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Air Gun Home Forum Index » Rifles » Looking for a Quality Air Rifle to Practice for Deer Season. Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  Looking for a Quality Air Rifle to Practice for Deer Season.   Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:35 pm z_carlson92 New Member Joined: 01 Mar 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Northern MN Hey Everyone! I'm going to try to keep this short and simple. Long story short, I am not confident in my shooting abilities with a rifle any more, and actually missed 2 deer this year I've decided enough is enough, I need to start practicing A LOT more with a rifle to learn how to properly shoot and get rid of my trigger panic. I think an air rifle is the best way to do this, as live ammunition is expensive and I am a college student on a budget. That being said, I am really leaning towards the RWS Diana 34/34P but I really do not know much to be honest. A few others that I looked at are the Ruger Air Hawk, the Stoeger X20, the Gamo Whisper and the mid-level Benjamins and Beemans. I want to get the best bang for my buck, but I do not want to sacrafice quality (trigger, warranty, scope mounts etc.) just to save a few bucks. For that reason, I really like the RWS 34, but I figured I would toss it out to you guys to get your thoughts. Thanks for your time, help and advice! Zach _________________ >>>-----CARLSON----->   Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:03 pm SMP Silver Status Member Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 1183 Location: Just south of "Out There"- Land O Lakes Ontario Your first choice is a very good one. The Diana will serve you well and I have heard good things about the T06 trigger and I find it's quite nice. As for your other choices...believe it or not most of them are essentially the same rifle with different window dressing and trim. The trigger on most will need to be extensively reworked or replaced with an aftermarket blade that works very well. Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. The B18/19 platform is awesome for what it is. ( That's the base platform of your alternate choices) But if you want out of the box a nicer trigger and a bit of quality I would choose the Diana _________________ Sean   Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:41 pm radar Silver Status Member Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Posts: 1138 Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA That 34 with the T06 trigger is a great machine--I love mine--but it will not teach you the same muscle memory feel you need for a high power powder burner. I recommend a pump-up air, precharged air (like a Benjamin Discovery or better yet, a Marauder) or a CO2 gun like a QB78. The reason is, you will want to squeeze it a bit and firm to the shoulder like a high power during practice. Most spring-piston air rifles hate that and like to be held very lightly to shoot accurately. However, any practice is good, and the 34, in my experience, doesn't mind a firmer hold. The POI will be different that way, but once sighted-in for a firm-ish hold, it will not shotgun all over the paper--at least not after a little break-in period and just a little bit of chain lube on the spring (and only the spring). Just my 2 cents worth. (As an afterthought, for offhand shooting the 34, I do hold mine pretty firm and follow through. It's the only way I can usually hit a 3" bull at 35 yards from standing. For some reason, I hit moving targets better than stationary.) Last edited by radar on Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:44 am; edited 1 time in total _________________ It's never too late to have a happy childhood.   Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:55 pm SMP Silver Status Member Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 1183 Location: Just south of "Out There"- Land O Lakes Ontario radar wrote: That 34 with the T06 trigger is a great machine--I love mine--but it will not teach you the same muscle memory feel you need for a high power powder burner. I recommend a pump-up air, precharged air (like a Benjamin Discovery or better yet, a Marauder) or a CO2 gun like a QB78. The reason is, you will want to squeeze it a bit and firm to the shoulder like a high power during practice. Most spring-piston air rifles hate that and like to be held very lightly to shoot accurately. Interesting conversation opener Have you ever tried holding a burner using a classic artillery hold. The reason I ask is I've done a bit of fullbore shooting and the hold is light and "open".When I was in the military we were still using the 7.62 cartridge (308) for match and the hold was light. Same goes for BR very very light regardless of how big the cannon is. The recoil of a really snarly -06 is only about 19ft/lb. Consider we fire the TAC 50 using a single hand lightly on the pistol grip a that recoils at about 40ft/lbs _________________ Sean   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:54 am radar Silver Status Member Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Posts: 1138 Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA SMP wrote: Interesting conversation opener Have you ever tried holding a burner using a classic artillery hold... With both airguns and powder burners I have tried both ways, myself. I still pull them into my shoulder for best results...but that's just me. I am not any better than a "serviceable" rifle shot; no expert by any means. In fact I edited the above to correct it to a 3" bullseye. And by usually hitting it I mean 60-70 percent of the time, standing. But if I hold very lightly, I miss 80-90%. Not because of the gun, but because of me. I wiggle. My crosshairs wander wide and far no matter what I do with breath holding or standing position. Timing the shot release accurately in those conditions is nearly impossible. If I pull the rifle to me, with one hand forward on the forestock to steer the muzzle, the wiggle settles down and I can concentrate on the Steven Segal technique of picturing myself "pushing" the projectile through the bullseye as the trigger breaks. (For follow through.) From a rest, however, I just artillary hold an air rifle. _________________ It's never too late to have a happy childhood. HW products   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:37 pm lasabre Member Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 14 Location: BFE I would have to say a HW product.....HW30 or HW50. A little more $$$ ( mulah ) Better build quality, trigger and barrel(German) ...and it even has a buttpad. Go w/ the HW...there is a difference. Good luck hunting!!   