have rifles you charge up with compressed air. Those sound like they might be interesting.

Yeah, after I got into PCP’s I loaded out my 34 to a friend of mine.



The first 4 plates on that rack are just under 2” in diameter but they have greater accuracy than that.

 

[LaneP]

Yeah, after I got into PCP’s I loaded out my 34 to a friend of mine.



The first 4 plates on that rack are just under 2” in diameter but they have greater accuracy than that.

Nice setup, something like that could be in my future.

 

[SSBN617b]

Those Diana 34’s are great hunting rifles. Over the years I had a .177,.20 and a .22. After looking back at my airgun journey , the .22 would have been the last to sell.

 

[LaneP]

Those Diana 34’s are great hunting rifles. Over the years I had a .177,.20 and a .22. After looking back at my airgun journey , the .22 would have been the last to sell.

I've got it leaned up against the door frame as we speak and a pellet pen rubber banded to it, thanks to the suggestion of @Armored farmer. Since the first post I took out another critter of furry grey fuzzy tail variety.

 

[Smaug]

I have a few PCP air rifles; they're great. Compared to a springer, they feel like cheating. So powerful and so accurate. (relatively speaking)
They're cheap to feed and not regulated too harshly, like firearms are. With a firearm, we pay one price, then keep paying and paying for ammo and range time.

You can pump them up with a high pressure hand pump. This is a whole body workout. It looks like an old-fashioned bike bump, but it's a LOT more effort.
Or you can get a high pressure air tank, like the ones firemen use. Or, they're starting to make high pressure air compressors that are more affordable.

They're deadly on squirrels, who make pests of themselves pretty readily, as well as on invasive birds like English Sparrows and European Starlings. I took down a couple of raccoons this season too; they're even worse than squirrels.

The accuracy standard with a PCP airgun is 1/2" group at 50 yards. That's hard to achieve with a .177 or lower power .22, but pretty easy with a PCP .22.

You'll see that I originally joined this forum 18 years ago. I haven't been active for the last 5+ because of airguns. The quietness and ability to shoot in my back yard are hard to resist!

 

[LaneP]

I have a few PCP air rifles; they're great. Compared to a springer, they feel like cheating. So powerful and so accurate. (relatively speaking)
They're cheap to feed and not regulated too harshly, like firearms are. With a firearm, we pay one price, then keep paying and paying for ammo and range time.

You can pump them up with a high pressure hand pump. This is a whole body workout. It looks like an old-fashioned bike bump, but it's a LOT more effort.
Or you can get a high pressure air tank, like the ones firemen use. Or, they're starting to make high pressure air compressors that are more affordable.

They're deadly on squirrels, who make pests of themselves pretty readily, as well as on invasive birds like English Sparrows and European Starlings. I took down a couple of raccoons this season too; they're even worse than squirrels.

The accuracy standard with a PCP airgun is 1/2" group at 50 yards. That's hard to achieve with a .177 or lower power .22, but pretty easy with a PCP .22.

You'll see that I originally joined this forum 18 years ago. I haven't been active for the last 5+ because of airguns. The quietness and ability to shoot in my back yard are hard to resist!

Great info on the PCP guns. I do have a 6 gallon, 150 psi air compressor to run nail guns and inflate tires, would that suffice to charge a PCP?

 

[Smaug]

Great info on the PCP guns. I do have a 6 gallon, 150 psi air compressor to run nail guns and inflate tires, would that suffice to charge a PCP?

No. Compressors for PCP airguns usually go up to at least 4,000 psi. Compressors for pneumatic tools usually top out at about 150 psi.

There is one compressor, called the Shoebox, that uses a regular tool compressor as the first stage and then it provides the rest of the compression from there. The only problem is that they cost as much as a dedicated high-pressure air compressor, so it’s not worth the money anymore.

here’s one that’s worth looking at:
https://m.vevor.com/pcp-air-compres...Ld7b6DnjNuvVdlN8ej9Vn2CjUEL6z6AwaApQ_EALw_wcB

 

[Smaug]

None of this is intended to put down spring piston air rifles. They are simple and reliable, and they do the job well. They don’t need any support equipment, which is a huge benefit sometimes. All you need is a ton of pellets and you’re ready to rock.

One thing to keep in mind with the spring piston air rifles is that they are whole sensitive: which means if you change your hold, then the point of impact also changes. This is because the piston is rattling around while the pallet is still in the barrel.

