Weihrauch compared to RWS Diana

[Zzyzx]

In moving back to the farm I inherited a very nice Diana model 48 my bud had turbo tuned by Mr. Tuna. I can cock it without stressing the shoulder tendonitis problems the break barrel rifles have been giving me. (the push to get the Evanix Blizzard)

I read of the Weihrauch air rifles being top quality. How do their models compare to the Diana Model 48 I now have? It is an older one, apparently one of the early ones in the US per what my bud found out. I know it sure is nice, well built and solid. Shoots well also. It is a .177 calibre air rifle. What in the Weihrauch lineup is comparable and how would one of them be 'better' for long term use and passing down to the grandkids someday?

[patton123]

I would go w/ the R9 in either a .177 or .20 cal. ( If it was me .20 cal)

Bluing will be better, stock will be nicer, plus an awesome trigger on the R9. Won't need a tune....it should shoot good right out of the box.  

Good Luck

Forgot to add....I own both RWS & Beeman rifles and enjoy shooting both.

[RedFeather]

Well, it is going to be hard to beat the tuned 48 for starters. Maybe an HW77/97 to be comparable to the power range? I would really only change horses if I felt I had to. Nothing wrong with Dianas. A little plainer and the trigger isn't quite as nice (although your gun probably has the T01 which can be made pretty darn good). It would, to me, just be a cosmetic change. And a Charlie tuned 48 is a nice heirloom in it's own right.

[Sam]

I owned sevral air rifles of different brands and prices range. My favorite, without hesitation or doubt, is the RWS 48.  Although it is a bit heavy, it balances really well when shooting it where it does not bother me.  Its accuracy and power are among the best.  I like it much better than my Beeman R-7 which Ii have not liked so far! My RWS 48 is in 0.22 caliber.  I just wish they come up with a shrouded RWS rifle.  This is just my own opnion.

[ledtone]

the beeman that you should get imo is the R1  i personally would tune any beeman you get they dont shoot bad out of the box but a tune especially paul watts or rob hawkins will bring them to a much better level or order a maccari kit for a little over a $100 bucks and do it yourself  but the 48 you have is very well built nice gun too the only beeman that will be in the 48s power range would be the rx2 the r1 is close though

[Mark 611]

I have a 48.22cal a 460.22cal these are my power house guns so to speak, they are nice guns and I enjoy shooting just as much as my HW/Beeman guns but you cannot beat an R1 .22cal or R9 gun, they are just smoother shooting and the trigger is in a class by its self the HW/ Beeman guns are just better quality all the way around, but thiers nothing wrong with a good RWS gun either.

[lillysdad621]

i have to say that the 48 out powers any beeman, including the R1. in .177 it can break 1000 fps easily. it is a great hunter and its sidelever design makes it tough and easy to manouver (weight aside). But as the owner of a R1, and having owned a .20 R9 and .20 R7, i can agree that the beeman/hw rifles are much smoother. Now the trigger is also better in the beemans, but my RWS 46 has a T01 trigger, and if you got the same it is quite adjustable and it breaks cleanly, like a rekord. As per power, the HW77 and HW97 can not shoot as hard as a 48. in .177 you be lucky to get 870 fps. in .20 you are going to have a hard time reaching 800. The 48 in .22 will spit them out in the high 7s low 8s. And the reason i leave the weight out is because the underlever beemans are also quite heavy. Also an older 48, tuned and broken in is a dream springer to own...

[Mark 611]

I will agree with you 100% on your assessment

[ledtone]

now these may just take rws above the rest
http://www.diana-airguns.de/index.php?id=277&L=1&width=1366&height=768
you never know but they look good
http://www.diana-airguns.de/index.php?id=289&L=1&width=1366&height=768

[Zzyzx]

Where do I look for a stock like the side cocking rifle shown? Looks as if it might be a model 48 with a different stock. Am I right on that? In looking I see only the model 48 as a side cocking rifle from them.(here in the US)

[Sam]

There are models 48, 52, and 54.  Models 48 and 52 are the same the only difference is that 52 has a nicer stock.  Model 54 is recoiless version.  You can find those in just every airgun retailor store.

[SUPERFITTER]

How is the RWS Diana 48/52 out of the box. Is there much torque, twang or recoil? How is the trigger, smooth and crisp? Are there any problems with them? Do they need to be tuned or are they ok out of the box?

[Mark 611]

All Diana rifles are dry as a bone out of the box so they need to be tuned or just lube tuned, most AG's need to be lubed out of the box! The only difference between the 48 an 52 is the stock thats it! the triggers are ok but can be made better depending on what you want in a trigger, that beeing said this should answer the rest of your questions.

[Gene_SC]

Personally I would not own an RWS under lever. Don't get me wrong I love a couple of the RWS models or Diana models. The RWS 48 through the 54 are excellent builds with quality engineereing built into them. Personally I love the RWS 34 models just because they are lighter weight and that is just my preference. The R-9, HW-97's are wonderfuly accurate air guns. If I had my choice as I have done, I would buy the R-9 and the HW-97 springers. But all those mentioned are excellent air rifles.

[Meann-Machine]

Z,

 Its like comparing a Corvette to a Porsche ( and I have a Corvette by the way). Both are sports cars. Both are beautiful. Both are to be envied and lusted after. Both are desirable. Both will put a lot of power to the ground. But the Porsche is more refined, better detailed, better appointed, and about 75% more money. By and large the same thing can be said of Weihrauch and RWS. The Weihrauch line, overall, is more refined, has a better trigger, better bluing and usually a nicer stock. Out of the box it is smoother and more shooter ready. There is nothing wrong with an RWS. I have several, but you get what you pay for. Although I have several Beeman riflesI still don't have an R1 (which is a Weihrauch), but I still lust after one and some day I'll find the one I want to buy. There are several RWS rifles I like, and ones I don't have that I want to acquire, but none really, that I lust after. Go hold your 48 and then pick up an R1. Both are heavy rifles but I think you will be able to feel the difference I am talking about.