new RWS 34

[Argonaut]

I just bought my first spring air gun, a model 34 Dianna Cal. .177.  I saw the thing nib with a scope (haven't used it yet) on sale for 179 bucks. so I bought it. I admit most of my experience with pellet guns is with cheapo  two flyer's in every group of 5 shots sort of thing. But not this one! offhand at 30 feet Every Pellet goes where I call em. and .5 inch groups offhand with crossman hollow point pellets at $6.50 per 500. I shoot them into a phone book then melt them into balls to shoot out my .54 cal. Flintlock.  I have been having a blast with this and didn't have to drive to my gun club, a  50 mile round trip. Bet I have shot it 200 times already. A good arm workout too!.

I have been looking on the web and apparently air gun people are just as anal about there air guns as folks are about chemical energy guns.

[kevinbrian]

Would you feel confident about squirrel hunting with it?   

[Argonaut]

though we can't hunt squirrels in washington state,  If I still lived in Arkansas, I would use it to hunt them, no problem.  I love to hunt squirrels, i used to do it with a ruger single six .22 revolver and sometimes with my Colt combat commander .45 auto.

[Argonaut]

like any gun, shot placement is number one!

[superdown]

  i live in washington and have never heard anything about squirrels being illegal to hunt i have the hunting regs in front of me right now and can't find were it even mentions squirrels at all. i do know their is a sub species on the peninsula that you can't hunt. superdown

[dave]

i live in washington and have never heard anything about squirrels being illegal to hunt

Then you need to do a bit more reading. It does seem that squirrel hunting is not legal in Washington. There are some species of squirrel that are on the  threatened or endangered list, so you can't hunt squirrels.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/management/endangered.html

 However, the Eastern Gray is an invader species responsible for the decline of other native species, so it may be considered a pest species under Ch 17.15-
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=17.15
It looks very much like the Western gray but smaller, so you better be very sure of what you are shooting at.
 The law also says if you get caught hunting protected species such as the Western Gray, they can take your guns, your car and anything else that may be considered to have been used in the violation. As for the violations, every dead Western Gray (or any other threatened species) found  in your possesion is considered a separate offense by the way. So, its best to check with the local authorities before you do anything.

[superdown]

  so hunting squirrels is not entirely illegal and that is not in the printed booklet ? i do appreciate your enlightenment though. superdown

[Argonaut]

amazing how complicated life has gotten. isn't it?  I believe that in general the eastern grays are the ones you see in towns, and your likes to see a western gray in the woods.  but if you get caught with a western gray, how much trouble will you go through any way.  will the officer know the differance?,  you know what that means," arrest now check for facts later."  then they go to your home check the freezer, conficate  any you have there ( and they will take any firearms you have) , do DNA tests to make sure, cause what they really want is as much of your money as they can lay hands on!  this will be on top of what ever you had to pay your new best bud, A member of the bar.

This is called the Evergreen state,  thats because the money is green not the trees!

[Catfish]

Argonaut,
   I have a cousin that bought one just like yours, and it won`t shoot for crap. I`ve spent the morning working with it and did get 1 group around 3/4 in. at 22 yrds. from sand bags, but I get alot of fliers. I did notice while cleaning it the barrel has a very noticeable constriction near the end of the barrel. My queston is should it be there? He also bought some of the Gamo lite weight pellets and they shoot a rather large pattern, nothing like a group, 5 shot will be 4 to 5 in. at 22 yrds., and after firing them the lead Crossman pellet's won`t shoot until the barrel is cleaned and fired several time with the lead pellets. Can you give me any ideas? Thanks, Catfish

[lamerabbit]

Catfish:

Yes there is always a choke just behind of the crown, about 2 inches from the muzzle.  This is in the design.  However, sometimes when they crimp the front of the barrel for the sight grooves they get carried away a bit, causing a very tight choke.  I have had this with a couple of RWS guns.  The good news is that it is probably the pellets that you are shooting.  Clean the barrel, and then clean it again.  Then try the round nosed Crosman Premiers, if that doesn't work send the gun back to RWS.  They always repair for free.  They repaired one of mine that was almost 20 years old, replaced the spring and seals, for the cost of shipping.  I don't remember the contact number but if you do send it back call them first...


Jim

[mrbracke]

you can always take it to cabelas. I took mine in and they gave me a brand new one.