 

[LaneP]

None of this is intended to put down spring piston air rifles. They are simple and reliable, and they do the job well. They don’t need any support equipment, which is a huge benefit sometimes. All you need is a ton of pellets and you’re ready to rock.

One thing to keep in mind with the spring piston air rifles is that they are whole sensitive: which means if you change your hold, then the point of impact also changes. This is because the piston is rattling around while the pallet is still in the barrel.

All info appreciated. One day I'll get smarter on the PCP's and see if one is in my future.

As to springer's, I also have a Beeman Mach 12.5 in .22. Compared to my svelte, easy to handle Diana, it's a brute. It basically sits in my closet for the time being. I had no idea how unwieldy it was going to be. When I first shot it, the velocities for the pellets I was testing (can't remember weight at the moment) were in the upper 800 to low 900 fps range, and it cracked like I was shooting a .22LR.

I like the velocities it gives but the crack is a little much, considering where the neighbors are situated. I just don't want them to think I'm shooting a firearm and freak out. The Diana hits with decent enough power but you would never mistake it for a .22LR.

 

[LaneP]

Whelp...this has all gotten me interested in comparing my Beeman Mach 12.5 to the RWS 34. I haven't shot the Beeman in at least 7 or more years. It is a workout to cock, pretty much as I remembered, except I'm older and weaker now

I found the best way for me was to plant the butt on the ground then use both hands and arms to break it in half and get the barrel to the catch point. If shooting were exercise, we would call this the "Beeman Mach 12.5 Workout" and sell DVD's on late night television.

Velocities at 10 feet were pretty darn consistent. The 14gr RWS Super-H-Point went 867,868,867,865,865,860 for an average of 865 fps, about 160 fps faster than the Diana.

The heavy 21gr Beeman Kodiak dome-nosed pellet went 724,725,723,724,732,726 for an average of 725 fps.

I'm going to group it at 20 yards this weekend and if it holds up to minute-of-squirrel accuracy standards, I'll add it to my battery. The way it jolts on spring decompression, I'm doubting it's going to outgroup the Diana, but the extra punch will extend my range, so I'm interested regardless.

 

[Russ57]

The Diana/RWS 34/36 air gun was probably the most widely bought "first serious" air gun back in the day. The best thing you could do is install a Jim Maccari tune up kit. Jim has been at it a long time. Vortex is another option these days but I have no experience. You will need to build a spring compressor but that is easily done by cutting the end of a 8" C-clamp and screwing it to a 2 X 6.

Diana was the budget option German air gun. The Feinwerkbau is tops and Weihrauch is next. FWB dropped their sport/hunting rifles but I see they recently brought the 124 back. BSA and now Air Arms are excellent UK offerings. These are the older established names in springers (I guess I should add Gamo from Spain as they have been around since the 1960's). PCP's are another game with a lot of new names. Be advised a lot of names make nothing and just import or have guns made to their specs.

 

[LaneP]

The Diana/RWS 34/36 air gun was probably the most widely bought "first serious" air gun back in the day. The best thing you could do is install a Jim Maccari tune up kit. Jim has been at it a long time. Vortex is another option these days but I have no experience. You will need to build a spring compressor but that is easily done by cutting the end of a 8" C-clamp and screwing it to a 2 X 6.

Diana was the budget option German air gun. The Feinwerkbau is tops and Weihrauch is next. FWB dropped their sport/hunting rifles but I see they recently brought the 124 back. BSA and now Air Arms are excellent UK offerings. These are the older established names in springers (I guess I should add Gamo from Spain as they have been around since the 1960's). PCP's are another game with a lot of new names. Be advised a lot of names make nothing and just import or have guns made to their specs.

Great info, thanks. Lately I've been going back and forth between the 34 and my Beeman RS3 (Mach 12.5) .22.

Recently grabbed some H&N Baracuda Hunter pellets that are 18.21gr. The 34 kicks those out at an average 594 fps but the RS3 pushes them out at 774 fps. Both air guns will put them in a quarter at 15 yds if I do my part, but the 34 is a whole lot easier to handle and to hit with, with a great trigger.

Thanks for the info on rebuilding. So far, they both seem to be performing well, but good to know they can be rehabbed if things start to go downhill.

 

[plumberroy]

I have a RWS model 34 in 177 . I have sent trash pandas to the great dump in the sky with it