Making a final decision...

[Jason]

Greetings, fellow airgunners! I have a few opinions that I need to get from you guys, and since it involves the Diana line of rifles, I thought the German gate would be the best place to ask. Now I know the question is always asked plain and simple: "What rifle should I get??" The usual answer (that I have seen) comes down to what power supply do you want (spring, pcp, co2), and what the rifle will primarily be used for...hunting, target practice, plinking, etc.  My answer to that part of it is a springer, and shooting target practice at the range (I am shooting 25, 50, and 100 yards out). I currently own a Gamo Big Cat .177 and enjoy shooting it (and will enjoy it more once I get it tuned up...I already have a new CDT trigger in it), but I want something that has a little more....power/longer range capability. I am wanting to upgrade to an all around better quality rifle and have heard lotsa good things about RWS/Diana craftmanship and reliability. I have held/inspected several models of them (34 Classic/T-06/Fiber Optic Sights, 350 Panther Pro Compact, a 40 and I think a 46), and have been impressed with how they look and feel in my hands (have never shot one...yet). I have been seriously  looking at the 34Panther or the 350Panther as my main choices (still on the fence though about the look of the classic wood stock or the synthetic all-weather one ). There are a few other rifles that have caught my eye, but they are a little out of my price range. So my question is between the 34 and 350, what would be the most/best/happiest bang for my buck? (And I am aware from what I have read that the 350 kicks like a howitzer compared to the 34...I am willing to take the time and energy...or should I say patience?? to learn how to tame the 350 ). And for the target ranges that I mentioned above, would I want .177 or .22? I would most likely shoot them stock out of the box until I got used to them, then somewhere down the road drop in a spring kit (or get them professionally tuned). Any comments/opinions/pros-cons of either rifle will be taken into serious consideration. Hopefully, I will have my mind made up and be placing my order with whoever by the end of the month/beginning of Dec. My lovely wife has pretty much let go of my leash on another rifle purchace (considering she is getting a diamond ring/band from me for Christmas ), so I am trying to make a final decision on what to get. I look forward to hearing from all of you RWS/Diana Panther owners and am confident that you will point me in the right direction.  Happy and safe shooting!!  Cheers!

[TOM aka critter99]

the 34 are nice but get the T06 trigger models only.  The T05 triggers are on close out and on sale not a bad trigger.....BUT for the pennies saved you also run a greater risk of getting an outsourced barrel that has a greater "risk" of being a dud.

I have an 8 land 34 T06 .177 Classic and it shoots a variety of pellets well.  I have a 12 land 34 Pro Compact T05 .177 and frankly I think it not worthy bigtime, this rifle is second one and was an inspected replacement rifle for another 12 land that the T05 scope rail fell off....other members have 12 land outsourced barrels that shoot well.

Comparing a Diana trigger to a gamo even the out of box T05 is light years ahead of the Gamo.  The 350 is tougher to shoot well but with practice you could master/tame the beast....IMO in .177 the 350 is too much power in a 350 I would go with a .22

Have you considered a 48 as well? 100 yards with a 34 is stretching it out alot and .177 loses energy quick

[Mark 611]

Get yourself a T06 M48 in .22cal JMO

[s10gto]

Totally agree with Mark. When I read 100 yards the first rifle that came to mind is the 48. IMHO you just can't beat fixed barrel accuracy. 

A recoiless 54 would also be a great choice! After all she is getting a diamond! 

Dustin

[grizzlyadams]

i second the 48

[amb5500c]

Model 48 is the best bet in my opinion also.
Richard

[rash_powder]

I have only ever shot my 48 at about 9 yards in my basement.  Same with my 350.  The 48 is MUCH easier to shoot good groups with. 

I bought both used, the 350 is totally stock in .177.  The 48 is a refurb, I am about 3rd owner, the last guy put a Vortek spring and lube tune in it; .22. 

I would really recommend a 48, but if you are willing to put the time in, a 350 would get you to the ranges you want.  Either one should be a .22. 

[Onebaddj]

I have a 177 350 with t05 trigger and vortek kit that i regularly stretch out to the 100 yd mark. Once mastered they are good guns and will be capable of what you are looking at doing. If you are doing more target than hunting a 177 will work fine. But if its 50/50 or more hunting than targets my 22 350 is the only zombie proof gun i have and i would recommend the 22 route. Also the t05 350's are on clearance most places. Pa has good deals on them.

If you have the extra jingle to spend like said above fixed barrels tend to be a little more accurate and my 470 seems alot easier to shoot. A nice 48/54 may be the route or the 470. There is a 54 on the classifieds here i beleive.

[TOM aka critter99]

The 48s I have shot were nice have not owned one but I like the idea of the barrel not moving....harder use and lil heavier than a break barrel but you KNOW the barrel is in same place for each shot...

[JimL911]

!00 yards is possible with a 34 but the groups will not be tight. If you want a .177 get the 34. 350 is better/easier to shoot in .22. Since you are shooting at a range and weight is not a significant factor, look at a 48 in .22.
The .22 will buck the wind better than a .177 and being a larger caliber easier to master.

[barcabarca]

If you are shooting at range (25-100 yrds) AND some hunting of small game the advice of others here is pretty good: the Diana 48 does all of those things well.

I own the 48 ( have had both one tuned in .177 and one in my signature, a .22).   It is my go-to do-all rifle.  I have shot FT with it ( with a different spring to keep it under 20fpe),  I hunt with it under 30 yards, I plink with it out to about 85 yards.  It is a Refurb that I have replaced the spring and seals in and gave a basic polish and lube tune to.  It shoots CPHP accurately at 21 FPE.

I have had the 34p (T-05) in .22 and I sold it.  I REGRET that to this day.  It is a great rifle after break in. Accurate to within 1" at 50 yards (with a good hold) shot at just about 13 FPE.   I used to shoot FT with it.  As a hunter it was just ok.  I could easily take down squirrels and a crow with an accurate head shot, but when I had body shots, I had a few jump up and run away (Both Squirrels and Crows...) The maximum range was about 30 yards for me for hunting...

I have owned the 350 in .22 and it was great.  24FPE, smooth shooter, very accurate.  Since it is a "long stroke" springer, meaning the piston has more travel in the compression tube, it did have a firm forward-and-back recoil, but it was just fine. Much easier to shoot than my Ruger AH was or my Gamo BC was which seemed to have not only a foward-back motion, but also up-down as well.    I sold it because I live in the city and it was really too much gun for my urban yard.   I did however take a 25lb racoon with it and JSB Predators at around 25 yards.  If I lived in the country, I might get another one. 

Most likely hunter and long distance shooter was the Diana 460 in .22, that I had put a Vortek Hi Yield kit in.  It was a great performer at 27 FPE, Accurate with JSB Jumbo's.  I sold it so to get a pcp.  I REGRET that one as well...

Ultimately.  I would say: Get the 34P. It is the easiest to shoot and maintain.  Unless you really need the yardage for hunting, then try the 350P in .22, but it's not as good an AR for close shooting (under 20 yrds) or trying FT as it is a bit powerful...Both will take a few thousand rounds for you to master the hold, but both will reward you with very good accuracy.  Make sure for both to get a good one piece mount.

[TOM aka critter99]

Guess the choice will all come down to the amount of available cash