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:37 pm SMP Silver Status Member Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 1183 Location: Just south of "Out There"- Land O Lakes Ontario Quote: My crosshairs wander wide and far no matter what I do with breath holding or standing position. Timing the shot release accurately in those conditions is nearly impossible. That's the catch 22 with using glass. Sure they allow you to see the target better (my eyes are not what they used to be either) but the downside is they invite you to focus on the target. As long as your focused on the target your brain will continuously tell your less reactive body to correct and correct and correct. I had my eureka moment one day when we we doing rifle practice on the range in Calgary. I was shooting okay but my hits were all over the place. The instructor sergeant (who was Mr 1000m guru and sniper extraodinaire) walked up to me and said "your never going to hit the target unless you stop trying to hit the target" huhwabbawtfdidyousay "yes Sergeant" He looked at me like com"on stupid this ain't brain surgery "Your trying to aim the rifle, the rifle will aim itself without your help" Ya right, what kinda voodoo hippy dope smokin crap are you on about "yes Sergeant" The Sergeant said" Settle into your position and get a solid NPA" I did what he told me then he walked up and stuck a 6" long piece of gun tape over my sights, I couldn't see diddly squat. "Fire 5 rds and make sure you settle between every shot" I fired the 5 and spotted my hits. It was pretty obvious that I was looking at the best group I had ever shot. Or anyone else on that firing line. The sergeant in typical fashion said "groups nice but your NPA is off" EUREKA moment After we were done at the range I filled out my request for the rifle team...I was hooked _________________ Sean   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:46 pm oddtodd Silver Status Member Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 2029 Location: Richmond, IN USA This is probably going to sound stupid, but what does NPA stand for? Natural Aiming Point? _________________ Airguns: Two starlings talking "Larry, did you hear that? Larry?? LARRY!!!!"   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:58 pm SMP Silver Status Member Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 1183 Location: Just south of "Out There"- Land O Lakes Ontario oddtodd wrote: This is probably going to sound stupid, but what does NPA stand for? Natural Aiming Point? Yessir _________________ Sean   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:55 pm NZ Shooter Suspended Joined: 17 Dec 2011 Posts: 146 Location: Dunedin, New Zealand NPA stands for Natural Aiming Point ?.. That'd be NAP... Is it Natural Point (of) Aim ?? _________________ Webley Patriot .22 @ 28 fpe Nikko MountMaster 4x40 AO   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:31 pm radar Silver Status Member Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Posts: 1138 Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA Thanks Sean! I will work on that! _________________ It's never too late to have a happy childhood.   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:01 pm robert w Senior Member Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 574 Location: usa 2 diana 34's in my safe a great middle of the road gun for the price _________________ ,crosman 400,gamo big cat in .22, diana 5g,diana 54 air king, diana 34 in .22 diana 34 in .177, wilrauch hw-55,and a romainian pioner training rifle , and a huge collection of powder burners 35 last count . 1 would think i have a gun store   Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:22 pm SMP Silver Status Member Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 1183 Location: Just south of "Out There"- Land O Lakes Ontario NZ Shooter wrote: NPA stands for Natural Aiming Point ?.. That'd be NAP... Is it Natural Point (of) Aim ?? Technically yes but either works for me _________________ Sean   Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:09 pm Scartch Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 16 Location: Florida Greetings Zach. If I may add my .02$ I have also run into recoil issues with my heavier calibers Your move to go to a lighter caliber in order to work on your trigger, I think is a good one. It will help mollify recoil induced flinch. May I also suggest you look into a recoil pad such as a "Limbsaver" that will slip over the butt of your present stock. Be advised that it will lengthen your pull somewhat. There are also recoil suppressors than can be fitted to your stock. Those will add up to a pound to your rifle weight. Good luck.   Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:11 pm thepaladin Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 930 Location: TN USA I've been a shooter since I was 4 years old (that's when my dad and grand-dad began to teach me safe gun handling with a .22. I got my own BB gun when I was 8.) I love shooting but don't find that a springer shoots much like a powder burner. The recoil is somewhat reversed and the hold on a springer needs to be exceptionally light. I've had most success simply resting my springer(s)' forestock on an open palm. I'd never have fired my 30.06 that way. Shooting a springer will give you practice in control, both aim and trigger. I'd suggest considering at least 2 types of airgun (depending on your budget). Look at PCP guns but they are very expensive. In warmer weather I'd suggest learning on a springer and if a PCP gun is too expensive maybe a good co2 gun. Little recoil at all, but good trigger practice. _________________ "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." 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