Page 2 - Diana 54 Air Reviews

Easy to cock, load and reset. Good quality throughout. Awesome artillery action "built in;" no need for artillery hold. Accurate but... Quarter size groups out to 40 yards, 1.5 to 2 inch out to 50.

Use some aluminum parts to lighten ship. Make it in a modern thumbhole composite to lighten even more. These modern upgrades would go a long way to bring this accurate, easy to shoot springer into the 21st century.

Dang it! I wanted to love this gun. I had over 300 rounds thru it and from the beginning every three to five shot would be low and a bit left and would group there nicely. I was shooting two groups in every shot count and losing about 38 to 44 FPS with the "flyers". Guys at Pyramyd said there was most likely a small nick in the seal that lined up with a blemish in the chamber and the air pressure would vary. They offered to fix no problem, but I'd already decided to return for a PCP and leave springers behind. HOWEVER, if you want a good springer with no hold sensitivity, this is it.

Diana: solid German Airgun with impeccable fit and finish; Spring Gun that' s easily accurate out of Box**!! Great $$ value; weight adds to its inherent accuracy; adjustable T06 trigger shipped with 4.5mm 54 AirKing;

Option to trade the sights for a barrel weight like on the Diana 56th!! would love to have this in a WALNUT stock!!

Watch for EASY to FIX barrel droop/ Get the solid UTG compensator mount and Weaver rings; shooting supported accurately to 60+ yds. with 10X fixed mag scope; still NEW and shoots less than 30mm groups with H&N 4.52mm FTT 8.6 grains/ still might be better accuracy with $$ bigger mag scope and a different "magic" pellet; 54 & 56 series Diana: my most friendly and Accurate Spring Guns*****!!!!! Importantly, may push the action forward PRIOR to cocking to reduce the final cocking Effort by at least 20%%......Yes!!

The stock. The checkering. The weight (yes, if you can believe that). The eyesight line. Most of all, it's accuracy at distance.

I like just about everything with this gun except for one thing, the sights. These sights are just to big and bulky to have dead on accuracy that the gun can produce. I would make the front sight a lot smaller (maybe give a choice of a peep?) for accuracy.

I am shooting about 22yds with this rifle and (with a scope) I can keyhole just about every shot. This is a very accurate rifle, one that should satisfy anybody in the market for a spring piston rifle. Just be weary of the sights. I would buy a good air gun scope along with the rifle. If you use it for hunting, don't bother but target shooting for group, yea, you will need the scope. The eyesight line is perfect for my face. When lay my cheek on the rest and open my eye, the scope is in line perfectly for my eyesight. Should be for yours too. At 25yds that I shoot, most of my shots all land within a half inch or less with most landing "keyhole" with the last shot. The weight is an issue though. For smaller frame people this gun might be a touch heavy for them. I would not hesitate buying another RWS 45 when I'm in the market for another air rifle.

Beautifully made. Super Accurate. Powerful on .22 cal. Iron sights. More fun and challenging to get accurate at.

Make it a little lighter. Add sling swivels to carry over shoulder. Metal safety button instead of plastic.

This is an amazingly accurate and powerful springer. At 50 yds. I can take down heavy pine cones with 2 to 3 shots. Imagine what it can do to a squirrel or rabbit? Difficult to shoot without resting it on something do its heavy weight.

I like the auto safety when you cock it and the anti-bear trap.I put a BKL one piece scope mount with a 3-9x40 Leapers scope and at 35 yd I hit dead center over 90% of the time and I am working on a group of a dime size at 50 yd. This 22 cal. hits the mark like many other rifles I own and yes these RWS air rifles are a little higher priced , you get what you pay for , and the workmanship is high quality. I have owned a lot of air guns ,and this one cost me the most , but I think it is worth the money ,and for dropping a variety of critters. At my age I want what I pay for and now I have rifle I can hunt with and plink with at a much cheaper price then buying ammo. I have no problem cocking my rws 30 to 40 times at my age 67 no problem at all.

I can't think of anything.

