My new rifle (34 compact) is less than 24 hours away. Any out of the box advice?

[timegoat]

I could use a little advice on anything I can do, out of the box, to treat my new Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro right. My bottle of loc-tite is already close at hand, but are there any other little things I can do right off the bat to keep her in good shape?

As far as supplies and equipment go, I have a bottle of RWS chamber lube, RWS spring lube, gun cleaning kit (for both air and powder), and some basic tools.

I got my first rifle about a year or two before I found GTA. I didn't treat her very well at first and I just want to start out life with the new one on the right foot.

Thanks!

- Mark (one of many)

[gene_sc]

Throw the chamber and spring lube away and never use it on your new RWS.  If you want to lube your gun then take it appart and use moly and tar on the inside.

[timegoat]

Hahaha! Ok! Done and done.

[Jay]

I'm sure you are going to clean barrel first(just no bronze brush's)an most use goo gone as the cleaner?

[timegoat]

I'm sure I will now. The cleaning kit I got for the air rifle has a nylon brush and I also have goo gone on hand.

Should I follow that up with anything?

[timegoat]

Around 500? Good to know. I was just getting into some basic statistical pellet testing when all *(&^ broke loose. I'm still finding the timing of that and the GTA move more than a little coincidental. They both happened within a day of each other.

If anyone's curious, I posted the charts I was making at the time on my site (top article). I'm anxious to start them over with the new rifle.

Ok, after a break-in tin, experimentation and matches begin again.

I'm too excited for my own good. M'lady and I always knew there'd be a second air rifle in our home. Now that we're this close I'm all stupid giddy. The addiction begins in earnest!

[gene_sc]

I have owned several RWS 34's and variants. The seem to take longer to seaon the barrels. They are an all around great gun to own. I have two and love to shoot both of them.

[timegoat]

Yeah, it was the all around glowing reviews I read online that got me to buy the first one. It was all the talk of shorter barrels and a couple of reviews I read at the ol' GTA that got me interested in the Compact.

I'm not looking for an arsenal, just one really good all around gun for target, plinking, and pest control. And I want to get to know that one rifle inside and out. My experience with the first 34 sealed the deal on the second.

I seriously can't thank you guys enough for the forum. You've taught me much.

[tjk]

Mark, some folks insist on tuning their Diana's right out of the box. Some don't, and prefer to break it in for a few hundred or so rounds. Both methods are personal preference. My advice would be to use the chamber/spring oil on door hinges around the house and leave it at that. The biggest piece of advice I can give on your Diana is to take your time and don't try to rush breaking it in by being rough on her,.....fast abrupt cocking, fast half cocking, harsh barrel return after loading  etc. Doing this will gall the top rear of the piston and the compression chamber and you end up having a rough cocking and much less smoothing cocking cycle all together. Like stated earlier, don't expect pin-point accuracy from the starting gate,......my 34 didn't start to "come in" until I had at least 1500 rounds through her. Good Luck with your Diana, great things are in store for you and your new shooter!!!! tjk

[Jay]

Just keep the patch's going till they come out clean,it take's a bunch(some kind of heavy black stuff in it) then several dry to remove it all.After that most just run a dry patch or two when acc. start's to fall off(never scrub out the seasoning or you start all over again ).Instead of a rod I use my OTIS Kit .177 coated wire pull ,you can make a pull thru out of weed whacker string,cut to lenght,sharpen one end to spear patch's,take a lighter an melt a blob on other end to fit tight with a patch in barrel.A rod IMO can damage the soft metal of an AG's barrel if used wrong.I also do a lite Hand Lapping job on my new AG's barrel before I start the shooting,But THAT is a whole new animal.Do check the crown an chamber for any sharp edge's or ding's.

[timegoat]

My list so far:

1) Put RWS lubes on the shelf with the half empty tube of caulk that I don't need to use anymore.
2) Give the barrel a good once over but in the long run it is to remain seasoned like a cast iron pan. Got my weed whacker string ready. Ran it through the old Diana as a test drive. Patch slid off when end was melted into a ball, so I re softened it and stuck it in the skirt of a pellet. Now it looks like a trapezoid, squeaks down the barrel, and the patch stays on and intact.
3) Be firm but gentle, and patient. Let 'er settle in at her own pace. That's always the trick, ain't it?

For the long term, learn more about the inner workings so I can handle some of the more involved tasks myself.

Oh, and loctite! Can't forget the loctite.

[Jay]

You have come too the right place for it all Bro.,AN by the way WELCOME TO THE NEW G.T.A. timegoat!!!  I like the idea of the pellet to form a end on the pull thru ,have fun tomorrow with ya new baby!!!

[Mark 611]

I wouldn't be afraid to use a bronze brush on the fitst cleaning, about 20 strokes should clean it really well to get out any factory burs ans salts from the milling process!

[timegoat]

Well, it's "On Fed Ex Vehicle for Delivery"... only hours away!

I'll give the barrel a look before deciding if I want to use the nylon brush or just the weed whacker line 'n patch. I'd prefer to keep anything metal out of the barrel if possible.

Tom, I'm gonna have to cross my fingers and hope for the best when it comes to the spring... at least until I know more about how to properly replace and lube the spring. That's on my long term 'to do' list.

Morgan, thanks! Glad ya like the "pellet skirt molding method".

Once she gets here and I got her all assembled, I'll post some sexy pics. Probably start her break in this afternoon and loctite overnight through tomorrow's several inches of forecast rain. Nice timing there. The perfect day to let the loctite cure without interruption.

[timegoat]

She's here! Moribund the Meisterschutze has landed (er... Peter Gabriel reference... anyone? ...anyone?). Got get her all set-up then its out to the range (backyard) to shoot pellets and pics.

BTW, she's beautiful!

[ezman604]

Congrats to the poppa on the new arrival!!!! 
Have fun and can't wait to see some pics and reports.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave