Good evening Nick,
I seem to recall that you had an Airking previously? If memory serves by the thread back in the day it had a laminate stock? A rare beastie. I was a little surprised you say you didn't recognise the 52/54 differences before walking out the shop. But rather than a disappointment I rather think this is a pleasant surprise. I've certainly fell head over heals for the one I've gone and bought but as it is in .25 calibre my shooting is a little niche and I'm using it for relatively close in squirrel culling- a task that it accomplishes with aplomb.
I really do think these guns will become classics in years to come and I'm so taken with mine I am keeping an eye open for one in .177 to undertake the more mainstream shooting I undertake.
As has been said the moderator that's been fitted actually appears to be of decent quality and suits the gun. In actual fact it had crossed my mind that a clever so and so could remove the factory barrel shroud and fit a new one complete with inserts to make up an enclosed mod with clean lines ala pro sport. I think this would enhance the guns lines though it may add a little more length to barrel than the pro sport and may make the gun a little unwieldy.
The reduced bore/ lightened piston set up certainly sounds impressive and I'd imagine makes an already competent semi recoilless gun sublime. Reducing movement on the sledge to around 5mm must be remarkable and I'd certainly like to see what the firing action on that feels like.
Anyhow I do hope you get along well with your current purchase as reading some of your older posts you appear to have something of a love/hate relationship with the marque- falling in love and outta love at speed
Have you got any special plans/ mods in the pipeline for this one then?
Dave