I have a Diana 52 in .177 and have tested a few different brands and weights of pellets but am disappointed by the continuing lack of accuracy. Currently, I'm shooting RWS MEISERKUGELN 8.2 grain pellets. These provide 1" groups at 10 yds. Is there something I can do to improve accuracy? For the price of this pellet rifle, I was expecting bugeye groups at this distance.

Bobby B.

I too have a model 52. I had some match grade RWS that did horrible---then I discovered why. They were pistol pellets and too light. I tried various and the Crosman premiers which are 10.5 grain seem to be the best. I also had issues with the scope and mounts. There was not enough adjustment in the scope. I talked to an RWS airsmith and he called it. He knew exactly where it was grouping and why. You need an adjustable mount like the RWS mount and that problem was solved. I tried different scopes and all had same problem--would not focus at air gun range. Then got the Leupold 3x-9x compact with EFR (extended focus range--focuses down to 10 meters) problem solved. Couple other items about the 52 I did not like. The safety is too small. My gunsmith (now deceased) made a boot that is knurled and slides over the safety giving a bigger contact area--vast improvement. The red dot for the safety is not an indicator as on most guns. It is a locator. It is on the left hand side and is centered between the fire posistion and the safe posistion. The shroud it is on is plastic. With steel wool, I eliminated the dot. I took a Dremel with a small ball and ever so gently just touched where I wanted the dot ( on right side of safety and towards front where fire posistion is). I then filled in the dimple with red paint and it looks like it was made that way and to me is where it should be.

Is it you ... or the gun ?????

That's not a bad start really.
It's hard to say without seeing you shoot, do you have experience with accurate springers? It can take quite a lot of effort to get one under control.

Obviously start on a bench with a rest, but the rest is critical ... not too hard, not too soft, needs to be just right. But still your grip is important, firm but not a death grip, let the gun do it's thing.

Also it can be a lot longer than you'd think to run in a springer. If it's new check all the screws are tight after 500 shots clean the barrel totally then shoot 20 to relead it, then don't clean it again, try the Crossman Primeres and stick to one pellet, don't keep changing till your sure your getting the best from them.

Thanks for the advise. The rifle has maybe 100 rds through it. I've shot alot of centerfire rifles, and alot of rds through them but am new to springers.

I just read about the 'artillery hold' so will adjust my grip accordingly. Will also fire more pellets to 'break in' my springer.

Bobby B.

did you clean the barrel good when you got it? new guns always have a fair amount of machine oil/packing grease in them when new and unless you clean the barrel prior to shooting it will take much longer to obtain accuracy during the break in phase. as mentioned above too, RWS are notorious for needing a "droop" mount as many scopes do not have enough adjustment in the reticle to get on target when mounted on a RWS. also, do not waste time and money on a scope that doesn't have an adjustable objective lens- and the scope better be magnum springer rated or you will quickly beat it to pieces. magnum springers are much harder on scopes than most centerfire rifles because of the bi-phasic nature of the recoil they generate.if in doubt, check with the manufacturer. good luck.

Yes, I cleaned the barrel well when I first brought it home. The scope I currently have on it is a Leopold VariX II 3x9 with no AO. I'm trying to locate a good 'springer' scope but no one up here seems to stock them and we can't import them from the states.

Bobby B.

You can re focus most scopes, loosen the front lens lock ring, Leopold usually need a bit of heat from a hair drier and jar opener tools to break the locktite. Then you can turn the Objective lens to bring the focus down to airgun ranges.

Had a 48 and sold it. Hard to shot stock, very sensitive to hold, lots of recoil. Had Jim Maccari do a tune on it back in the day and it was a great improvment but still heavy and hold sensitive. Bought a R-9 then a R-1 and never went back to it. In the end I traded it for a HW-77.

