rws diana 48 - .22 cal review

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Average Ratings

Accuracy	9.8/10
Handling	9.2/10
Value for Money	9.6/10
Reviewer Rating	9.4/10
Overall Rating	9.2/10

100% Recommended5 out of 5 Reviews

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By Marlon James on 11th Nov 2007

Marlon James's Ratings

Accuracy	10/10
Handling	9/10
Value for money	9/10
Overall value	10/10
Marlon James's recommendation

Good Points

The RWS 48 in .22 with it's Made in Germany Stamp on the receiver is a statement of it's quality. The solid steel barrel and front sight have held up for 11 years now. My 48 has gotten smoother thought time and glides when cocking & closing the breech. The stock is solid, simple and clean lines reflecting the heft necessary to tote the receiver and absorb the beautiful recoil. For me it's very predictable to shoot. I can hit dimes at 17 yards. Using an RWS model 40 scope 2-9 x 32 AO w/ TT on a one piece RWS scope mount with receiver pin to prevent movement upon recoil. It's been on there since 1997. It's power is a joy to experience. Reliable, powerfull, accurate with almost any quality made pellet. Favoring Beeman Crow Magnum, Lasers, Wadcuters, RWS Superpoints and Beeman Bear Cubs. My 48 also likes the coated Daisy Wadcutters. In using high performance pellets like the sabots from Umarex the 48 will shoot in and out of a coffee can at 17 yards. A solid back stop is necessary. Cinder blocks work for a while but need replacing after 1000's of rounds impacting the same area. A quick detachable sling with attachments on the barrel and on the rear of the stock comes in handy.

Bad Points

There few, yet I would not label them as "bad points". The hard plastic reciever cap could be metal like the Weirach or Beeman models. The rear sight is plastic, but becomes obsolete when using a scope. An after market replacement cover plate like the R-1 for the removal of the rear sight is not available. The trigger could always be better. Are there airsmiths out there with better triggers? Let me know. The rifle is heavy a 8.5 lbs. for the average sized person. The RWS 48 will require training and to hold it still and hit your target accurately free hand, or w/out resting or bench resting the beauteous beast.The rifle suits me fine. The recoil is moderate. So a proper "shooting hold" is required. Don't choke it. Just engage your target and let the gun shoot by itself. The recoil is loud and will draw attention. The use of RWS Chamber oil every is necessary every few months. Three times a year sparingly. You'll need to cure it cocking and uncocking it to spread the oil within the chamber, then stand it muzzle down to exude the excess if any oil. On the first few shot there will be loud deisling. gradually smoothing out with a minimum of smoke. Cool eh?

General Comments

Perhaps by and large the RWS 48 .22 is for those at the intermediate level of airgunning, requiring the practice of holding and shooting. You might have to be in good physical condition to carry or wield the solid beast, or to hold the crosshairs still while one is "in the zone". Cocking the 48 is easy for me. A very minimum of chamber oil on the breech slide makes it glide with only residual excess oil needing to be wiped on closing the breech. Yes, yes the 48 can be loud and will alert non shooters. I live beside a huge vineyard w/ almost no foot traffic. My wife's garden that is 22 yrds long 4 ft. wide yeilds a seasonal bounty. A bounty that can be desamated by grey digging ground squirrels (the worst) red and blue squirrels eating tomatoes, apples and lettuce. They attack the bird feeder and wash their nuts in my pond. (Walnuts, there's a walnut tree) Dispatching them w/ the RWS 48 is humane. Head shots or ribcage, the quarry is put down instantly. Please check with local law enforcement for laws on air shooting verminal pests in a county or rural area. Like I mentioned above I live in a valley where there are nothing but vineyards and vineyards. Due to the power of the 48 it is extremely necessary to know your bake drop or what is behind your quarry when taking a shot, with vineyards behind your targeted pest. For the eco system the buzzards take care of the clean up. No, they really do clean everthing up. All air rifles are different, some well made to a specific standard and use, and some serve lesser purposes like plinking or target. Then there are those mid range or higher end priced models that are for specific performances. That are works of design, aesthetics and engineering. I have come to understand the apples and oranges of airgun comparisons. The RWS 350 or Gamo Hunter Extreme, Ford or Chevy. Beeman R-1 or HW 97MKIII, Benjamin .22 pneumatic or the Sheridan .20? Co2 or PCP? But That's whats great about our market. You can go Euro or made in china. Made in Portugal or made in Mexico. For me the RWS, Theobin, or Weirach types are my favorite designs and materials. Just be careful. Believe half of everything you hear, half of everything you read. Be careful how you do your research and what you choose to believe. Happy Shooting.

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