Am I being unrealistic???

[Lambchops]

IMO a Hatsan 95 or an RWS 34 wouls do the trick. I've never owned a 34, but I would love to. I have a 95 in .177 and it's deadly accurate. Goodluck.

[bradyman1]

I was also concerned about no open sights but I really don't miss them. I have had that rifle for several years and it is still my favorite springer I own. I have an xs b16, A walther falcon hunter .25 the Titan, a daisy 880, a 1377, a Crosman 2400kt, and a disco. The Titan and disco are my go to guns.

[Christopher A Bales]

Rws 34. refurb on airgun depot for 145. buy a lockdown mount(must have) and a scope and let er rip. You will have no regrets.

[pappa]

For getting your feet wet, I would go with a Model 25 (the Diana 34 clone) tuned or at least gone through by Mike at Flying Dragons.  That way you need not worry about imperfections and just shoot it.  If you are happy with it, great.  Don't care for springers?  Sell it and get a fair bit back.  Do really like them?  Get a Diana later on.  And, yes, I have Diana's including the 34.  The 25 is one of the best Chinese clones btw.

What is the Model 25 that you refer to?  Flying Dragon currently lists an XS25, and another member here refered to a B25, are they all the same?

The model 25, XS25 and B25 are all referring to clones of the RWS D34 and they are all basically the same. For instance, the Ruger Blackhawk and air Hawk are both B25s. In fact, both of the Rugers are made in the same factory and with the same parts on the same assembly line as the XS25.

[ranedouglas]

i would get a diana model 34 in .177 (or .22 if you are set on that).    actually, an older, used diana 34 or 350 in .22 would be great.   call the umarex parts dept and see what refurbs they have.   i have bought several from them.   if you get a brand new diana, it'll be about 1500 shots before it really breaks in.....but you'll be in love w/ it forever and it will also last forever.   the diana model 34 sets the standard for value in the spring/piston airgun world (i measure and compare everything else to it).   the hatsan model 95 in .22 is also a great deal.   i will show you how to do an easy 'slot-tune'.  just call me :  817-986-7767.   paul d self of rane air.    =ps: you'll see on my website that my first adult airgun was a .177 diana model 36 back in 1985....i have been hooked ever since......and if you insist on chinese, go for the tf89 in .22.   

[AirScopes]

I hate the idea of throwing my money away on a piece of junk, but I would like to find a decent quality .22 rifle for around $200 that will shoot good and be reliable right out of the box.

I think you can get quite a few good rifles for under $200. I have them, and they are the ones I'm going to still be holding on to when I've sold off ALL my expensive guns.

* Hatsan 95
* RWS 94
* Norica Storm
* Titan GL
* Tech Force 89

And those are just the ones I bought new... Only the TF89 was tuned. I use the Norica as my pesting gun. it is about as accurate as anything I shoot and defined to 10 meters like a target rifle. Pretty as anything I own.

But I got used guns too that I'd never turn away:

* Mendoza 2800
* Hatsan Mod 100
* TF B21

each $80 or less... accurate as I can hold them, and powerful enough for pesting.

I've had guns up to $1000, and several that were supposed to be 'superior' that I ultimately found disappointing. My RWS 54 was about the best power gun I ever shot -- not the most powerful, but the most accurate and easiest to shoot. I don't buy the "you get what you pay for" line very often... But a $150 gun and pretend it has a higher price tag, you'll often do as well ;-)

Especially if you don't have peeves or know specifically what you are going to upgrade to when you put in more money, why bother? Get a gun... enjoy it...learn from it... when you know what you are missing, then start shopping for something else.

Richard

[thekid]

I can vouch for the 34,
I have 2, a .177 and .22, I tuned both of them. The 22 has the vortek kit and 177 has an OS kit from air rifle headquarters.
They both shoot smooth and from a bench are retardedly accurate. Using the kneeling position have stretched out to 60+ yards to take critters.
Mind you they are a hunting rifle, the true accuracy comes from tuning them and becoming very familiar with it.

I had lost my hunting grounds due to some unfortunate events. I still needed to shoot though, while target practicing at the target box/bird feeder which is 24 yards from the bench. I noticed mice stealing all the seed, as a flat roofer I get home when it is dark out, so they became the new pests.
The 34's have taken mice with headshots at 24 yards, most were smaller then a bic lighter.
The potential for great accuracy is there, just have to bring it out.

