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- RWS 94 .22cal
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Picture courtesy of Mike Scholle.
| Accuracy | 9.1/10  |
|---|---|
| Handling | 9.1/10 |
| Value for Money | 9.1/10 |
| Overall rating | 9.1/10 |
Full review by
MrBloo
expert review 
on 4th Aug 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
+3
Good Points: Very accurate, fun to shoot, nice looking gun, nice feel.
Bad Points: Powerful, but not as powerful as advertised. Advertised power (825 fps .22) is more appropriate for much more expensive springer, not entry level adult springer like the RWS 94.
General comments: The RWS 94 is a nice air rifle, it just did not meet my expectations, power-wise. I think I was expecting LOTS of power, and while I first thought I was getting a rifle that was more powerful in .22 than other RWS rifles that cost more (the diana 36 and 40), what I really got was a nice rifle that had an inflated power rating, but realistically was still very powerful for it's price range. I have learnt a lot about shopping for air rifles, the RWS 94 is part of my experience, and I'd like to share what I've learnt.
First off, there are many good things to say about the rifle. It is very accurate, easy to shoot, good looking, relatively powerful and appears well made. It is overall a lot of fun to shoot. For the money, I highly recommend this rifle.
Here is my story:
I have an old Benjamin 392, I have been looking to upgrade for a while, and based off of what I've read on the net, extensive reviews on the RWS 94 .22, and the Cometa Fenix 400 (apparently the same gun), I decided this is the gun for me. I haven't shopped for a new air gun in ages. I received the gun, and all my expectations were met with the RWS 94, except it's claimed power. Perhaps it is just the gun I received, but let me share these numbers with you. Using a variety of pellets, and certainly after a good cleaning, very very light lubing and taking enough shots to "break it in", I found this gun consistently puts out about 16 ft pounds at the muzzle. I gathered this information by shooting different pellets and measuring with my chrony (5 different Beeman types, RWS Hobby, Crossman Premieres, RWS Superdomes, Benjamin Diablos & cheap Crossman Wadcutters). I then calculated power by using a ft/lbs energy calculator with the fps and the weight of the pellet.
Here is what I found misleading, and why I expected more power.
--The gun is rated as 825 fps in .22. I couldn't get within 100 fps of that at the muzzle, in my tests, regardless of the pellet. I did not use the lightest pellets on the market, but did test with very light RWS Hobby and Beeman Laser light weight pellets, among others. Think about it...825fps in .22 for a rifle under $200? That is one factor that sold me on this rifle, and after owning one, I still find this hard to believe.
--RWS has been known to inflate the fps claims (well documented and griped about on the RWS 350 .22). While the RWS 350 is a very powerful rifle, you can see that RWS overestimated the claimed 1050 fps on that model by roughly 20%. Want to see numbers> Check out the article at straightshooters.com on the RWS 350 to see for yourself. You'll find an extensive test done on the RWS 350, and see that most of it's numbers at the muzzle are around 825, and often even below 825. Should I still realistically expect my entry level RWS 94 to shoot 825fps at the muzzle, when one of the most powerful springers out there, RWS 350, shoots less than 825 at the muzzle in 16 out of 23 pellets tested? Yes, the pellet weight varied greatly on those pellets, but you get the point....
--I didn't realize that actual power could be so much lower than claimed power because I deal with electronics for a living, where rated power had better be rated power. It appears that with air guns, there is much more tendency to inflate numbers.
Yes, I've read reviews and looked at databases where people claim their stock RWS 94 shoots 14.3g pellets at and above 825 fps (google and you'll find the database), which would indicate a power rating in the range of 21.5 ft lbs of energy. Those must be some lucky people who happened to get a great RWS 94 rifle, because if their claims are true, that means their RWS 94 rifle is in the same power class as the RWS 350, RWS 48 and RWS 52 (look at the numbers at straightshooters.com), and I find that hard to believe.
My expectations based off of what I've read about the RWS 94 was to get a gem of a rifle, almost a steal for the price. The reality is that the RWS 94 IS an excellent, well made product, but if you're expecting a rifle that produces in the range of 20 ft lbs of energy, you might want to look at a different model, like the RWS 350.
The RWS 94 is a great rifle, I think it's a quality air rifle for sure. I have been focusing on the power, because let's face it, there are a lot of us out there that find the power of an air rifle a key selling point, and I think the power on this rifle, like other RWS rifles, is inflated. I would rate the fps of this rifle in .22 at about 700-725, not the claimed 825. You will not find another rifle in the RWS 94's price range that claims 825 fps in .22, and I think there's a good reason why....you have to pay more $$$$ if you really want that kind of power, and RWS is exaggerating a bit too much.
Besides that, it's thumbs up for this air rifle.
MrBloo's review and ratings | 905 words | 1 comment added.
Review by
Thorr
on 28th Feb 2005
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+1
I purchased a RWS 94 .22cal 3 weeks ago. After putting 500 rounds of rws superdomes through this gun I have come to love it. I have owned an underlever Chinese, a side cocking Chinese, and 1 year ago I bought a Winchester 1000c. I am glad I started with those. Because they made me really appreciate this beauty. After 1000 rounds I chronied this gun at the range. My friend has a 36 rws and to his surprise I had him by 21 fps. The 94 average was 844. I knew it had power when it punched wadcutters ...
