Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Air Guns RWS DIANA 34 will not group shots -flyers - help please

I have a RWS DIANA mod 34 177 cal with RWS scope mounts and a Bushnell Sportview 3-9 airgun scope. I have never been able to get it to group shots. I sent the scope back about 5 years ago and bushnell sent me a new one. I pulled it out the gun cabinet today and tried again to zero it, but it shoots all over the paper.I have tried all kinds of pellets. I bought a beeman assortment kit of all types of pellets, but still no good results. I just want to shoot black birds ( they make good gumbo!). any help would be appreciated!

thanks -js

Tom Gaylord,who wrote the book,The Beeman R1", and a whole lot of other airgun articles,has this to say about the spring guns.He says that you need to use a very loose hold.And to try and repeat the same pattern of holding the airgun everytime.Because of the double recoil of the spring airgun and the vibration of the barrel,he says the loose hold(he calls it the "artillary hold") ,where you don't hold it tightly ,works best.He also says resting the spring airgun as you would a regular rifle is not conducive to very good accuracy.Airrifles are also very pellet sensitive,but you seem to have that aspect of the matter covered.Hope this helps.

thanks Raj. I have tried a lot of pellets, yesterday I was shooting daisey pointed field pellets. if anyone knows of a brand or type of pellet that RWS like, let me know and I will try it.

I've had high power springers for 25 years,,,mostly beeman R1's....

Your technique has to be good, very good to shoot one well

Shoot from a rest till you are getting groups, your hold, trigger control, and follow through are very important much more so than with a firearm, more like a bow shooting with fingers off of a ledge,,,,

hold it lightly but firm enough that it dosn't jump, make sure everything is tight, scope, base, action screws. And you may want to try a good quality scope that you know is OK. The recoil on these things is vicous on scopes and attatchments.

Are you sure that scope is designed for the reverse thrust of a spring piston gun? You could just be damaging your scope again and again.

no, I am not sure if it is designed for reverse thrust. I need to research that. do the scope that are for "reverse thurst" say so in the specs/descriptions? I just know it is a airgun scope. when I purchased I did not know any better. hind sight is 20/20......

I think i need to find my iron sights and put them back on.

It might say so,,,,mag springers are rough mudders on scopes,,,whole different ballpark than others,,,,could always call the company,,,scope company and check

I have had the same trouble with the same model 34 air rifle. I bought it new and bought a RWS mount and a new Bushnell Trophy 4-14 after calling Bushnell and being assured this scope would handle it. At first it was very accurate and was a lot of fun. You could hit a bottle cap at 40-50 yds if you did your part. The accuracy fell off and you couldn't hit a pop can at 10 yds. I talked to a guy that sold only air rifles at a gun show and he sold me some stuff to clean the barrel which I did. No improvement in accuracy at all. I figured the scope puked so I took it off and put a new Bushnell red dot scope on it after again calling the mfr to make sure it would handle the reverse recoil. The accuracy was a little better but not accurate enough to hit a chit bird at 20 yds. I have tried at least 6 different pellets including the expensive ones. None seemed to be much better than any other one. I gave up and hung it up in the gun room for months. When I get time, I plan to put the iron sights back on and try it again. My 13 yr old son really liked shooting it when he could hit something with it. I'm dissapointed to say the least. I've got a considerable amount of $ in an air rifle that won't shoot any better than a cheapy. If it won't shoot with the iron sights, Im trading it off for something else. What air rifle would you air gun experts recomend? I don't mind spending some $, but I expect it to shoot, or what's the point.

yeselk, I have 300.00 invested in this gun. I had a 177 benjerman that shot better than this gun. keep me posted of your progress. I plan to look for my iron sights this weekend, I will update all of you.

Beeman R1,,,,,they are nice, have had one for many years and it still shoots great

The Beeman R1 should be nice for $600. Wow!

Maybe I should look at something other than a barrel cocker like the RWS Mod 48? Anyone tried one of these? Are the 20 or 22 cal air rifles more accurate than the .177?

Shop around the R1s can be had for less. For hunting I'd go .20 cal,,,targets .177

Thanks for the reply PPosey,
Any web sites to shop for bargain R1s?
Why not .22 cal for hunting? Too slow?

