Best magnum springer under $500

[photrod2000]

I went with the RWS 48 in .177 and .22 about 18 months ago, then more recently a 460, mostly because I always wanted a RWS 48 as a kid.

I love em and have taken coyotes here with them (caveat, the southwestern smaller yotes, not those big northern ones).

However, as once again proven today, they are terrible first round on target guns, and that in turn makes a terrible hunting rifle, just as it does with a centerfire.  I  shot on and off most of the day.  In the morning I had to make some scope adjustments for center mass; halfway thru the day as temps rose to the high 40s, same thing, but adjustments going back toward original settings; then to close out the day, my adjustments ended very closely to where I started at in the morning.  All adjustments were minor, no more than 4 or 5 clicks.

I noticed early on they are very temp sensitive.  My opinion.  I think, but am not sure, it has something to do with air density and the springer.

Anyway, my free 2 cents, look for  reviews or advice on a .22 that indicate great 1st round on target.  That is what makes, well part of anyway, a great hunting rifle, air or centerfire.

[Bryan Heimann]

I always take "out to 50 yards" as more like 20-30 yards.  With 50 yards being a max distance shot that is rarely taken.  Where I am from you rarely could even find a small game animal that far out. 

Everybody new to airguns comments "out to 50 yards".  Also even discussing firearms and large game animals, everybody still seems to talk "out to 300" or "out to 400" even though I have only met a couple people in my life that ever attempted a shot past 150 yards or so. 

So I don't get too emotional over stuff like that.  Friendly advice is one thing, shaking your proverbial finger at the new guy is completely different.  It only serves to push them away. 

I would argue that inside of 25 yards, about a 15 fpe, accurate springer with good quality domes is enough gun for anything up to/including a mature raccoon.  Given a brain shot of course.

Jeez,

i thought Texas was big wide open country.   Come to Cali if you want to shoot at distance.
I guy I shoot with at the range hits a 2inch bell set at 120 yards 9 times out of 10 with his .25 FX.  100 yard shots are very doable with a PCP, not with a springer.
Anyway, since the OP has not chimed in about his normal hunting distance all of this is just conjecture.....

-Y

I was speaking to hunting, specifically.

[MSchmitz]

I haven't read every post, mostly because I'm not interested in reading 5 pages of opinions. But, the 350 can be had at half the price of the 460/48 a lot of times.

[Nuts4re]

I have a 350 Magnum T06 that I bought this year, in .22 and I dont like it. I know how to shoot a springer and its difficult to be consistent. Feel like i am fighting the gun.

Also bought an Octane, a Walther Parrus and a Ruger Air Magum this year, also all in .22. The Parrus is my favorite of the group.

Dont really care for the Octane either, but it is very accurate, i just hate the stock for some reason. Agree on the 460 being pricey and you can get a 430L for $149.00 right now from AOA. I love mine. Though the only come in .177.
I would recommend a the Flying Dragons version of the RWS 350. Love my underlever i bought from Mike a few months ago, and I already have the browning Leverage to compare it to. Mikes tune makes it a very different gun!

Wish I had known about Flying Dragon BEFORE I bought my RWS 350 Mag.

[truck driver]

Seriously the 48/52 will make up to 24fpe and the 460 over that if you lube tune it and space the spring which is easily done. The clicking noise you refer to is the bear trap engaging the sliding chamber and keeps the chamber from crushing your finger should for some reason the trigger mechanism fails to hold the piston or the trigger safety should fail and release the piston.
You won't see that much difference between the 350 and the 48/52 or the 460 as far as performance on game.
You will still need a Bullseye ZR mount to keep from breaking scopes and with it you can use any scope you already have and they don't affect the accuracy since they move back and forth on the steel rods.
There are cheaper Chinese knock offs but do yourself a favor and get the original ZR mount.
Just trying to help you to buy once and cry once. We all go threw this with the first adult air gun purchase and that's why most of us own more then one and for me my journey ended with the 54  but that is a different story and more then you want to spend.
Pyramid Air has the 460 of sale for around $400 and would be the better rifle for what you are planing to use it for. JMO

[HectorMedina]

Thank you both. I think I知 going to pull the trigger on a 350 at the beginning of the week. Midwayusa has one in stock that I could drive to pickup and have it a little sooner. But then again another busy week is already in the making so I might just order one to hopefully have by next weekend. I知 thinking I値l just go plain Gun and break it in with iron sights to make sure I can tolerate it haha. Then I値l go about driving myself nuts deciding on an air Gun rated scope lol.

Thanks to everyone for your kind wishes.
After two absolutely terrible nights, I hope next one will be better.

Anyway, back on track about the 350:

Our own M Schmitz has one on EBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Diana-RWS-350-Magnum-0-22-cal-Long-Range-Breakbarrel/254459948459 

You can hardly beat that price. And if he says the gun shoots well, I would have no reason to doubt it.

For the sake of full disclosure I must say I have NOTHING to do with Mr. Schmitz's sale, but I have always wondered why some good things seemingly happen EXACTLY when they should happen.

I like the 350 also, I've owned a couple and tuned quite a few,  the simplicity of the breakbarrel is appealing. Yes they vibrate, but nothing a reasonably dimensioned muzzle weight cannot remedy:



They handle well offhand:


You do need to pay special attention to the CLOSING of the action, always doing it in exactly the same way, carelessness in this phase of the loading procedure will undoubtedly lead to "inaccuracy".

Some years ago, I won the Mexican FT Nationals shot at Ixtlahuaca with a 350:



Posted second highest score, 1 point behind the PCP's.

I would still suggest you get a gun that is shooting, or can be MADE to shoot, at around 13-14 ft-lbs to get started, it will save you much frustration. The target & group you see above was shot by someone with extensive spring-piston shooting experience.

The ONLY drawback of the 350 is the long transfer port, that makes it less efficient than a sliding compression cylinder rifle (like the 460). That means you will need to input a little more energy for the same return in Muzzle energy yield (part of that energy goes into creating the vibrations). In a pure sporter/hunter system, that may not be even important, just need to mention it here for the sake of completeness.

Most 350's have better open sights than most 460's, it's just the way they are put together. The 460 can receive a custom made front muzzle piece with a finer sight



, the 350 will accept the interchangeable DIANA front sights.



Muzzle weights can be made to accommodate the usage of iron sights:





BOTH will take the Williams' "guide" sights, whether in peep or in notch styles.

As to the first shot POI, it must be said that the NATURE of the springer precludes an absolute precision in this sense. You will NEED to understand, see, and remember where is the POI from "cold bore" and adjust the first and second shots, most well tuned springers will settle down by the 3rd or 4th shot. The lower the power, the less difference there will be between "Cold Bore" shots and follow up ones. In here is where a good scope is absolutely essential.

At the range you want to shoot, a good scope is a must, but if you are somewhat limited in budget, do look at the SWFA 10X or 20X SuperSniper scopes, they are a cut above the rest and not that expensive. There are MUCH less expensive scopes, but for the range and targets you are talking about, I would not trust most of them. Shooting at living targets, whether pests or not, requires a much higher degree of sportsmanship than punching paper.
The other scope I can highly recommend is a SIGHTRON SIH FT in 4-12X40 with the MOA-20 reticule is quite useful for airgunners.

For the sake of sportsmanship, practice and try to keep all your shots to the distance you can "nail" the "medula oblongata".

These practice targets have provided me with good service over the last 17 years:





I would still suggest a ZR Mount, if that is not possible, then an RWS lock-down mount.

Above all, be prepared to adapt and to work hard for your results.

Good luck and keep us posted!







HM

[Eddie_E]

Hector, will a D34 coil spring and guide fit in the D350 if a person wanted to drop down to typical 16 FPE (or 13.5 FPE with a JM spring) settings or would the 340 gas ram be the only option?

[Yogi]

Hector,

The Diana 350 is getting lots of recommendations.  No recommendations for the Diana 350 N-Tec?  Any thoughts suggestions?  Also wouldn't this OP be a good candidate for the Sig ASP20  Airgun?
Hope you feel better, get a flue shot next year!

-Y

[jusanothajoe]

Hector,

The Diana 350 is getting lots of recommendations.  No recommendations for the Diana 350 N-Tec?  Any thoughts suggestions?  Also wouldn't this OP be a good candidate for the Sig ASP20  Airgun?
Hope you feel better, get a flue shot next year!

-Y

I don't do magnum springers, but if I did, I think I would give the Sig ASP20 a try.

