Hw 90 Suggestion Required

[benjo999 1]

Hi,

 

I was looking to buy a a Diana 52 or 350 magnum in full power versions. I now have shortlisted an Hw90 also due to its gas ram which is advantage during hunting. Can any one suggest which will be the best among these 3 in .22 cal.

[pianoman 3,587]

Hi there benjo999.

 

Withoit a working knowledge of what regulation there may be regarding air rifles and power outputs/limits in India...

 

The short answer, from your choice of the three for me, is the Diana 52 Sidelever in .22.

 

Diana 52 is a sidelever styled on elegant, classical lines which I love anyway, and an absolute cracker of a rifle all round. Very well made quality rifle from an old time-honoured German maker. If you have an FAC this one really tunes up well. As it is, at sub-12 ft/lbs it can hold it's own well against its competition from HW etc.

 

The Diana 350 magnum was originally made for export to the US market and is intended for use as an FAC rated rifle. It's quite beautiful to shoot with, has a slim, elegant profile. I was tempted to put one on my FAC but, my HW80 is still the king of the hill on FAC power.

 

Best if you have an FAC to get the best out of it. I can't honestly say off the toip of my head if it is available in sub 12 ft/lbs versions. All the 350 Magnums I've seen are FAC rated and special order only. But, I may have this wrong.

 

Dianas are a high price item. One reason why you won't see many gun-shop dealers stocking them. They are well made, quality rifles and, with the right pellet, can be superbly accurate from my experience of shooting them -particularly the 52. But, a lot of shooters are put off by their high-end, stiff prices and the use of plastic parts such as forsight/rearsight units, But I never found anything poor about these units when shooting open-sights with them. The trigger blades and guards on some models are also plastic but, again this is gun-quality high-impact plastic and not like something bashed on from an airfix kit!

 

They are also quite hefty, especially their sidelever rifles. But the 54 AIRKING is another well worth considering. One on my shopping list for sure.

 

Avoid the short-barrel carbine versions they are a bit off-balance and prone to muzzle flip if you add on the weight of a decent sized scope like a 50mm long-tubed type,

 

The HW90 Gasram is a great rifle. The gasrams however can be found to leak with some examples and may need a charge-up after a lot of use over several years. But, if you get a good-un, you have a beauty!

 

I have a mate who uses one and he swears by his. In .20 calibre and it's superbly accurate. However, personally, I don't like it for the fact that it has a bit of play on cocking before the gasram engages and cocks with the barrel pulled down. And is quite snappy on firing and it can smash a cheap scope with its snap-recoil. It's a bit of a Marmite job the 90'. You'll either love it to bits or, like me, decide it's not for you, after you try it out.

 

But really, I don't think you'll be let down with either of your shortlisted three here.

 

ATB

Simon/Pianoman

Edited April 9, 2015 by pianoman

[Rez 4,961]

I'd second piano mans post.

 

Can't help be a sucker for the 350 magnum, epic looking rifle. Real smart. Understated.

 

For the record I do mean the short compact professional version.