New to this whole air gun thing. I need the .22 cal and I know these guns are not apples to apples but I hear such good things about the RWS 34 that I just can't over look it. I need to stay under $300 and the Gamo is faster quieter and has the gas piston instead of the springer which I think is a good thing. Is the spring and 800 fps a deal breaker vs 1020 fps with gas spring ? Noise is a bit of concern but not the biggest, how comparable are the db on a rws 34 vs a gamo whisper mach 1 ?
RWS 34 or Gamo Mach 1
- Thread starter 53chevy5
- Start date
The RWS 34 is the better airgun by a wide margin. Optimal velocity for best accuracy with an airgun is under 950fps. Anything over 950ish and certainly at 1000fps can break the sonic barrier and introduce turbulence that screws up your accuracy. I prefer to shoot springers at 800fps or thereabouts.
The build quality on the RWS is superior to the Gamo. And steel springs are the best powerplant IMHO. The highest end spring rifles continue to use steel springs, not gas rams. Steel springs can be left cocked for hours will no ill effects.
Ignore the advertising, high power springers are not quiet, and that includes the Gamo.
If you care properly for the RWS it should serve you well for decades.
R
The build quality on the RWS is superior to the Gamo. And steel springs are the best powerplant IMHO. The highest end spring rifles continue to use steel springs, not gas rams. Steel springs can be left cocked for hours will no ill effects.
Ignore the advertising, high power springers are not quiet, and that includes the Gamo.
If you care properly for the RWS it should serve you well for decades.
R
Upvote 0
+1 with EMrider ...The comparison of this two rifles is not even close . The RWS is a very high quality rifle , The other is hyped up by its speed . Speed is useless if it won't hit where its pointed . I'm not an engineer or anything , and I k ow the nitro piston thing sounds good ....But its WAYYYYYY overhyped . The best traditional powered airguns out there is something that guys here can debate like crazy and have a ball doing it ..But a nitro piston gun won't make the conversation . Cost/quality you could make a strong case for the RWS34.
Upvote 0
Did you already order? If not, I'll add another vote for the Diana.
The Gamo might (MIGHT) shoot harder, but if its accuracy is not good, what does it matter? It's not a new story either. No one is ever amazed by the accuracy of the affordable gas ram guns.They're adequate, at best. I keep trying to talk myself in to a Crosman, but I can't do it.
The Diana not only has better build quality and materials, but also a much better trigger. You'll shoot so much better with the Diana that any lack of power will more than be compensated for. Just research how to hold them; look for ' airgun artillery hold' online. You can't hold them tight to your shoulder and rigidly supported. Hold them loose and support them in the same place every time. Let it move. It won't hurt you no matter HOW hard they kick, since the recoil is forward, not back.
I don't think there's anything wrong with gas rams, it's just that the traditional spring gun manufacturers will take their time to start introducing them, since they've spent the last 100+ years refining spring technology. I believe gas ram guns can be just as good as springers (ex. Theoben, and Beeman RX2) but for some reason, no one makes a low or medium power one yet; only magnum, so it's hard to compare a reasonably-powered springer with a magnum powered gas ram gun.
Lastly, a .22 shooting at 800 fps is pretty strong. I think it would take game up to raccoon-sized with a chest shot, or anything smaller than a wildebeast with a head shot.
The Gamo might (MIGHT) shoot harder, but if its accuracy is not good, what does it matter? It's not a new story either. No one is ever amazed by the accuracy of the affordable gas ram guns.They're adequate, at best. I keep trying to talk myself in to a Crosman, but I can't do it.
The Diana not only has better build quality and materials, but also a much better trigger. You'll shoot so much better with the Diana that any lack of power will more than be compensated for. Just research how to hold them; look for ' airgun artillery hold' online. You can't hold them tight to your shoulder and rigidly supported. Hold them loose and support them in the same place every time. Let it move. It won't hurt you no matter HOW hard they kick, since the recoil is forward, not back.
I don't think there's anything wrong with gas rams, it's just that the traditional spring gun manufacturers will take their time to start introducing them, since they've spent the last 100+ years refining spring technology. I believe gas ram guns can be just as good as springers (ex. Theoben, and Beeman RX2) but for some reason, no one makes a low or medium power one yet; only magnum, so it's hard to compare a reasonably-powered springer with a magnum powered gas ram gun.
Lastly, a .22 shooting at 800 fps is pretty strong. I think it would take game up to raccoon-sized with a chest shot, or anything smaller than a wildebeast with a head shot.
Upvote 0
Yes, as fate would have it, I bought the RWS 34 p that dairyboy had advertised on the board here. Super excited to try it out. I also ordered a Marlin .17 hmr but I am more excited about the RWS. Thanks for the extra input, you have reinforced my decision.
Upvote 0
.17 HMR is a different animal. Not quiet, due to the sonic boom, so you must be planning on taking that one to a range or out in the wild.
There's a video on YouTube of someone hunting Egyptian Geese from at least a hundred yards. He was drilling them one after another, and they didn't know what was going on until he had his limit. Just amazing. Low recoil, flat trajectory. Kind of like .22LR, but with a flatter trajectory and a much more efficient bullet shape. I think they're about a 200 yd. gun, right?
There's a video on YouTube of someone hunting Egyptian Geese from at least a hundred yards. He was drilling them one after another, and they didn't know what was going on until he had his limit. Just amazing. Low recoil, flat trajectory. Kind of like .22LR, but with a flatter trajectory and a much more efficient bullet shape. I think they're about a 200 yd. gun, right?
Upvote 0
I got the HMR for skunks, I have a lot of them and I like to shoot them when they're far away. I had a bad incident with wounding one with a .22 lr and him going into my stacked wood pile.That was a bad night. with all these responses I sure am glad I went with the rws for general shooting around the aceage.
Upvote 0
I shot a skunk in the backside from across the yard (40 yards away) with my Marauder a couple weeks ago. I heard that pellet hit home: "WHOCK" and he ambled out of the yard a little faster. Thank goodness I didn't hit the stink sack! There have been no skunk sprayings in my neighborhood since then, so he probably went a couple yards over to die.
I have mixed feelings about that encounter. On one hand, I only wounded him and one of my neighbors probably had to deal with the body. But on the other hand, there's no more pest problem in our neighborhood. Maybe the neighbor is thankful too?
I have mixed feelings about that encounter. On one hand, I only wounded him and one of my neighbors probably had to deal with the body. But on the other hand, there's no more pest problem in our neighborhood. Maybe the neighbor is thankful too?
Upvote 0
Them skunks are unbelievably tough, If you took one out with out having to use Fabreze as nasal spray, I think you did good.
Upvote 0