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Sylord · New Member

I'm new to pellet rifles. I owned a red rider 35 years ago, and probably a pump somewhere not long after, but went right to firearms and that's where I've been for years.

With the cost of ammunition I though I would try a better pellet rifle. Nothing expensive but not something I was going to pump up a dozen times just to shoot either. A friend offered me a RWS45 so I took him up on it. The only issue is the plastic screw on the RWS scope elevation control is broken. RWS does not sell them, anyone have one they would part with?

Any recommendation on what's good to shoot out it? I'll probably try critter control from 5' to 50' on my pond. Not sure yet how well I trust using a pellet gun but we have possum, muskrat, beavers, crows, snapping turtles, and other critters up to a bobcat family. Yes, I still carry something larger with me when I walk out my back door, 22mag minimum.

What can I expect out of the RWS 45? Not too much info to be found on the web about her...

broommaster2000 · Moderator

They don't make the 45 anymore, it's an old design gun that they stopped making ages ago, something like between 10 and 20 years ago. Used to be loads in stock on this side of the pond because people tended to go for other rifles of the brand. It sort of got replaced, or outsold by the 34 (34 is one of their longest running models, but they increased in power, but are lighter then the 34 to carry around) and the 350 (which used to be their powerhouse, but it got replaced by more modern and more powerfull rifles), in spite of what the numbers might make you think. RWS/Diana rifles are well build guns though, great rifles out of the box and very reliable and accurate enough. Some people may feel they are kind of iffy to shoot but that's all a matter of training the artillery hold.

It's age/usage might have affected it's power. Should be in the 14-16 FPE range for a new one, I think, but you don't know without testing that. Be aware that a lot of times, spring powered rifles may feel more powerfull then they look, especially of older design. I had a 12 FPE rifle (BSA Lightning XL) with a real kick. :P

What do you mean with scope elevation control? Something on the scope you got with it? I might suggest just getting a nice different scope.

Also, what caliber do you have?

Sylord · New Member

It's a .177 caliber.

Best I can say mine has a 10 88 date stamp on it. Being made from 80 to recent it sounds right.

From the few posts the 45 was a more expensive model that started at 800fps. With the cheaper 34 selling as 1000 FPS they changes the 45 to 2nd revision with captured trigger and then increased power to 1000 FPS.

This is all from an air gun blog but all I could find. It says early models had pin through trigger/stock. Mine does. I have only shot it once string so I have not gotten out stuff to check speed. Will try it this weekend.

It does have a good kick. I'm happy 800 FPS or less if I can get it accurate. Cutting skirt is my fault and fat fingers.