RWS 54 Known Issues/Suggestions?

[1longshot]

Hellow all,

I am a fairly inexperienced air gunner. I recently came upon the opportunity to buy and RWS 54 in 177 cal brand new for $375.  I have owned a winchester and gamo 1000, and was not very impressed with either.  I really like this this gun. I know for a fact that it has been dry fired once.  Any information about this gun would be great.  Is it worth sending in for new springs. Can I do it my self?  Are RWS springs good.  What about the seals.  I appreciate your comments.

1longshot

[majorKAP]

Fantastic rifle.  Look here-  http://www.eddiecolwell.tzo.com/RWS-54.htm

Be careful when you use that side-mounted cocking handle.  If you notice big unexplained scratches in the side of the buttstock, you're scraping it against your belt buckle.  I figured that out on my own.  Damned rodeo championship.

[Larry Gibson]

Hellow all,

I am a fairly inexperienced air gunner. I recently came upon the opportunity to buy and RWS 54 in 177 cal brand new for $375.  I have owned a winchester and gamo 1000, and was not very impressed with either.  I really like this this gun. I know for a fact that it has been dry fired once.  Any information about this gun would be great.  Is it worth sending in for new springs. Can I do it my self?  Are RWS springs good.  What about the seals.  I appreciate your comments.

1longshot

I've had a M54, albiet .22 cal, for 10+ years.  I made the mistake of shooting to light of pellets and the cleaning pellets in it.  The spring broke in short order.  I ordered 2 replacements from RWS and installed the first one in late '96 and it's been going strong since. The prings are pretty healthy and I made a compression block to use with my floor standing drill press to install it.  Twoo strong guys with a large padded bench vice to hold the action may be able to install a new spring but a spring compression device is the way to go.  With the new spring I had decided to stay with pellets in the 12 to 17 gr range and mostly use Crosman CPs. I have done extensive chronographing with both the old and new spring and found that within 500 shots the springs take a "set" and pretty much hold there. Both springs lost about 10 fps with the CPs between new and the set.  Mine runs right at 798 fps with the 14.3 gr CPs.  I have killed 60 large rats, quite a few jack rabbits, a few brush bunnies, lots of ground squirrels, numerous crows, tons of starlings, a couple possums, a racoon and several feral cats with mine.  I also shoot at the loacal FT matches and do very well in the springer class.  Quite frankly I really like mine.

Larry Gibson