Everybody used to use the Bushnell Trophy 4-12 on the 48/52/54 as they were the strongest scope 10 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by The Specialist:
You can re focus most scopes, loosen the front lens lock ring, Leopold usually need a bit of heat from a hair drier and jar opener tools to break the locktite. Then you can turn the Objective lens to bring the focus down to airgun ranges.

and in doing so, lose the factory sealing job and nitrogen purging they do to make it moisture proof internally. much easier to go to ebay and buy a Centerpoint from China with AO objective.. before the flaming starts, let me say i have 2 Centerpoints on magnum springers that have great optics, have withstood thousands of shots and cost less than $125 a piece. why screw around with a $400-500 scope to make it focus down to airgun range when you can get an adequate one for $100. hell, Walmart sell Centerpoint 4-12x40 scopes with dovetail mountable rings for less than $80.

jdollar---This is certainly not a flame. It is my answer for the very good question you asked--why spend $400-$500 when you can buy a Centerpoint for much less? To begin with probably my very favorite optics are Bausch&Lomb back when they were Rochester New York made. Go to EBAY and buy a pair of world war 2 B&L and they survived the war are old enough to draw social security and are still crystal clear. I paid pretty high dollar for a pair in 1970 and they are still a joy to use. The decision was pretty easy when I had to throw the $25 pair away after very short usage and I was getting double image. B&L and Bushnell are now one in the same unless they have split up and you never know where they are made--Japan,China,Korea to name a few. I have a pair of 10X that were made overseas. Just a couple days ago I saw a bird in a tree and got them out but could not determine what kind of bird. I then got my 7x power--New York made and those weaker powered ones were so much clearer that I could tell it wasn't a bird---it was a broken limb. A few years ago I had a Bushnell scope that gave problem. I was out the expense of sending it back and a $15 service charge--along with gas to go to post office. Got scope back--mounted it went to range and it gave problem again. Out cost of more ammo,range fee, gasoline, postage and again $15. The 3rd time back to Bushnell I got rid of all my Bushnell scopes and buy Leupold and am a happy camper. Now to really answer your question--The Leupold scope I mentioned 3x-9x compact with EFR (adjustable objective and spring air rated) cost $307 a few years ago. I didnt want to spend that much. I watched EBAY very closely and EVERYONE of them that came up (several) all sold for ATLEAST $275 and some $290. At $275 that is only $32 less than new. If it breaks it is a Leupold problem--they fix it. Not familar with the Centerpoints if they break will they fix em or do you trash em? For my $32 I'll buy the $300 scope. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Had to edit as I forgot to mention. It's not only optics that were formerly US made that have taken a nose dive since they got moved to overseas. I use to get pretty good wear out of Rockport shoes---don't waste your money on the junk they now sell.

It's fine if you don't actually open the scope up.
Even if you let a bit of Nitrogen get out it's easy enough to re-gas it, lots of scopes have a plug for that purpose, or just assemble it in a clear plastic bag full of Nitrogen from any dive shop.
I've done countless scopes from nasty Chinese junk to top end scopes and never had a problem with more fogging, if you don't totally open up the scope, you usually only need a turn or two of the objective carrier.
A non adjustable scope with the parallax correction set for 100y is useless for a standard airgun. Better to get the right scope in the first place but if you already have a good rifle scope, no reason not to put it to use.
I just put an old fixed 6x Leupold on an Air Arms S400 Single Shot .177 carbine for a friends kid. What a great compact light weight combo, the scope cost £80 the gun was £225 used but perfect condition.
For not much cash he's got something that's dam near as accurate as any gun made, will last forever and is brilliant fun to use.

even if you loosen and adjust the objective lens for a shorter distance it will still be basically focused for just that distance with a slightly diminished focus for any other distance(although the amount of fuziness at other distances may be very small). better, i think, to just get an adjustable objective to begin with. another advantage is the inherent range finder built into an adjustable objective. when you turn the A.O. to max sharpness, you read off the distance as indicated on the distance scale printed on the scope- instant range finder! on another issue, after a little internet research, it seems that Leupold is the only major manufacturer whose scopes are still made in America. according to Leupold's website, their 2 air rifle scopes are the VX-II 3-9x33( about $400), and the VX-3 6-20x40(about $700). i guess it boils down to how much you are willing to pay but i have had no problems with the Centerpoints i own- and have but a lot of lead downrange. and as i said earlier, their image is crystal clear. maybe i have just been lucky.