D34 - Best air rifle of the past 40 or 50 years...

[GunnerAl]

I know it's a large call, considering I haven't owned many others which could possibly rival or maybe even better it in many ways, but I am convinced that the D34 is truly a remarkable air rifle. It doesn't have the hyper velocity of others, even under the same brand name but it is so well made and easy to both use and get great results from, without really having to squeeze it out like so many others, that I think it deserves the title of "the very best all-rounder" available today...

NO, I mean not to offend others who would also see their favourite as the best but I take in to account its quality, performance, handling and cost. It's quite cheap for a quality rifle in my opinion...

You don't have to reply, as I am just saying what I personally think of them. I really love this rifle..!!

[White Eagle]

For the money, the 34 is hard to beat, IMHO.

[robert w]

its not the best but it has the quality to be a standard of the airgun industry . I own better but price to useability a 34 shines on and a great all around gun . target, hunting, plinking , pesting they cant be beat . let me think yes 3 - 34's live in my house

[Bill in SC]

Speakin' of velocity, the 34 ain't no slouch. I can barely believe how hard mine hits, and super accurate to boot. Unfortunately no chrony.  :-(

Bill in SC

[Roadworthy]

Al, I would have to agree that the 34 is a good air rifle, perhaps even a great air rifle, but the best, that's a stretch.  I'm glad you qualified it later by categorizing it as best all around air rifle.  That is much easier to buy into.  It's probably even best for the money or a best buy or something like that.

[triggerfest]

The best allrounder indeed 

[mcoulter]

Speaking from 1st hand experience I would call the 34 the BEST gateway drug in airgunning!

[DRAGON64]

I bought my son a Gamo CFR in .177 last Christmas for $289, and I just bought myself a D34 for $220, and hands down, the CFR will not compare.  The CFR had its high points, fixed barrel being one of them, but my 34 is so much better in quality and build.  Both rifles are nose heavy, but over-all the 34 is a lighter platform.  My son even hinted that he would give up his Gamo, which he never shoots, for a 34 like mine... I told him I would keep an eye out if he was serious.

The only other rifle (springer) I have to compare my 34 to is the R9... once I have spent some trigger time behind both, I can make a better comparison.  I will say that the R9 has a distinct edge in build quality, but then the Beeman R9 reputation dictates this.  This is not to say the 34 is any less of a quality built rifle, becuase it is not... mine is in a slightly different class with it's synthetic stock.

[BryanG]

I can hit everything I go for with my 34 up to 30 yards..That's the furthest I have on my range. I couldn't imagine spending twice as much or more for some of these rifles you guys claim to be superior. My 34 is way better than my Disco inbuild quality and accuracy. I guess if you want fancy wood but otherwise I don't see the need to spend more. I would be happy to if I really felt there was that much of a difference but I can't see my shooting being any better spending more on an airgun for my target shooting needs.
I'm sure I'll shoot just as accurate with my 34 as I would with a $1000.00 springer.

[JimL911]

I have 3. A .177, .22 Panther and a special run 34K in .20. Hands down my HW 95 has the better quality. The new T-06 trigger is great out of the box, but tweaked the Rekord is still a bit better. Accuracy is the same, but the 34 is utilitarian grade. Still a good gun but build quality is surpassed by HW.

[snakebite4767]

I think they are a good gun, and possibly even the best Value... but  I'd take my HW95 over my RWS34.

Snakebite

[Acapulco]

34 best air rifle...Nope!!! No butt pad, blueing and wood stock iffy at best.... For springers HW models are so much nicer.

[TR]

You can't go wrong with a 34.  I espically enjoy shooting mine with the just the iron sights.

Great Rifle...

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Well here is another $.02 worth the best AG is the one you are happy to own and shoot with sufficient accuracy to meet or exceed your desires the rest is just what you as an individual are compelled to have mine are all awesome and no complaints or regrets about any of them.

[GunnerAl]

Sorry for not even replying in my own thread but have been pre-occupied elsewhere, unavoidably, in the past week,,

I just love airguns, FULLSTOP,, but in all of them which I have fired/used, none strikes me right now as a more usable rifle than the 34. It's arguably the most consistently accurate that I've ever owned. I've shot a few tight groups in the past with various air rifles but never as consistently as with this one. Mind you, that could easily be argued away by the better ammo available nowadays, so there could be all sorts of variables in an argument like this. I'd never say that the 1000fps velocity rating given to the 34 is a slouch, as that's more than plenty of grunt to do the job. I have had (and still have now) some air rifles which are more powerful and in larger calibres, some much less powerful and every bit as accurate. The 34 sits right in the middle and gives a near perfect compromise, almost as if it was right on the border of where power begins to become uncontrolable in many airguns and accuracy falls off, yet being able to extend that accuracy which is better associated more naturally with air rifles of about 600 - 800 fps rating, in .177 cal of course. Yet, without living in a total dream world, I realise that there could be many such personal favourite air rifles that fit this description and can perform equally as well in their owners hands,, heck, I think my Cometa Fenix 400 may also be right up there. One day I must compare these two side by side. When I first began shooting the Fenix, it proved quite accurate but I only had the chance to shoot it over the summer, and a hot summer at that, so combined with the heat and high blood pressure, as usual with me, I had to really concentrate and breathe well to get good shots off. With the 34, those shots seemed to come a lot easier. Interesting...!!!

I had wanted to get a D34 and for a long while before I actually bought it, probably about 3 or 4 years ago at least, mainly because I heard so many good things about them, and I had made up my mind wayyy back then that this rifle may well be one of the "best ever's". Personally, I can say now say that I did not make a bad call in buying one...

I've been put on a course of medicine for the old ticker in the past few weeks and I am now more able to hold and aim better than I have for the past handful of years, not great but not bad either (practise shooting only for now though). I haven't actually been able to get out to see what I can do now but hopefully soon I "will". I can't wait to try her again, maybe with the Fenix too...

[pelletpoor]

I have a P34 which I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. I could be content with it as my only air rifle, if I had too ! I have hit soda cans off hand at 100 yards with iron sights . NOT, that I am a great shot.
   When I was younger man in the late 70's, I bought a FWB 124, new from Beeman. I did on a regular basis , hit beer cans at 100 yards of hand with it. So, remembering my shooting of old, I tried it with the 34, like I said, I was very surprised to say the least. The 34 is better than I ever will be. But if I had to vote, I will take the 124 as the best springer for the last 40 years.
   Cheers, Greg