Is the scope and/or base the problem or me

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lamarkeiko

Member
Jun 22, 2017
129
2
Oregon, United States
This is my first post to the Airgun Nation forum. Before I give the details of my Issue, I think I first need to give a little background, which may help with better replies back.
I purchased a new Diana RWS 52 in .22 cal about 11 years ago. This was and is the only spring charged air rifle I've ever owned. I had the gun for a couple years when I decided I needed to purchase a good scope in order to achieve the shooting ability this gun is suppose to have according to what I've read on line. From Pyramid Air I purchased a Leapers 5th Generation 3-9X40 AO Mil-Dot scope and a Accushot 1 piece high profile base & rings. I also purchased 3 different cans of pellets to go along with my RWS Super-H-Dome pellets I've had since I got the rifle. I wanted to see which type pellet gave the best performance. Over the years I've probably shot about 1000 rounds through the gun during quite a few shooting sessions trying to achieve good consistent groups to no avail. I shoot most the time at about 30 yd. The normal 5 shot group is about 2", with maybe 3 within an inch. That just doesn't seem anything near good enough. At 50 yd I might be more satisfied but still not real happy.
I'm 68 years young, and have been shooting and hunting all my life. I believe I'm a fair to good shot with a regular rifle. I understand that a person can't hold a spring charged air rifle the same, and I've tried holding the gun at rest as described for spring charged air guns. As you may understand, I've gotten very disenchanted with this gun and decided I want to sell it. It's way too heavy for me anyway. I went out a few days ago to try shooting it one last time with the same disappointing results. The last thing I tried doing after shooting was tighten up the scope rings a little. When I snugged up the four allen screws on each ring set, I found that one screw on each ring was stripped. Now the big question is, could this be a big contributor to my bad shooting, or is there more to it. I've already ordered a new base & rings from PA. I have a .20 cal Sheridan Blue Streak CO2 rifle with open sights that I can shoot about as good as my RWS 52. Thanks for reading this, and I would appreciate your input and opinions.
Lamar
 
No reason to talk about how you need to hold a springer to shoot it since you said you know about that. And since the rifle is 11 years old it could stand a tear down and lube? But from your post I don't think you have been happy with how it shot at the beginning? I have a number of springer rifles and if you had a chrony you could at least narrow it down to between the rifle or the scope+mount. They are a nice rifle and with it being too heavy for what you use one for. As you said maybe its time to go ahead and sell it?
 
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Springers are really hard on scopes and scope mounts due to the double recoil (backwards and forwards) on each shot. A good set of Steel rings might be better than the usual aluminum rings many use. If they are aluminum then the constant recoil might have been what stripped the screws and could definitely be a factor in non repeatability of POI.
If your scope is not springer rated it could also be damaged.
Thurmond
 
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Can anyone who is familiar with the Diana RWS 48/52 airguns tell me if I am shooting with the appropriate scope and mounts as I described in post 1. Are the ones I have installed strong enough for this air rifle. After reading all the 5 star reviews on this gun about its quality and accuracy, it's hard to accept Deja's comment above as being fact. My gun will shoot a lot better than that. It just won't come close to holding groups reviewers say they are getting. 1 inch groups at 50 yds, 5 shot groups covered with a quarter at 30 yds as some examples. Either there are a lot of BSers out there or I have a problem somewhere. I don't want to sell a gun that may have a problem, even if it still looks like it came from the factory. I have a new Accushot 1 piece base and rings arriving any day from Pyramid Air. If that's the incorrect one for this gun, someone please let me know, and I'll send it back and exchange for the correct ones.
Thanks
Lamar
 
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Some springers do ok at 50 yards. I was testing pellets in my TX 200 at 45 yards. The set up was not great that day since I was not planning on doing that but just used what was in the back of my side by side to shoot off of.....................(poptart box is not what I usually use) 8 shots at 45 yards in a little breeze. I have used the RWS mount on a springer before and it did hold the scope in place(but let it go with that rifle)
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/RWS_Lock_Down_1_Pc_Mount_w_1_Rings_11mm_Dovetail_Barrel_Droop_Compensation/2406

And there is a lot of BS on line? Its like when someone says their rifle is shooting MOA at 50 yards? In my mind that would be half inch groups since MOA is "1 MOA spreads about 1" per 100 yards. (actually 1.047")"

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Goodtogo, that is impressive shooting at 45 yds. I would be tickled to do that at 30 yds with 5 shots. The RWS scope mount you linked to does make mention that it will not fit a Leapers UTG 3-9X40 AO scope, which is what mine is. My new base and rings should be arriving any time, so I'll probably just give that a try and hope for better results.

Lamar
 
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I've had my new base mounted to my model 52 and scope for just over a week now. I've shot a lot of pellets and targets in that time. Right now after a lot of shooting and going from very good groups to some very erratic shooting, I'm coming to the conclusion that there is something going on with the scope. I have been doing most of my shooting at 50 yds, because that is about the distance I get for all the ground squirrels on my property. I've had the shots grouping around 1 1/2 inch with an occasional flyer. I'll do a few clicks
L or R or up or down. After the adjustments on the scope I seem to shoot all over the place with no grouping. After quite a few shots are taken, the gun will start putting together good groups again. I can readjust the scope just 2 clicks, and the gun is shooting all over the place again, until I do a lot more shots until the scope settles in again.
This morning I got a 5 shot group of 1 1/16" at 50 yd. I'm about 1" high and 1 1/4" left now. I'm not planning on trying any more adjustments any more. I'll just adjust my aim.
Is this a characteristic of the scope to take a while to settle in with an adjustment, or do I have a bad scope?
I have killed 6 squirrels at 56 yds this past week when I had an idea where the gun would hit.

Lamar
 
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I had a RWS model 48 in 177 that i couldn't shoot very well. Actually it was awful. Tried 3 scopes and about every pellet made. Traded it for a Beeman R7 or maybe R9 in 20 cal. tried every pellet they made in 20 cal. Couldn't shoot it either. Sold it and got into PCPs. Crying is over now. No more Springers for me. Bite the bullet and get a PCP and let the expert's have their springers. I am now 67 and too old to even try to learn to shoot a Springer. Get rid of your headache pills and buy a good PCP.
 
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