About a month ago a coworker asked what air rifle I'd buy if I were to do it all over again. He said he wanted power AND accuracy, but in a springer. I said I'd read lots of good things about the RWS 54. Well, he calls me that night and had found a line-new .22 on ebay. The guy had listed it under archery accessories. Terry ended up getting it for $450 including a Hawke 4-12 scope and UTG 1-piece mount. Not bad.
Today I got to shoot it with JSB Jumbo and Jumbo Express pellets. We were shooting at old paint cans and he shot three times through the same hole at 30 yards. I was hitting a little high with it but loved every minute of it. It's hard to believe how recoiless it is. Another friend got to shoot it. He has never shot an air rifle before and at 30 yards shot a 5-shot group that a nickel would cover the complete group!!!! I can't wait for Terry to finish breaking this gun in and then start testing pellets. WadeS and I have 5-6 different types plus his 3. Surely one of those will be stellar.
We chrono'd it and it's only shooting in the high 700's with the Jumbo Exress pellets. I was expecting 800fps+. It is so cool to see the pellet in flight and watch it strike the target. My TF-89 has more power but has enough recoil you can't do that. His trigger has a very short first stage and too much trigger pull for my liking. I told Terry I'd help him tune the trigger if he wanted and he like that idea.
This rifle is built like a tank. It is very heavy but I don't mind as I'm 6'3" and about 210#. We were discussing synthetic stocks, replacing some steel with chrome-moly steel, substituting aluminum, turning down or fluting the barrel, lighter scope mount or scope. Has anyone ever put one of these on a diet?
He let me borrow it for the rest of the day and I'll return it at work tomorrow. I think I'll have it right next to the bed like a newborn baby. I may have to sell some other guns to buy a 54.