If you are thinking about mounting a scope the BKL scope mount self aligns with the bore of your rifle when it is mounted and your scope will be in line.

This gun is amazing accurate. Out of box first 2 5 shot groups at 15 yards with open sights i had less than .25" CTC shooting JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy 18.13 grains. I moved the target to 35 yards and was shooting .5 " groups with Open sights. I have shot a lot of springers in my day, all of which were hold sensitive which they all should be. With the recoiless system on this gun you literally dont feel a thing and before the reverse recoil is transferred to the barrel the pellet has already left. It is not hold sensitive at all!!!! I shot it in a gun vice, resting on a gun bag, holding it against a tree standing, offhand, and it didn't affect the accuracy at all. When purchasing a air rifle it all really boils down to accuracy imo and this gun has it guaranteed. I can not wait to get a scope for the gun and see what it is really capable of. I cannot really express how amazed i was with the accuracy of this gun.

i think they could have done better with this gun and given it a metal trigger. I have no idea why the trigger is made out of plastic when the rest of the gun looks so well built.

I am built on the bigger side and i have no issues shooting it offhand. The first few times cocking was much harder than i expected it to be but after about 20-30 shots it got much easier to cock. I shot probably 200 pellets through it the first day and i was not fatigued at all. You probably not be able to cock this gun from a prone position unless you are pretty strong. I have seen a couple reviews that this gun favors shooting a level line but i assure you that i shot targets 30 ft up off our 3rd story deck and shot targets on the ground from my 3rd story deck with no affect to the accuracy. This gun seems to favor heavier pellets. I had the tightest groups with baracuda 21.14, jsb 18.13, beeman kodiak 21.14. The JSBs shot the best for me. One other thing about the floating rail system. It is possible for you to inadvertantly knock the barrel back once it has been loaded which then it will act like a normal spring gun. All you have to do is push it back with your thumb.

Robust German Airgun in 0.22cal!! Flawless wood and metal finish; Very usable open sights; Trigger adjustment was perfect; Texture of checkering is superb; Well balanced airgun with Phillips stock fasteners; Adequate internal lubing with very minimal dieseling;Dime groups at 18 yards with just open sights...New just out of the box!!

Would buy a second if made available in Walnut stock or Laminate stock! Mill the dovetail into the receiver even at increased cost;need a Truly ambidextrous stock although this shoots fine Lefty; Any way to make cocking the mechanism easier...LOL***

RWS is a great Value and Quality in a German pedigree Airgun! Airgun's Anti-recoil floating action appears to greatly improve its inherent accuracy especially since my first was a RWS 34 0.22 cal just three months ago; Will be mounting A Hawke 30 Sidewinder soon and expecting quarter sized groups at 45 to 50 yards from this great Classic German Springer****!! H&N 5.53mm pellets****

I purchased an Air King after reading the reviews & knowing that it had stood the test of time. Mine is a .177 T06 Pro - without the fixed sights but with a barrel weight. This is a nicely balanced well put together rifle. The finish is glass blasted matt which looks great. The T06 (yes - it is a .177 T06) trigger did not require any adjustment whatsoever. The accuracy is still to be assessed and the rifle is still in its break in period; but early indications are that it is an accurate shooter. I am using H&N Barracuda Match 4.52 pellets - as these were included with the rifle.

This is a very nice rifle, and I would not recommend any changes.

Some may describe the rifle as heavy, but it is well balanced and not difficult to carry, hold and aim. The 39lb cocking weight could be a challenge for some initially, but frequent use will assist you to develop the strength so this too is not a factor in the buying decision. I tried Crosman Premier and JSB Exact Heavy pellets but the H&N Barracuda Match 4.52 have performed best. When mounting the scope consider using a single piece mount that compensates for barrel droop.

It's awesome. A functional work of art.

Should not have waited so long before I bought it.

Was hitting 1/4" bulls OFFHAND at 10 meters, and it's a springer! Amazing. No recoil at all and really powerful. Easy to cock. Beautiful rifle.

The build quality of this rifle is incredible. I like just looking at it. It is accurate right out of the box with the factory settings.

