Diana 350 vs. Bam B-28

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I'm getting a strong idea that I must have a magnum springer. I've narrowed it down between the Diana 350 and the Bam B-28. Other than price, what's the advantages and dis-advantages between the two? I know some of you shooters have one or both of them and I'd like to know why you might  prefer one over the other.

[Gene_SC]

Good question Larry... i am sure you will get quite a mixed response from other members..  So let me say my peace first here...

The quality of the B-28 is excellent but the metal in the RWS 350 is a tad harder or higher quality.. The metal finish on the RWS 350 has the edge but I feel that is it. Wood is almost the same but again the RWS 350 has a slight edge.

Outside of that, the B-28 is just as strong and accurate as the RWS-350.. Both considered magnums. Numbers do not vary between them.

Last is that you will probably get a smoother new RWS-350 out of the box than you will get a B-28 out of the box. But I have seen many RWS- 350's that were pretty grindy and rough.

For sure you would want a lube tune at the minimum on either. They are both pretty dry from the factory. And by no means put any lube in the barrel or combustion port as the manual suggests.

That is it..

[Magnum]

I have a tuned 350 mag and love it , I do not have a B-28 so can not compair directly. magnums can be alittle hold sensitive  but fine once you figure out the quirks:) I can say however that I am happy with the china guns i do have. Also  I would recomend tuning any AG:) All I can say is that fine german machine work and quality is hard to beat so i bias toward the RWS:).  Tony

[fsdanlie]

That's an intresting report on the two really did'nt know the difference now i do but i do have both dianas  350's one 177 wood and 350p 22  synthetic and no twangy when fired.Just a point to remember to make sure stock screws are secure on the wood version or you'll have oblonged holes in time like i did,until i ordered screw cups to cure it.

[Jaymo]

I've often reinforces screw holes in wood stocks by impregnating with ultra thin Cyanoacrylate (CA) resin, aka Zap A Gap. Hobby shops are great things.
Of course, if you strip the stock and refinish it with 10 or more coats of Tung oil, the tung oil will polymerize in the wood and harden it. I refinished a soft, Chinese beech stock on an SKS rifle with tung oil and was shocked at how good it looked, and how much harder it was.

I really want a B28 or a 350. No money for one right now.

[tjk]

I'm a B-28 series fan. But Gene is right when giving the edge to the Diana's. The blueing is probably better, but the stocks is one issue I had to remedy. Nothing major,...some slight dremil work, and a few shim washers solved that. But performance wise,..the B rifles are dead on. I great rifle for the money. Plenty of power, very accurate once learned to shoot,..and perfect for anyone on a tight budget! Best Wishes, tjk
PS if you get one tuned from Mike, stick with the factory OEM spring and seal. Seals are on par with Maccarri's but the OEM spring is a bit stronger.

[lillysdad621]

just to make it a bit more difficult, check out the rws FEUERKRAFT 350... they are cheaper than the magnums, and bring the gap between 350 and 28 close... otherwise, the rws do break in smoother. but the 28, with a bit of TLC and lots of hold practice becomes a very accomplished hunting rig. If i absolutely could not afford the 350, i still would be happy with a 28. just make sure that they are in .22...

[atchman2]

I have a 350 and it is an awesome weapon once you break it in, and get used to how to hold it.  If I had to do it over again, I'd probably buy a tuned B gun from Mike as I use it for hunting.  My biggest fear with the 350 is dinging up the stock in some horrible fashion.  Since I have almost $500 in it, keeping it looking nice is important to me.  

The other thing you might want to do, is there seems to be a lot of 350s for sale used.  You may even look there and use the saving for getting one of these dudes to tune it for you.  

For some reason I think I want another magnum. I'm saving my $$ of a TF 89.  I have a "gun can" that I drop all my change in, birthday money, etc into.  I'm torn between it and just going for a R-9 clone tuned from Mike (which I know isn't a magnum, but I've heard good things about the gun).

Right now my problem with my 350 is that I'm loathe to shoot it around my neighbors.  I didn't realize how loud it was until one of them said something to me one day (he was cool, he just said it sounded like I was shooting a .22 in my backyard).  Now I'll go out and snipe a squirrel with it, but I don't target practice it at my house anymore.  For that I shoot my Whisper (if I want to hit) or my Air Hawk (for plinking cans).

[thebookdoc]

I just got a RWS 350, and I'm a little disappointed. I'm chronying it tomorrow, but don't expect it will be any better than my (Gene) tuned TF89. Maybe the metal is better as Gene said, but I wonder if that really makes the difference 'worth it'. If I have to get a rifle tuned anyway, the 350 costs about $550. The TF89, $280. I'd rather have two TF89s...Or a gun that was twice as good. I'll know more tomorrow, but today twice as good seems improbable. Right now I am comparing the 350 to a TF89 that is not tuned. The difference in price: $119 to $300. I'd call it dead even.

That said, I haven't given up on the RWS350 yet... still breaking in. But my experience is certainly countering the oft-mentioned "you get what you pay for". I do not see the advantage being with the RWS 350 from my perspective. The TF89 is just a super deal.

[atchman2]

I don't think I'd want either one in .177.  I wouldn't want to put up with the recoil and weight if I wasn't getting a .22 that can really put out the FPEs.  All I know is when you hit a squirrel or prairie dog with this bad boy, they stay down.  In fact sometimes the pellet goes all the way through them!

[bcshooter]

Hi Larry, You sir have one tough decision on your hands. The Diana 350 Magnum is a example of fine German engineering. Their guality control in their manufacturing is at the pinnacle of airgun manufacturers. This doesn't mean you will not get a lemon. The fit and finish of their airguns are 98%. The going price for a 350 Magnum is now hovering around $400.00 without a scope, unless you shoot open sites some of us do, and a BamB 28A is running around $200.00. The B 28A is a finely crafted also. The fit and finish islacking a bit, not by much, example, the checking is stamped in place and you can feel the difference. Overall IMHO if money is not the issue I would buy a Diana 350 Magnum, I like their newer one, the 350 Fuerkraftin .22cal........Bill

PS This is the one I use to have,A Bam B 28A .22cal,recently sold to another forum member

[onemountain]

Well if you want a 350 it's $350 at Airguns of Arizona, they tend to have good prices on Diana guns. Their Feuerkraft is $320, but I think I've seen the Feuerkraft at closer to $300 somewhere else; I can't remember where but if I remember I'll post it here.

And geez Bill, I didn't realize you missed your old B28A like that... Almost makes me feel bad. Almost. If it's any consolation, I wish that TF89 of mine had never got all screwy on me.

[shawn67]

280 for a TF89? I paid 134 for mine from Compasseco, are you adding the price of a turbo tune?

[thebookdoc]

I paid $119 + $150 tune... So really $270 tuned.

[shawn67]

270 for a turbo tuned TF89 or 400+ for a RWS350, I know which way I went. I'd rather put the extra 130 bucks into a scope and mount and have a tuned gun than pay for a name and be tuning it later anyways