Benjamin Discovery .22 or RWS 34 .22?

[airgunhunter118]

Well guys the title says it all. I am looking for an accurate and reliable pellet rifle for sniping pest birds and such like. Please tell me what would be better and reasons why. Thanks

[thekid]

Easier shooting goes to the benjamin discovery, no recoil.
The 34 is very capable of taking many critters, but with all spring rifles has a learning curve to it.
Once mastered though, very accurate and capable rifle.
Love my 34's

[airgunhunter118]

Im tight on cash because im a college student so do you think it is worth the extra money for the benjamin discovery over the rws 34?

[Dockey 454]

Being tight on cash, I would go with the 34. Then all you need is to learn the artillery hold, and pellets. With the Discovery you need a pump, or air tank. With the 34 just cock, and load your ready.
Tom

[airgunhunter118]

what pellets do you recommend for accuracy? i know that every pellet rifle likes their own ammo but just give me a general direction toward a brand.

[Dockey 454]

Every gun has it's favorite pellets. You will have to test several types to see what gun yours shoots the best. The straight shooters site and others have sample packs with several types. this way you can figure it out without going broke. My 34 shoots Crosman 7.9 domed the best. Hope this helps some.
Tom

[airgunhunter118]

is your RWS 34 a .177 and if so how does it for squirrels and things of that size?

[Dockey 454]

Yes it's a 177. I have taken many squirrels with it at reasonable distances. With my skills I would say 25 yds.
Tom

[drewciferpike]

If you're _really_ tight on cash, both the Ruger Air Hawk (and Black Hawk) and XS25 are RWS 34 clones. Mike Melick of Flying Dragon Air Rifles (http://flyingdragonairrifles.org/) gives the best value: clean, inspection, lube, and barrel crown... shipping included. You can pay a little more to have it tuned, which will still cost you less than a RWS 34.

I push for that because a MM XS25 in .22 was my first gun, and it's great. It gives you a great place to start, and you can determine if you want to dabble with PCPs, or more expensive springers, from there.

"Sniping" will go to the PCP, though. Much easier to shoot from the beginning. You can find used Discos and pumps for a good deal, and sometimes there's awesome sales on a combo.

Remember that your scope and mounting hardware will run you a little extra, but a scope won't have to worry about recoil on a PCP.

[Cathartes]

I own both guns and this is a tough choice. The 34 was the first airgun that I tuned myself and also the first one that I really got the hang of shooting. It was a great starter gun. That being said, if I could only choose one gun, it would be the Discovery, without any hesitation. I don't know if I would have fallen for my Disco so hard if I hadn't spent all that time working on and practicing with my 34, but the Disco is just so much more pleasurable to shoot.

Which one is more accurate? They both are very accurate out to 60 yards, but the PCP extends out to about 80 to consistently hit my .22/Airgun spinner targets. I shoot my Disco more accurately more consistently, but it is because it requires me to be far less "in the zone" than my 34 to do so. I still shoot both of them pretty regularly.

The Disco wins on long-range knockdown, and this also translates to less POI drop out past 60 yards.

I should also note that there have been times that I opted to shoot my 34 because I didn't want to hassle with my pump. The majority of the time it isn't a deal killer, though.

Both of these are two of my favorite guns and there are some nice upgrades available for both of them.

[lillysdad621]

i own both and have actually tuned my disco marauder to shoot the same speed  than the 34. reason been that no matter what rifle i pick up the trajectory is the same (both shoot CPrems HPs very well). In your case i would definitely stick to the 34 in .22. mine shoots 680 fps with the crosmans and is capable of 1/2 inch groups at 30 yards all day long. It is very quiet (nicely broken in and then opened for a relube and to check the seal), and once you figure out the hold (takes a little time) it becomes second nature. My 34 has a Nikko stirling 3-10x44 with a duplex reticle and has hunted rabbits and squirrels out to 45 yards (47 yards rangefound!!!) with head shots. for pest birds i would switch to RWS hobbies and take the scope off. Open sights within 25 yards with body shots is devastating... A used 34 (i would not buy a new one) will set you back about 150 to 175 bucks, and if that is still too salty, I would definitely recommend a Mike Melick b25. his tuned guns shoot so good is unbelievable.

[PyroMonkey]

Comparing these rifles is like comparing an American muscle car(RWS 34) with a Ferrari (Discovery).  The muscle car is more practical and cheaper but harder to drive.  The Ferrari is faster, and easier to drive but less practical and more expensive. 

If you have the money and patience to deal with pumping it up every 30 shots go for the disco, it performs better.  If you are tight on cash go for the RWS 34, just be prepared to practice a lot before you get good accuracy.

[jimmie lee]

I have both but prefer the Discovery for several reasons...scope is not an issue for Disco because no recoil and it will stay true through shot after shot; accuracy is consistent from 1750-1200 psi, it is light in it's stock form but so is the 34, is easy to pump. It is a great critter-gitter! When I don't feel like pumping then I grab the 34 and send pellets downrange willy-nilly, all day long. Down side to the 34 is my scopes need to be adjusted often due to the recoil.

[lillysdad621]

with a Ferrari (Discovery).

I think I just wet myself.... LMBO
i would say the discovery is more like a taurus... it does the job, not pretty, not that fast, but it does the job. the Rws is more like a E30 bmw 325is... drive it hard and if you know what you are doing it will show a good pair of heels... sidestep the clutch a bit too hard off a corner and boyaaah!... back yourself into the woods...

either gun will do what you need... the disco much louder... flatter, and with some sporadic pumping... the 34 will require some finagleing and handling that borders on religious rituals... but you will get that pellet near if not on the mark...

[Cathartes]

lol... a Taurus? Ouch, the Disco isn't that ugly. It ain't pretty, but it has a certain functional elegance.

[Dockey 454]

Not to get off the subject or anything, but I'll take a diesel dully over a Ferrari. Kind of a meat and potatoes kind of guy.
Tom

[PyroMonkey]

with a Ferrari (Discovery).

I think I just wet myself.... LMBO
i would say the discovery is more like a taurus... it does the job, not pretty, not that fast, but it does the job. the Rws is more like a E30 bmw 325is... drive it hard and if you know what you are doing it will show a good pair of heels... sidestep the clutch a bit too hard off a corner and boyaaah!... back yourself into the woods...

either gun will do what you need... the disco much louder... flatter, and with some sporadic pumping... the 34 will require some finagleing and handling that borders on religious rituals... but you will get that pellet near if not on the mark...

Don't miss the point.
Springer = muscle car
PCP = Ferrari

That said, the E30 analogy does sort of work.  The Disco doesn't offer much in the way of trigger feel or other shooter feedback sort of like a taurus.  The RWS 34 on the other hand gives you everything you need to make a good shot like the E30 which has great steering and brake feel.

While it's fun to play around with analogies I don't want to confuse the OP.  The disco will be more accurate for most shooters since there is no recoil to deal with.

[Brewerja]

dont forget that, the disco is pretty noisy unless you get a barrel muffler for it, lol so thats going to cost extra.... i think that, the disco would be more "fun" per say, but the barrel cocker will get you killin critters quicker and les expensively for sure. Most guys buy discos and start modding them right away. Im a PCP guys now, but i learned everything i know shooting my NPXL in .22 cal. what a monter gun that was. anyway id reccomend the spring/gas ram gun forst and decide what you want to do after. after you learn some trajectory, you should be able to whack pesky birds out to 50yds pretty easily. i use to routinely drop pigeons with my titan+tuna trigger in 22 cal @ about 60yds a few years back. so your more than capable of those shots with a better rifle and adjustable trigger. dont sweat it, go with the break barrel dude!