I'm not a huge airgunner, and I was drawn to this rifle because of other reviews and although I was looking for a gas piston, I decided on this one because of what I've read, both in regard to warranty and quality, and in operation. It is a beautiful gun.

i love this baby.

however i have a question and need some instructions. kindly help: i am having a problem while corking. while corking i can hear the spring make a sound. it sounds like the spring is touching something and hence the click click click sound while corking. or something is touching the spring when while getting compressed. Also while corking i can feel the corking arm getting stuck a bit and can also feel something blocking the movement. but with a little force i am able to complete the corking. i will appreciate if someone can send me the a video link and instructions on how i can open it up and fix it . also what the problem could be. thanks

Well made, very accurate after break in period. I would buy this again and recommend it to my friends.

It is heavy, and takes strength to cock.

A little pricey........but you will get your moneys worth for this great RWS product. I still have my RWS Mod.45 purchased in 1984 and it works like new.

this airgun is awesome in every respect. I use this gun primarily for pest control and hunting. you want to know about accuracy? you don't just hit the bullseye you choose which part of the bullseye to hit. at 20 yds. I have literally shot a ragged hole around the center just because I could. i took a squirrel out of the top of a tree the other day shooting at a 75-80 degree angle and hit him directly on the shoulder. I haven't yet had the chance to duplicate that shot. I mention it only because so many reviews say the gun is only for level bench shooting, don't believe it!!! I have several other airguns,a weihrauch hw90, Benjamin trail np and a crosman nitro venom all .22 cal and this may be my last purchase unless I breakdown and buy a 56TH. never say never. the to6 trigger is superb. it has slightly more pull than the weihrauch but very predictable and crisp I feel no creep whatsoever. it has nice balance making it very easy to hold on target and the build quality is very evident.

I would like a darker stain on the stock.LOL

as I mentioned above I use this primarily for hunting. I have added a sling and a weaver fixed power 6x38 scope on a dampa mount. I have targets at 20 30 45 and 60 yards. it shoots on a line all the way to 60 yds needing no elevation correction this airgun likes a heavy pellet and I find barracuda hunter extremes 19.09 are the most accurate. the crow magnum 18.21 are very good also. this gun does not like crosman premier pellets at all. I would like to try an even heavier pellet to see what it would do. sure this is a big gun and heavy too. however I weighed my scoped Benjamin trail and was surprised to find it weighs 1.6 pounds less than the air king. the weihrauch hw90 weighs .9 less. my point being sure it's heavy but it's not that much heavier. I can't tell the difference. don't let the weight stop you from getting this certain classic. this is by far my favorite pellet gun and if you are considering getting one you you won't be disappointed.

Awesome gun, arrived on time and in good condition. Very accurate so far with the 400 rounds I've shot. Love the recoilless action, I watch my pellets hit. Worth the extra money-German Quality!

Get rid of the plastic pieces off the gun. It might save weight but I have the muscle to pick up metal.

Heavy gun not for the smaller shooter.

It's great German quality - the sliding action really works, no felt recoil and best of all you never loose the sight picture, often seeing the pellet hit the target. I have the .22 with T06 trigger and it is really a good trigger. Wood is very good. Accuracy is very good from my limited testing. I love the gun.

The rear sight elevation knob seems really flimsy when you adjust the sight higher. It works ok, just doesn't seem to match the quality of the rest of the rifle. It is a bear to cock, no kidding. My right bicep is beginning to look like PopEye's... LOL

Lots of oil on it, inside and outside when I got it. It wiped off easily with paper towels. I never noticed any dieseling, even from the first shot. The gun gets even better as I use it. It is heavy for sure. I wouldn't want to carry it around all day.