[066logger]

Thanks to everyone for your kind wishes.
After two absolutely terrible nights, I hope next one will be better.
Anyway, back on track about the 350:
I like the 350 also, I've owned a couple and tuned quite a few,  the simplicity of the breakbarrel is appealing. Yes they vibrate, but nothing a reasonably dimensioned muzzle weight cannot remedy:
They handle well offhand:
You do need to pay special attention to the CLOSING of the action, always doing it in exactly the same way, carelessness in this phase of the loading procedure will undoubtedly lead to
Above all, be prepared to adapt and to work hard for your results.

Good luck and keep us posted!

HM
[/quote]

Thank you so much Hector! I hope you get to feeling better! This time of year is no good for being healthy.  That is exactly the kind of information I知 looking for. You seem to be extremely knowledgeable about all the different models and for that I知 very grateful! I am excited for a new challenge. Do you think that 350 on ebay has the t05 trigger or the t06 being a 2016 model if I read correctly?

[066logger]

I知 struggling here with getting the quotes right using my phone 😂. I looked at the 350n tech but isn稚 it a gas ram instead of a  spring? Is that user serviceable as easily as a spring is?

[Bryan Heimann]

I知 struggling here with getting the quotes right using my phone 😂. I looked at the 350n tech but isn稚 it a gas ram instead of a  spring? Is that user serviceable as easily as a spring is?

Not exactly.  Disassemble/reassemble probably easier than the spring gun because the ram is under very little preload.

Availability of other rams for replacement, tuning and etc?  Virtually non existant.  You'll probably end up hunting for another industrial gas strut of some type with the same specs but different pressures and experimenting and learning for yourself.

Vs a springer-  all spring powered Dianas have a plethora of springs and kits available.  Except maybe the 240.

[Allen Rice]

One more vote for the Diana/RWS 460.  Hard to beat for combined Power and accuracy.

ar

[fwbsport]

The one thing nobody mentioned on this thread is Hector's observation said there are a number of different shooters here!  He said if you are like me and others you may LIKE the break barrel aside from the underlever and that is an honest observation!  Look at us!  We are all swarming in with OUR desired shooting talents with different options fully backed by those posting.

I had said in the case of the HW80 .20, .22, .25 all meet my standards with the .22 being the first choice now!  It used to be the .20 HW80--but that rifle is a heavier longer rifle.  It has no sling swivels either!

Point I'm trying to make is a died in the wool .20 person (me) can find a solution in the .22.

[Mark 611]

John I hear ya buddy, the .20 is a great caliber, IMO for the cost and the power the Diana's out of the box are tuff to beat, as well made as a HW not even close! But if ur looking for a magnum powered spring gun that's well made and will do the job nicely the Diana 460 48 52 54 class of rifles are easier to shoot well then the 350's in any caliber, I have only 1 Diana left in my stable and that's a T06 460mag in .22cal, IMO this is all the magnum powered spring gun I need for bigger critters, These rifles typically will shoot the harder Crosman pellets @ 825 to 850fps out of the box! I chose the 460mag for its hard hitting longer range capabilities with the Crosman pellets because these pellets penetrate bone, like sculls out at distances of 75yds and dispatch what I shoot with 1 shot! Softer pellets in my experience do not do the job! FTT's JSB's etc, yes I'm a big HW guy!!! and a .20cal guy! But you have to give credit where credit is due! In my experience the 460 is easier to operate load and shoot under field conditions then a side lever unless ur shooting prone, even then the side levers are cumbersome, were not talking about 12# guns here were talking about full power rifles! I know this will bring out a whole bunch of side lever guy's on this topic, but this is my experience having owned all of the big Diana magnums the 48's 52's 54's 350's 350 compacts ect, this my 2ct on what I think when these topics come up, but to each his or her own! I don't shoot my 460 much, only when going after G-Hogs @ distance! other then that I shoot my HW's

[fwbsport]

Mark, I'm having Hector build my last air rifle!

It's going to be the Diana 54 Air King like his in .20!  I mentioned this some months ago while shooting his Diana 54 Air King .20 he used in competition.  I didn't brag about it and in the meantime I was looking into the Blue Laminate 97K in .25 which went North to the HW80K .22.

So, not all would pay for it but I will and as far as I know I'm in line for this!  I don't know how many he is going to make with the .20 barrels he has available as a last supply from somewhere.

I'll wait for it!  In the mean I get to really hone up my off hand shooting with the HW80K.

