RWS/Diana 54 Airking- some observations/ramblings

[jonnyone]

A very interesting post. It is pleasing to read about high quality rifles other than HW and, in my (humble) opinion, Diana's Original 45 was one of the best air rifles ever made; it is unfortunate they did not upgrade and keep the model going. I rather became lost when they introduced so many alternatives, such as their range with thirty something or other - poor marketing in my view. Everyone had heard of the 45.

There is presumably quite a curvature in the pellet flight on a .25 calibre. If sighted at 30 yds, there must surely be an enormous hold-under and hold-over at 20 yds and 40 yds.

Thanks Andrew and all.
Yes this 54 certainly has the right build quality and tolerances seem excellent. Like many factory production guns it could do with a spit n polish and relube- but as this is one of the better ones I've encountered of late I'm in no rush to have the gun apart.

The trajectory is loopy as to be expected and its the reason I've robbed a Hawke MAP scope off one of the other guns onto this so I can get accustomed to some aim points at varying ranges. As has been mentioned in practically every .25 calibre thread likely ever posted here I intend to limit hunting range. To be honest I do so nowadays anyhow- irrespective of calibre. I havent done any hard and fast calculations on holdover/under Andrew. Just zeroed around the 20 yards and taken it from there. I did however step things up to the 30 yard mark last weekend and groups achieved were not disimilar to what I can achieve in other calibres (notwithstanding the large impact area) Its never going to be used out to 40 yards though. Ever. I'm happy for close in quarry- such as squirrel and crow for now. It would be good for rat too- but I rarely get the opportunity these days it would seem.

Like you I greatly enjoy the look and feel of Dianas, but as you say a number of models are simply a play on a base model. The 34 for example crops up in a multitude of guises and I for one think that Diana could rationalise things on this front.

The 45 is certainly an all time classic and here again Diana were one of the early (but not only) manufacturers to go off the beaten path and introduce a .20 calibre model. I think all the way back in those days a .25 model would have been a step too far for the times- but I'm sure would have been an equally worthy gun.

Dave

[oldcurmudgeon]

Yes it is 😊

[jonnyone]

Yes it is 😊

What's the story behind that one mate? Date wise and its background (if you.dont.mind me asking)? Contrary to what I posted above this one is actually 04 2000.
Would you know if yours was a special order or something? As I picked this one up in the Swansea area I think its at the very least been owned.local to that area for a time if not originally from there.
Dave

[oldcurmudgeon]

Mine was bought brand new and is dated as march 2005. It has the TO5 trigger unit and is a fabulous if weighty bit of kit.
I also own a model 52 in said calibre and while it recoils it's still a fabulous machine 😊

[Blackrider]

Had a superb tuned .177 Cal. but sold it as I couldn't get on with the right handed cocking lever being a Southpaw.
Great gun though !

[jonnyone]

Thanks for the replies both.
Yes the cocking procedure is a little long winded but once zeroed I tend to hunt and therefore shot numbers reduce, and double check accuracy before a session so I guess I'm not putting the amount of shooting in with it that someone would at a club range.
I'm very taken with the gun and I'm quite tickled it throws big lumps of lead downrange for practically no recoil. It almost feels wrong.
I'm getting more used to the trajectory and gaining confidence but will still keep the range pretty short.
I've tracked down the playground of one of the few remaining grey squirrels on my shoot and the clock is ticking for a can of whup ass to be opened up on him with this gun.
It would be surreal taking my old Firebird 52 out for a session alongside this one and experience recoil from a very similar gun.
Dave

[hwtyger]

Never heard of any Diana in .25. (or .20 for that matter). Dont know whether its original. But a dealer must be able to check that for you.
Ive had several 54s. Mine had T05s. Dont like the T01 triggers at all.
Im not really into sidecocking either. The sidelever makes it a tad off-balance too.
Yes shooting is....weird. Really recoilless. Bút because of that, boring as well
Theyre easy to shoot. But kill as many scopes as any other magnum.
Last one I had was a laminate. Quite rare. But it had cocking problems from new and I lost my temper with it and sold it.
The TX SR is very nice too, but I/we, can say everything (negative) about the 54, its the ONLY one of those 2 still in production.
If I had to choose, Id choose the 54. With the T06 it has a better trigger. And of course it would be new.
Id try in .25 especially JSB. As second Baracuda match. Third FTT.
I only have 1 airgun preferring baracuda (a patriot), no airgun that prefers FTT and a lót that prefer JSB

[jonnyone]

Had a superb tuned .177 Cal. but sold it as I couldn't get on with the right handed cocking lever being a Southpaw.
Great gun though !

That does sound like the Krypton factor!!

[jonnyone]

That does sound like the Krypton factor!!

Thanks for the replies hwtyger and Geezer.

As we have already found there were 54s made in .25 albeit that I cannot see that many were produced as demand was likely to have been low. Due to this I don't think this is an option anymore on the 54/56 series guns though in the former case I'm sure it was a possible option up until a year or two back.

I think the combination of the gun's heft and less popular calibre makes this gun a little more unusual than most.

I'm greatly enjoying it's quirky-ness. But I have no doubt at all this is a serious bit of kit in a hunting set up.

Not quite sure how a lightened piston set up would work with one of these as its a big ole lump of lead thats being pushed up the barrel.

But If it works I would imagine that type of conversion would be absolutely awesome.

Dave