The RWS 48 and 52 are reputed scope eaters. I've got a 48 and so far I've only used the iron sights. It's a .22 and it's got lots of power.


mathman

Mathman,
I know the 48 is heaver than the 34. Does it seam heavy to you? I'm wondering about my son holding it up. Would you recommend the 48?
Thanks

How stout is your son? The cocking effort on a 48 is substantial, and the rifle is heavy. I didn't actually weigh my 48, but it feels just as heavy and has more of a forward weight bias than my Mk.V Weatherby 300 mag. with a walnut stock.

mathman

Sounds like we better go handle one before getting serious.
Thanks

In my mind the .20 is the better round, shoots flatter and faster than the .22 and hits harder than the .177, for squirrels the 177 is a little small, I've killed alot with it but ya gotta be close and good if you want to recover the rat. There usta be used R1's availible for $400-450 that were in perfect shape on the beeman website,,,,,They are a serious tool not a toy, you would be hard pressed to find a centerfire as well made as my 25-30 year old R1,,,

I'll chech out the Beeman website.
Thanks

When I first bought my Model 34 I tried several different pellets. The one that I settled on is the RWS H-point (7 grain). I have only used the iron sights so far but it is impressive.

As my eyes get older, I am thinking of putting a scope on it. I am concerned about the heavy recoil and I am leaning towards the RWS model 300 4x32. Anyone have an opinion about this scope?

I've several RWS for the kids. None wear either Bushnell nor Tasco glass and I certainly wouldn't make an assessment of the rifle,with one of those [bleep] scopes on board.

Accuracy has always come easily,via my barrel cockers.......................

I took the scope off yesterday and put on the iron site, I will try to sight it in after lunch, I will update ya'll this afternoon

Can't wait to hear about the results. I'm going to do the same thing when I get time.

Hello ALL, I just sighted it in and it shoots well. I sighted it at 20 yards. It must be the scope and/or mounts. I even killed a Black bird at 20+ yards. the north wind is blowing and I was shooting into the wind. It was a challenge - I wear hard contacts so my eyes were crying and made it difficult to hold on a 1 inch bullseye, but I am very impressed with the results. when this cold front is over and the wind calms down I will try to fine tune the iron sights zero. I am glad its not the gun.

also I was using Beeman Crow-Magnum 177 pellets. I was told these were good hunting pellets, that black bird fell dead.

Good news. Thanks for the update. Maybe there's hope for mine.

Stick, if you don't mind, what scope do you recommend for the RWS 34?
Thanks in advance.

Bet it will be a leup airrifle scope,,,,,

Those are good hunting pellets they are heavy, killed many hundred starlings with beeman silver Arrow pellets, they are very nice little lighter than the crow mags

I have an old old burris air rifle scope on my R1, fixed 4 power with AO ajust down to 10 feet

I just called Bushnell, I am sending my Sportview 3-9x32 airgun scope back to them. I hope they send me a different model. It will be a few weeks before I hear from them, but I will update ya'll.

I just called Bushnell, I am sending my sportview 3-9x32 airgun scope back to them, I hope they send me a different model back. it will be a few weeks before I hear from them, but I will update ya'll.

I just called Bushnell, I am sending my sportview 3-9x32 airgun scope back to them, I hope they send me a different model back. it will be a few weeks before I hear from them, but I will update ya'll.

PPosey,
I bet you're right about the leupie. Doesn't it make you wonder why they put the rear sight on the back of the barrel instead of at the back of the reciever? If the barrel locks up the same every time, why not put a peep sight at the back of the reciever? Has anyone tried this? If so, what sight did you use?
Thanks

A peep would give you better accuracy than factory sight just because you would have a longer sight plane. I've shot mine a few times with factory sights and it does well, I never had a problem with the scope not sighting in but went with a good scope and a great set of beeman rings right from the gitgo. They are the same as most rifles all sights are on the barrel, my beeman has stayed ajusted well so the lockup is still good, I need to send it in and have the mainspring rreplaced as I have noticed on the rair accasion I shoot it now that the speed is down some, but am afraid of messing up a good thing,,,and speed isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway,,,,

PPosey, what scope do you have on it? you stated you have the beeman rings, do you know what model rings? just thinking I could try exactly what you have.

Imagine that?!!?................

I have beeman two piece rings, they are built very well as they need to be for a springer,,,Mine wears an older Burris air rifle scope fixed four power with adjustable AO, Burris or Leup should work well,,,,alot of people use cheaper scopes on a springer but it's not worth the effort for me, beeman usta make a good one piece base that allowed for some ajustment as well. here are the bases I have on several guns,,,,they work great on groved 22 recievers as well.
http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/...n&noImage=0

I have Tally on one,Weaver on the other.