[Paul68]

Primary goal of hunting, I'd avoid 177, particularly if new to the sport. 22 will give a little more wiggle room and apply more energy to the critter =better kills. An XS25 from Flying Dragon will do everything you want with a minimum of hassle. You buy it, shiny up the exterior and begin shooting.

The XS46U is proving to be a serious performer and Mike at FD has gotten some pretty impressive power numbers out of them. Again, it will be all set to go out of the box delivered.

If your'e adventurous and willing to put in a little extra time practicing your hold, the XS28 is hard to beat as an all around shooter. 23-24+ fpe, accurate, and reliable. It is a bit barrel heavy, has strong recoil, but once mastered is a varmint killer.

Also, with Flying Dragon, you get better service than you will ever get from any other vendor, period.

I've got several Flying Dragon rifles, and wouldnt part with any of em.

[Bullit]

The good thing about getting a rifle from Mike, is that he'll tune it and ensure it's good to go, when you recieve it, period.
I was just reading another thread here on the GTA, about a RWS34 that needed repair.  It cost over $115 for a spring and seal fix from Umarex.  Mike wouldn't do you that way, unless you were using it for a ball bat!

[mtsheron70]

I will say it again and again and again for that price range look to the Diana model 34!  This gun can't be beat in that price range or even if the gun was $50-$75 more!  With the everyday always PA coupon code that gun can be had delievered for under $200 or slightly over if I remember right.

Good luck.

[jusanothajoe]

I will say it again and again and again for that price range look to the Diana model 34!  This gun can't be beat in that price range or even if the gun was $50-$75 more!  With the everyday always PA coupon code that gun can be had delievered for under $200 or slightly over if I remember right.

Good luck.

x2  with a 10% off code price is $ 197.95

[Millipede]

wow, if this forum thread doesn't make you want a rws34 then you are hopeless   

[jdub]

wow, if this forum thread doesn't make you want a rws34 then you are hopeless   

I am hopeless. 

[Bullit]

LOL   Me Too

[Paul68]

I can understand the logic behind purchasing a 34. I just can't justify the cost to recieve what amounts to little more than a better finish. The 25 in Ruger or XS dress will perform equally, still have a good finish (not perfect, just good) and cost 1/2. Add in that purchasing a 34 is not a gaurantee you will not need a tune or lube or find problems, and it just doesn't sway me enough to pay the added expense.

[WHITEFANG]

You can get the 34 from Mike FD as well. Xisico are great clones for the 350/34. Many parts interchange. It all just depends on how DEEP YOUR POCKETS ARE.
As far as MIKE FD, you can't beat the guy, always willing to help anyone that will listen.JMO

[Bullit]

I can understand the logic behind purchasing a 34. I just can't justify the cost to recieve what amounts to little more than a better finish. The 25 in Ruger or XS dress will perform equally, still have a good finish (not perfect, just good) and cost 1/2. Add in that purchasing a 34 is not a gaurantee you will not need a tune or lube or find problems, and it just doesn't sway me enough to pay the added expense.

X2 Paul.   If we were talking a 350, that would be a different story.   Here's a Ruger Blackhawk for sale at 1/2 the 34 cost, in the classifieds:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=40501.0;topicseen

[Millipede]

good points..  maybe after reading this thread and you still buy a 34, then you are hopeless..   

[QuigleyUpYonder]

After recently being edumacated on the "low rent" nature of the RWS 34 in 2012, I went to three different places (in two States) and looked at 5 different guns to see first hand what they looked like. I WILL NOT BE RECOMMENDING A 34 based on what I saw and felt. I did this because I have friends asking me what to buy! They see my Trail NP and love what it does but flip out over the price and what I've had to do to it to get it to shoot.


I can confirm that they DO still say "Made in Germany" on the receivers, but the "workmanship" is only MARGINALLY better than what I see on the frigggin' Chicom guns!..and the Chicom/non-German guns were smoother! I see now why so much is ballyhooed about the "break-in" because the 34's I saw were ROUGH AS A COB!

This will start to sound like a broken record, but if you buy a 34, plan on immediately tuning it /working on it. The 34 is no doubt a great gun in tuned state and many aftermarket parts are available for it. So  that's a huge plus. ..even better, try to find an OLD ONE!

[GungaDin]

Okay, the main thing I don't like is that the Crosman Nitro piston comes with a scope and no open sights.  Is there a similar gas piston rifle that comes with open sights?

You don't need a scope if you don't want one, get a dot sight for it.
https://www.pyramydair.com/accessories/dot-sights