This RWS 54 was an addition to my armory, and a supplement to my RWS 48, with both in .22 cal. The recoilless system dispenses with the restrictions placed on the shooter having to coordinate an artillery hold with different shooting stances. Like going from driving a stick shift to driving with an automatic transmission. I have owned this rifle about 3 months now. It’s shouldering a Leepers 4-16X50 for the time being, above a DNT06 rail adapter. Like with my 48, JSB 15.9 gr and 18.1 gr seem to work quite well and am getting sub 0.75 inch groups at 30 yards with ease. I can do better, but this rifle shoots so smoothly it’s made me a little lazy in my follow through. Both pellets dismiss squirrels quickly and effectively at the same distances. And thus far no squirrel has reported back to me as having been able to discern any difference between being popped with a Jumbo or a Jumbo Heavy. The 54 is getting the job done.

Seems the only thing anyone can find to complain about this rifle is the weight. It is somewhat heavier than my RWS 48, but quite honestly, the recoilless attribute more than compensates for any inconvenience in weight. I have found myself unconsciously grabbing the 54 for field work when my 48 is right beside it. The negative issue concerning weight is sophistry. But if weight really was a deal breaker, perhaps Diana could follow the technological lead of Smith & Wesson. An RWS 54X. All scandium and titanium construction. Synthetic walnut stock. And now at just 4 pounds, 11.2 oz., probably pushing around $4K. And I would probably buy one. The 54 is just that good :)

Like many, I looked VERY CLOSELY at the Air Arms TX200 before ordering this rifle. The hype and hyperbole surrounding the TX is tough to ignore. But my decision hinged on two things Tom Gaylord mentioned must be considered when choosing an air rifle. WHAT are you going to use the rifle for, and HOW do you intend to use it. Honestly address these two parameters and your rifle of choice will deliver you a George Zimmer style guarantee. The 54 is at its best in .22 cal. given the robust power it has. It weighs in at 9.9 pounds, slightly heavier than the TX by about 0.6 pounds, or 9.6 oz, (about 6.5% heavier than a TX; about 18% heavier than my RWS 48). It’s a 22 foot pound gun in .22, while a TX is about 16 foot pounds in its’ favored and optimized .177 cal. platform. The 54 is recoilless and not hold-sensitive. It has a lifetime warranty. It’s accurate. So much so Tom Gaylord hinted the 54 in .22 had out shot his own TX in .177. (blog, 5-11-2011) The .177 TX is an excellent choice for competitive shooting. It comes complete with a gorgeous stock, immaculate bluing, and credentialed bragging rights. The 54 excels in .22 as a small game and pest control solution. Rock solid German design and engineering, ergonomic side lever cocking, adj open sights (better to have ’em, than not). The RWS 54 is the Chuck Norris of fighting air rifles. A famous gun scribe once mused, ‘There is no “One Gun”. If there was, everyone would have it.’ If that is so, then where’s the comparison?

Accuracy, is really good for a springer, plus it's a RWS that is really well made

Really heavy!! Don't like the weight at all

Accuracy, power

To heavy, other then that awesome gun, best springer I have ever shot

Beautiful gun in all aspects. Have fired it about 100 rounds so far. I got the Pyramid option of their setup with a Bushnell Banner 4-12 x 40 AO scope. Everything came through apparently OK as a heavy duty plactic case was part of the deal. Now we will see how the scope holds up on the 54 with its "recoiless to the shooter" system. The system has to slam the scope around pretty hard. For us older folk, a optical sight generally is a must unless someone starts offering a peep adjustable rear sight such as the old Lyman 48 or Redfield International sights. The open notch sights are for young eyes!

Nothing. The weight has me considering adding a quick removable sling for carrying and for NRA style position shooting practice.

Keep in mind it is heavy. The quality and performance far exceed the price and you don't have to fool around with CO2 or air compression tanks. The side lever beats break barrel systems and I think is better than the under lever system for handiness. I can shoot the 54 prone without changing my position much which cannot be done with the others.

Beautiful gun! Very Accurate.

Originally bought a Hawke-HK4026 Scope and a BKL-360MB Scope Mount for the gun on technician's recommendation. Scope was mounted and tested by Pyramyd before shipping but they did not catch that at 10 yds the scope was maxed out vertically and pellets hit target 1/2" below bullseye. The BKL-360MB Mount is a bad match for this gun. Use the BKL-388MB instead to compensate for barrel droop.