Thorr's full review | 219 words
Review by
Franco Colombo
on 15th Jan 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
+2
RWS 94 .22cal - Several years back I scrapped all my money together to buy a magnum spring air rifle. I was looking for somthing around the $200 range and found the 94 in .22 caliber. There came the day when I opened the front door and there it sat, in all its boxed glory, ready to destroy anything I aimed it at. It came with an 8 gauge steel pellet trap which I found to my dismay broke after about 12 shots. The back was horribly dented outward and the welds on the sides were broken.
It d ...
Franco Colombo's full review | 238 words
Review by
medbill
on 22nd Apr 2004
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
RWS 94 .22cal:
Hey Guys,
Took my first shots with an airgun since my last WLOPA, CT match today!
Any of you own one of these Spanish babies? I picked one up recently for my future father in law because he surprised me and paid for my ticket out to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona a few weeks ago and he's been after an airgun. Worked out perfect on the deal. If anyone is after one Natchez has them on sale this month April 2004 for around $165 and the Bushnell Trophy 4-12x for $79. I had some ...
medbill's full review | 533 words | 1 comment added.
Review by
texasgreg
on 5th Jan 2004
User Rating : 3
Respect :
-1
I purchased a model 94 in .22 cal with a standard RWS scope about 4 months ago and I have put approx 600 rounds through it. Although I have only tries 2 types of pellets (daisies pointed tips and the RWS hunting blunt nose) I have not been impressed with the rifle to date. I was at least expecting some improvement over my Benjamine .177 but that simply hasn't happened. At 25 yards I am having a tough time getting a 1-1/2" group and beyond that is anyone's guess. The rifle actually appears to sho ...
texasgreg's full review | 174 words | 4 comments added.
Review by
Canon
on 24th Nov 2003
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+3
I have not Hunted or fired a gun in 20+ years, it feels good to have that excitement back again. After using these reviews, I felt obligated to say thank you and add a word myself for those still looking for answers. I have the 22 cal. it has a simple, solid look of quality about it that anyone can appreciate. The Rifle shoots great at 20 - 40 yards, very accurate when I use shooting stix to aid me, not as steady as I once was, trigger adjustments are great, adjust to a smooth and easy to sqeeze ...
Canon's full review | 303 words
Review by
Michael.
on 15th Jul 2003
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+1
Well i finally jumped on the Mod 94 bandwagon. And all i can say is why didnt i do this sooner. For 170.00 delivered this is a FANTASTIC value. The rifle is quality through out. Easy cocking effort, outstanding accuracy, very nice balance, and power for days. I have to pinch myself to believe i only paid 160.25 for it. The shooting manners are nice and smooth and my rifle at least is not the least bit pellet sensitive. I have the best accuracy with FTS and interestingly enough Copperhead pointed ...
Michael.'s full review | 194 words | 5 comments added.
Review by
Joe D.
on 24th Jun 2003
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+5
I am more pleased with the .22 94 than the .177 I have. The .22 94 really flattens pigeons. Both of my 94s are very smooth.
I was able to improve the feel of the trigger on both of my 94s by utilizing a lighter spring and smoothing the internal parts.
It would be hard for me to justify spending more money on some of the high dollar airguns. The 94 is IMO the best buy, in either .177 or .22, of all of the current brands of airguns available.
Joe D.'s full review | 96 words
Review by
Stealth.
on 11th Jun 2003
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+2
Excellent is the one word to describe this gun. I am very pleased with this rifle's performance and apperance. It is very powerful for me. I have been able to kill a starling at 50 yds no problem. This will probaly shake off most cheap scope rings so get some tough ones like BKL or something. Open sights are great( I'm using irons because of technical difficulties with scope). I had to adjust mine because it was shootin high. It is perfect at 25-30 yds an you wont even need to aim higher for fat ...
Stealth.'s full review | 248 words | 2 comments added.
Review by
GB Barcello.
on 26th Feb 2003
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+2
Let me first say that my friend has one of these rifles in .177, and even though I have not got a chance yet to fire my own rifle yet, I have fired his and find it to be of exceptional quality. I can't believe how far you can shoot without realizing any drop. Personally I think the rifle is very light, and the beechwood stock is beautiful. When the gun is fired it makes a light pop, and you can barely feel the vibration of the spring, you really have to be feeling for it. The only gripe I have ...
GB Barcello.'s full review | 632 words | 1 comment added.
Review by
Russ Brown.
expert review
on 17th Feb 2002
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+9
I was surprised by the smoothness of the firing cycle on this RWS 94 .22 air rifle compared to some other springers that I own. ie RWS 48, B 22.and a B 18 all 22 cal. The velocity is just over 800 fps with hobby pellets just behind the model 48. These were confirmed with an F1 chrony. At 10 meters with open sights I got 1/2 in groups. I believe a scope sight would significantly reduce group size. The fit and finish is nice for the money. Only negative is the stock could be a little shorter for ...
Russ Brown.'s full review | 143 words | 20 comments added.
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