Shot both last night,trying to make "weirdness" happen,via different holds,but couldn't do it.................

Stick,
I have the RWS mount on it and have several choices of Leupies to try, 2X7 VX1, 3X9 VariX II, 2.5X8 VariX III, 6X42 M8. Will any of these handle the recoil? Which one would you try or do I need to get a airgun scope?
Thanks.

Worst case scenario...if something pukes,it gets fixed for free.

I've had all of 'em except the 2.5-8x on Springers and blowback 22lr's both,less a failure.

My 10/22's have killed more glass,than everything else I have,combined.

'Course,I like to ratty-tat-tat.....................

Have you tried the springers off of a rest verses free hand? I get a POI change of a good 3 inches at 35 yards or so doing that, good groups both ways just moves POI

I bought my wife a GAMO pistol.It is very accurate.If you aim consistently it hits the mark.I've seen their rifles and they look pretty well built and fairly inexpensive from what some of the ones mentioned are priced.The company sure boldly braggs on them.Check out their website.

I don't know that which mandates a "good" rest,but I shoot Springers often,supported.

POI is a none issue,barring contact of metal................

I also have an RWS Model 34. I tried several pellets when I first got it and I found that the RWS "H" point at 7 grains was the best group. I am now wanting to put a scope on my 34. I have been shopping around and I am thinking that I might try the Model 300 4x32 by RWS. Has anyone tried this scope? Is anyone willing to share their thoughts about this scope?

Shooting from a solid shooting bench with heavy bags and shooting standing freehand I get a difference,,,No way my standing form is as solid as those bags,,,, groups are a little tighter on the bench, Your shooting form obviously rules!!!

Try using stacked pillows instead of sand bags. They offer a decent support and still allow the gun to move when shot. I've had great luck with my RWS M-46 .177 using Benjamin Pellets.

I'll thy the pillow for kicks,,,,Most of the time I just shoot freestanding or sitting, I only use the bench if I'm testing a scope or changed something and no more than I shot the R1 thats real rare,,,,,I was trapped in the Charlotte NC burbs for 10 years and in that time probably put 20,000 pellets easy through the same gun,,my old back yard was a death zone for Starlings and probably qualifies as an EPA superfund site due to the amount of lead in the soil,good it was a few acres and lotsa trees and brush,,,now I'm more in the sticks and can shoot about anything I want when I want,,,,,Shoot the R1 just for kicks and maintenance a few time a year,,,,,,

this gun is turning out to be very accurate, my son has killed over 20 blackbirds since sunday. I am very impressed. if I could set it up with a scope it would be even better.

_I finally got around to mounting a Vari-X II 3X9 on the 34. That fixed it. It now shoots tight groups. My son had a blast shooting chit birds this afternoon. Don't mess around with cheap scopes. Lesson learned.

The Vari-X is not a airgun scope right? I am suprised that works, let me know if it stays sighted or starts to crawl.

I sent my crappy little Bushnell airgun scope back and they are mailing me a new one, it was 10 years old so I hope I get a newer model.

keep us posted as to how that Vari-X holds up....

It is not an airgun scope. I'll let you know if it quits grouping or holding zero.

I ran a Burris on my R1 for years that was a regular burris signature scope, it sets on a 7mm-08 now, and I have a burris air rifle scop on the R1 now for the closer AO ajustments,,,,

Update 9 days later:
Caleb told me he was missing birds yesterday. I checked it out on the bench. It was shooting 2" low at 30 yds. Still a tight group but it did move. I bought some Beeman Crow Magnum and Bearcub pellets to try at Sportsman's Warehouse. I noticed Beeman doesn't put the weight of the pellet on the can like RWS does. They must be heavier, they shoot 2" low at 30 yds. They shoot a good group also. After I re-sighted the 34, I shot a chit bird at 40 yds with the RWS Superdome.

I guess the jury is still out on the Vari X II 3X9. I'll keep you updated on whether it moves again.

Thanks for the update!! I got my Bushnell Sportview 3-9 airgun scope back from Bushnell Warranty, they gave me a Brand New Sportsman 3-9x32AO. I was thinking of putting it back on my RWS 34. Now this scope would go good on my ruger 10/22. so I would hate to put it back on the airgun just to have it broken again. let me know if your Vari X loses POI again, if the loupey won't last on a airgun, there is no way this bushnell will last.

Trigger technique is critical on an air gun. You have to "follow through" while the spring is sprung, as well as while the pellet is moving down the barrel, or the movement will give "patterns," rather than "groups."

Jaywalker