[DanD]

I知 struggling here with getting the quotes right using my phone 😂. I looked at the 350n tech but isn稚 it a gas ram instead of a  spring? Is that user serviceable as easily as a spring is?

...Disassemble/reassemble probably easier than the spring gun because the ram is under very little preload.
...

Actually, more difficult. Although the preload distance is very short, the preload weight is extremely heavy. I can rebuild most spring guns including D350s without a compressor, but I cannot do a Crosman NP without one, not even the "soft" 650 fps model.

*Disclaimer- Rebuilding springers without a compressor is not recommended. I've done dozens of rebuilds for more than a decade and developed a technique that works for me. I have a compressor that I use for some guns including UK BSAs, FWB124s, pre T01 Dianas, and any NPs.

[Dockey 454]

John I hear ya buddy, the .20 is a great caliber, IMO for the cost and the power the Diana's out of the box are tuff to beat, as well made as a HW not even close! But if ur looking for a magnum powered spring gun that's well made and will do the job nicely the Diana 460 48 52 54 class of rifles are easier to shoot well then the 350's in any caliber, I have only 1 Diana left in my stable and that's a T06 460mag in .22cal, IMO this is all the magnum powered spring gun I need for bigger critters, These rifles typically will shoot the harder Crosman pellets @ 825 to 850fps out of the box! I chose the 460mag for its hard hitting longer range capabilities with the Crosman pellets because these pellets penetrate bone, like sculls out at distances of 75yds and dispatch what I shoot with 1 shot! Softer pellets in my experience do not do the job! FTT's JSB's etc, yes I'm a big HW guy!!! and a .20cal guy! But you have to give credit where credit is due! In my experience the 460 is easier to operate load and shoot under field conditions then a side lever unless ur shooting prone, even then the side levers are cumbersome, were not talking about 12# guns here were talking about full power rifles! I know this will bring out a whole bunch of side lever guy's on this topic, but this is my experience having owned all of the big Diana magnums the 48's 52's 54's 350's 350 compacts ect, this my 2ct on what I think when these topics come up, but to each his or her own! I don't shoot my 460 much, only when going after G-Hogs @ distance! other then that I shoot my HW's

Funny you should say that Mark. The only springer I have that shoots crosman pellets well is my 460. Mainly use this for my pesting gun. It takes G-Hogs out to 60 yds. I don't try shots longer then that. Always try for a humane kill.
  Tom

[mpbby]

After resisting the temptations from the Darkside (PCP), maybe we have a new diehard springer in gestation.

Ok, in despite of my post #4, I am focused on the D 350 T06 .22, and never had a PCP.   Basically, focused on the challenge as a shooter, as I don't have room, skills and tools to go deep in tuning. 

In terms of your accuracy, an important step is when you realize what kind of groups/distances are ok to - your needs/shot placement.  Others may have their needs, you have - yours.  In this way, although 'some' hits are very rewarding, the real challenge is to achieve what you think is a reasonable - consistency.  Essentially, your consistency as the shooter; after discovering a good combo regarding holding, resting, breathing, squeezing the (adjusted for you) trigger, practicing to learn to be - repeatable.

On the other hand, I think you should start doing some research about: - spring compressor, barrel droop, "airgun rated" (!?) scopes and their available reticles (just in case, an essential feature is always a friendly warranty to your location).

Just to let you know, to a "magnum" springer, although some heavier pellets should go better.., (to my needs) I find a reasonable consistency with the HN Field Target Trophy 5.53 ("14.66" gr).

We're all ears, keep us posted.

In the meanwhile, something REALLY essential to be aware..

[Rick67]

Mark, I'm having Hector build my last air rifle!

It's going to be the Diana 54 Air King like his in .20!  I mentioned this some months ago while shooting his Diana 54 Air King .20 he used in competition.  I didn't brag about it and in the meantime I was looking into the Blue Laminate 97K in .25 which went North to the HW80K .22.

So, not all would pay for it but I will and as far as I know I'm in line for this!  I don't know how many he is going to make with the .20 barrels he has available as a last supply from somewhere.

I'll wait for it!  In the mean I get to really hone up my off hand shooting with the HW80K.

1st time I shot an AirKing, a factory .22,  I stared at it after pulling the trigger.

Stared at it again after every subsequent shots.

Incredible rifle and accuracy!