Which one ?

[Tactical Tom]

For Christmas this year my Wife is gonna get me a new AirRifle  I'm looking at the RWS Diana 34 or the RWS 350 Feuerkraft...I want it in .177, which one & why? I'm also considering the Gamo Whisper & the Crosman Nitro Venom.

[LeadHead]

For me I would stick with Crosman...due to awesome customer service should any problem arise. Try the Benjamin Trail NP or even the Remington NPSS. As for calibre I would go with .22. If you get the .177 and it aint enough you wish you had the .22. That's just my preference and I'm definitely sure there is SOMEONE that will disagree...and I'm sure it won't take long either....

[Bullit]

What do you want to do with it?  How much do you want to spend on extras, if any? Are you concerned about resale value?  I consider these things.  The RWS350 is a classic proven shooter. It will easily handle small game hunting, and target.  I also like the wood, and the TO5 trigger, but that's my taste.  I use the JSB Exact Heavies .177 for small game, as I like the flatter shooting .177.
Hope U have a Happy Christmas!
Edit:
I didn't mention the 34. It would be my budget choice of the group. I don't think I'd use the JSB heavies as a steady diet though it though.
I was curious to see if there's that much difference in them as far as weight and Length. I'm a No; but You can decide:
RWS 350  Weight=8.0lb  Length=48"  Barrel=19.63"  Cocking=33lb  Trigger pull=3.3lb
RWS   34  Weight=7.5lb  Length=45"  Barrel=19.00"  Cocking=30lb  Trigger pull=3.3lb

[thekid]

My thoughts are this:

If you are looking to have the fastest shooting AG, in the rws line then this is one of them.
If you are looking for a reliable easy shooting Ag that is accurate and punches out enough power for rabbits at 40 or squirrels at 30, then the 34 is the one.

I have Both and in .177, the 350 is a beautiful Air Gun but she is heavy and has enough kick and hold sensitivity to drive a modest AG user insane.

The 34 has way less hold sensitivity and kick, is very accurate and much lighter and not as long as the 350.... They are both great but one is made for bigger critter as close range IMO.  The other one is just easier and therefore more enjoyable JMHO.
Rob

[Mark 611]

Well put Rob!

[TOM aka critter99]

The others mentioned do not compare to the RWS quality....

Unless you NEED the power go with the 34 T06 trigger version

[RedFeather]

First, what most shooters tell someone new to air guns - decide what you want to do with the gun.  That will narrow it down a lot.  Second, the 350 has a big following but it doesn't cater to every shooter.  For a while that gun was one of the best bargains in the classifieds, deeply discounted, usually in .177 and quite often not even hardly broken in.  Why's that?  I think it's because the 350 has a notoriously long learning curve compared to less powerful break barrels.  If I were looking for a powerful .22 break barrel, I would consider the 350 but enter into it with both eyes open since it will take a while to learn to shoot it.  However, once you've mastered the gun, it is said there are very few to compare to it.  Owners who stick with it seem to exclude it from their wills, taking it with them, so to speak.  The new 34 appears to require only a basic lube tune in order to bring it fully up to speed.  For better performance, there's a tune or a Vortek kit for not a whole lot of money, but you can successfully enjoy the gun stock.  The Crosmans are nice but it seems they can stand to use a new trigger, pivot bearing washers and an internal guide kit from Charlie to make them shine.

[TOM aka critter99]

Add those costs on the Crosman and nows it is the same cost as the Diana rifle and even with the trigger upgrade its not even close to even the T05 out of the box trigger.

[Bullit]

Red makes a good point about not being the choice to the new shooter, unless you want to stay with it and airgunning.  I would bet that after a tin of pellets, you would have a pretty good grounding with whatever you decide on.   I guess I assumed you've been shooting a while and was looking for an upgrade.
I'll say I haven't played with the 34, so I can't comment on the recoil.  I can say I "personally" don't have a lot of problems with felt recoil, but that's just me.  A lot of it is in the shooter's perception,and shooting form, in whatever they shoot.  That's a personal kinda thing only you can decide on.  The best I could try to describe the feel is a little lighter than a lite load birdshot 410 or 28ga ,  just in a springer, (same torque as any class springer),,,if that makes sense.  Again, that's me.

