New member, getting back into air rifles.

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Posted: 03 May 2026 at 4:09pm

KiwiTR6 wrote:

The HW50 was sold last week.

Ahh poop.

So knowing what I am hoping to do with my air rifle (should I manage to get my hands on one), do you think your friend's TX200 is the sort of thing I should look at?

And in the Diana range 340NP vs 34EMS for a similar price. What's so different about them to bother having the seemingly similar two, at around the same price-point? I guess I mean to ask, which would be more suitable for me?

Edited by R0b0tMaf1a - 03 May 2026 at 4:10pm

KiwiTR6

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Posted: 03 May 2026 at 7:53pm

Oops, I need to remove that listing as well, that gun was sold a wee while back. They are bloody heavy so probably wouldn't have suited anyway.

Please don't assume I'm an expert on this subject matter, I'm just a retired guy relatively new to the sport who is prepared to express an opinion and keen to add dialogue to this forum which does tend go a bit quiet at times.

That said, the 340 is a gas-ram type and the 34 a standard springer. Both have the T06 two-stage trigger which I would rate as equal to the Weihrauch Rekord trigger, but a little more tricky to set up. Once done, it's brilliant.

I'd suggest the 34 with synthetic stock over the other for what you've said you want to do. I know Kruza has a Diana AR8 which he seems to like, perhaps he'll chip in with his thoughts.

Edited by KiwiTR6 - 03 May 2026 at 7:57pm

Daystate Red Wolf .22
FX Dreamline .22
Diana Outlaw .22
HW98 .177
HW30 .177
Diana 340 N-Tec .177
FWB Sport 124 .177
Gamo 900 .22
Diana Mod 25
Baikal IJ-22 .177
Crosman 2240 Custom .22

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Posted: 03 May 2026 at 9:14pm

Ar8 has won me over. Its way more accurate than i expected.its well made. Trigger i haven't touched as its awsome.
Shoulders well. I don't find it too heavy. Cocking is easy.
Fps spread is excellent.
The only issue has been the back stock screw which comes loose despite lock tight.
I don't consider either the tx or hw97 as practical hunting gun. Nor do i find it less accurate hunting. Target i think diana would lose our over distance. But not by much.
I think a sig asp20 would be a better choice for hunting than either the tx or hw97 and not quite as good as the diana for long range but comparable. Also a gas ram.

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Posted: 03 May 2026 at 10:30pm

The Sig is also noticeably heavy though....

Daystate Red Wolf .22
FX Dreamline .22
Diana Outlaw .22
HW98 .177
HW30 .177
Diana 340 N-Tec .177
FWB Sport 124 .177
Gamo 900 .22
Diana Mod 25
Baikal IJ-22 .177
Crosman 2240 Custom .22

Myson

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Posted: Yesterday at 7:31am

Just a thought....

As I usually rest my rifles on the nearest fence-post or tree when hunting - in order to use the Artillery Hold technique - I'm not sure the weight of an air rifle is an issue.

But if it is (for you), think about the Weihrauch HW95 - a superb, lighter weight, break barrel springer that is extremely accurate, powerful and incredibly well made.

I love mine. I regularly knock golf balls off tees at 70yds with my .177 version, using the Element Helix scope on top.

A superb combination if you like longer range shooting and use the holdover/holdunder technique (the Element scopes have fabulous reticules).

You can't beat Weihrauchs in my opinion! Smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE
Air Arms S510 US .22
Air Arms S410 .22
Weihrauch HW97KT .177
Weihrauch HW95 .177

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Posted: Yesterday at 9:22am

I find weight an issue. The tx was heavy gun. Avoid it if wieght is an issue. 97 has a sling due to its weight as did the tx.

Neither the diana or the sig had slings.
Im still not sure if its the stock shape but both i carried. Sig did feel heavier.
Having said all that the tx was the only wooden stock.

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Posted: 17 hours 11 minutes ago at 5:49pm

kruzaroad wrote:

I don't consider either the tx or hw97 as practical hunting gun.

Well to be fair, the extent of my "hunting" will be to deal with about 15 Indian Myna birds and maybe to two feral cats from the bush next door. I've no real interest in anything further than that, so will just be for playing with some targets when I'm bored after that.

The weight is something to consider seeing as I've had my back broken in five places, but I'm working on my strength and won't be out all day lugging a rifle around anyway.

Where did you get the AR8 from? I can't see any online, but I guess some suppliers might order one in.

Edited by R0b0tMaf1a - 16 hours 20 minutes ago at 6:40pm

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Posted: 17 hours 6 minutes ago at 5:54pm

KiwiTR6 wrote:

I'd suggest the 34 with synthetic stock over the other for what you've said you want to do.

Most of my hunting will be done from my balcony LOL

Just a few myna's, maybe a feral cat or two, and then just targets. I'm ok with either wood or synthetic as I'm very fussy and extremely careful with how I treat my things so would be unlikely to damage it.

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Posted: 17 hours 2 minutes ago at 5:58pm

Myson wrote:

Just a thought....

As I usually rest my rifles on the nearest fence-post or tree when hunting - in order to use the Artillery Hold technique

I do a similar thing often when I'm out and about with my big camera lens. I use a post, stick or wall as a makeshift monopod.

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Posted: 15 hours 46 minutes ago at 7:14pm

Ok, I think for once I'm going to use my brain haha, otherwise I'll end up spending 5k to shoot a handfull of myna's.

I thought to myself "I'll pick up guitar again", so I ended up with two guitars worth about 5k each and all the crap to go along with them.

I thought "I'll ride to work to get fitter for mountain biking" so I got an 18k road bike to commute on.....then another the same (in a different colour) for a nice weekend rider. Wacko

I think I'd better just get something like the Diana range for now...

I just have to choose between and 34 EMS and the 340 N-Tec as there doesn't seem to be stock of the Ar8 anywhere.

Edited by R0b0tMaf1a - 15 hours 44 minutes ago at 7:16pm

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Posted: 13 hours 25 minutes ago at 9:35pm

my vote is the diana 34 or the 31 panther which is the same animal in a black stock, $750 at Youngs.

They like 13.4gr Jsb, AA pellets

They got a huge following in the US, checkout the Dianawerk collective forum on network 54 I think might be called GTA now, Im not sure

Air-arms Prosport .177 FAC
Optisan 10*32

Air-arms Tx200 Mk3 .177 FAC
Hawke SW 8-32*56

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Posted: 2 hours 44 minutes ago at 8:16am

So far I'm impressed with my Diana 31. Haven't tried JSBs in it yet - mainly because none of the shops I've been to had any but it does shoot well with 14.2gr Webley Accupells - which my Gamo also likes. Runs at approximately 14FPE. I'm in the process of getting a TbT kit for it to smooth out the shot cycle which will hopefully make it even better.

Edited by -Ec - 2 hours 43 minutes ago at 8:17am

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