[Onebaddj]

Id steer clear of the gamo or crosman. The rws guns are alot better quality. If your hunting and shooting targets way out there and have alot of paitience for learning the gun the 350 is nice. I have 2. Both are tack drivers but both are heavy and like said by pretty much everybody require practice to master. I love mine and wouldnt part with them very easily. If its a nice gun to go shooting cans with the kids at the creek and possibly hunting go with the 34. The 350 will give you a workout cocking it over and over.

Like i said in my very first review of the 350, if your taking down a chargeing mother in law or have a heard of gorillas tearing your kids swing set apart the 350 is the way to go.

[bart the fart]

""Like i said in my very first review of the 350, if your taking down a chargeing mother in law or have a heard of gorillas tearing your kids swing set apart the 350 is the way to go.""

hehehe nice!

[Bob P]

I agree with the others, RWS all the way!
If your new to shooting springers, the 34 is the way to go.

[Tactical Tom]

I've been shooting my Hammerli Storm (.177 springer) for a couple of months now, it is my first adult air rifle but I've been shooting firearms for the last 25yrs ! I'll mostly be plinkng around with the kids & maybe a chipmunk or tree rat or English Sparrows...etc anything any bigger & I'll be using one of my .22LR ! I've got my boy's (Identical Twins) a set of the Ruger Explorer Airrifles put up for their birthday next month.
The Hammerli is nice but my buddy & his son both shoot RWS (34pro compact & 350 mag. .177) & I really like 'em both ! my buddy with the 350 mag is telling me to go with the RWS Diana34 in .177.   

[Onebaddj]

The 34 would be better suited for all day plinking with the kids and the occasional tree rat.

If your friend has both see if he will let you shoot them. Youll be impressed by both.

[Tactical Tom]

The 34 would be better suited for all day plinking with the kids and the occasional tree rat.

If your friend has both see if he will let you shoot them. Youll be impressed by both.

Gonna be shooting with him this weekend !

[RedFeather]

Bart, gorillas in the yard?  I thought I was the only one with that problem, LOL!  A friend used to have a Ruger in .458 Winchester magnum and was asked "Why do you want THAT???  There are no elephants around here!"  His reply? "Well, there's Kenilworths and Peterbuilts!!!"  Sometimes you just gotta have it.  Mine is a .54 Kodiak double that I really shouldn't (and don't) shoot with full loads.  Still, I can smell the Serengeti and rhino dung every time I shoulder it.

The 34 doesn't have much recoil (and I'm recoil sensitive).  But I don't take a strong cheekweld, either.  Still, if it's tuned or you luck out and get a smooth shooter, the recoil is not bad.  I will say that I wouldn't recommend it for an all day shooting session with the kids.  Kind of heavy and it takes a bit to break and cock it.  Now, a nice Model 24 is one you can ride all day and not get saddle sores.  And it's big enough for the big kids, too.

Let's just say that, if you are just starting out and looking for a gun that will take game at medium ranges plus do double duty as an informal target plugger, you can't go wrong with the current model 34 in either caliber.

[bart the fart]

if i knew what i know now and was in the market for a AG....I'd probably buy a R7. get accurate, then move up the food chain. if i wanted a handgun...I'd buy a 9mm NOT a .454 casuol! you know what i mean? maybe that doesn't make seance, but it does to me. get good, shoot often, LEARN LEARN LEARN! click that scope up and down....shoot 10's(aka bull's, aka X's) just buy a shooter and great pellets(not the cheap stuff) and spend the time to learn it properly....... the fart

[Bullit]

Great to read that you're gonna get a chance to shoot them some.  That's the best way for you to decide. Sounds to me like ya might consider the 34...since you got twins you're gonna need that $$$$ for other things, as well as the fact that all of you could hopefully use the same pellets.  It all adds up ya know.
Enjoy and try to stay cool!

[Tactical Tom]

I got out Sat. eve. with my buddy & we shot for a while....I like the power of the 350mag but the 34 is so much easier to control & hit consistantly....that being said, the 34pro compact shot  about the same as the Hammerli Storm but I think the 34 was just a fuzz bit more accurate on paper with me behind the trigger on both guns, the difference was the trigger between the two, the Storm has a brutal trigger ! Shooting thru the chrono the 34 was shooting about 10fps faster than my storm shooting the same pellet out of both guns. Both guns were stock. The 350mag was a real power house & I loved the power....If I could learn to shoot it consistantly it would be "The Air Rifle" for me ! I went today a looked at the Stoeger X50 .... it's another one on my list of possible "next gun" ....