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New member, getting back into air rifles.
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R0b0tMaf1a View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 May 2026
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Posts: 11 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote R0b0tMaf1a Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 May 2026 at 4:09pm
Originally posted by KiwiTR6 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
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KiwiTR6 View Drop Down
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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
Diana Two Forty .177
FWB Sport 124 .177
Diana Mod 25 .177
Crosman 2240 Custom .22
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kruzaroad View Drop Down
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Posts: 2884 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kruzaroad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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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KiwiTR6 View Drop Down
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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
Diana Two Forty .177
FWB Sport 124 .177
Diana Mod 25 .177
Crosman 2240 Custom .22
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Myson View Drop Down
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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
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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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R0b0tMaf1a View Drop Down
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Originally posted by kruzaroad 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 - 17 hours 20 minutes ago at 6:40pm
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Originally posted by KiwiTR6 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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Originally posted by Myson 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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R0b0tMaf1a View Drop Down
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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 - 16 hours 44 minutes ago at 7:16pm
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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
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-Ec View Drop Down
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Posts: 178 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote -Ec Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 3 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 - 3 hours 43 minutes ago at 8:17am
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Try airguns nz, or other online sellers for jsb.
Ive been trying for ages to jsb in at a couple of shops. They will order them in but stick to gamo and h&n. I have not be tip toeing around the fact most of the pellets they sell are inferior build to jsb, etc.
Took nearly 6months to get ,22 ftt stocked in one shop
That stocks h&n!
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Hunting & Fishing in Dannevirke stocks "Rifle" and Gamo in 22.  Gamo are rubbish, Rifle seem better but my Gamo dosn't really like them, Havent tried them in the Diana.  The son-in-law's Gamo 177 does seem to shoot well with Rifle pellets.   The only other sports shop in Dannevirke only has Gamo and Stoeger in 22.   Both my guns shoot OK with the Stoeger, but are better with Accupells.

Myson gave me some H&N FTT and Air Arms Diabolos to try but neither was particularly good in either gun.  I would like to try JSBs to see if they are any better than Accupells and if so buy a bulk lot.   

I do have to go to Palmy this morning and will call into Gun City to see what they have.  Hunting & Fishing in Palmy didn't have any last week when I called in.  Also will be going to Napier either tomorrow or Thursday so I'll check both Napier and Hastings if Palmy doesn’t have any.  

Ultimately I'm after one pellet that performs well in both rifles then I will get a bulk lot.   Mail order does get expensive for one tin and no point getting more than one tin if neither rifle likes them.

I think most casual air gunners use what ever is cheapest and so gun shops only stock whatever has the best margins for them. Serious air gunners find what their gun(s) like and then buy them in bulk usually via mail order.  If I can settle on one pellet in each calibre for my guns I will approach the local shops and see if they will order them in for me.   Should cost about the same as mail order within NZ and I prefer to support local business when appropriate.


Edited by -Ec - 58 minutes ago at 10:57am
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KiwiTR6 View Drop Down
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Posts: 432 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KiwiTR6 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 minutes ago at 11:28am
JSB is generally a good bet for most guns - obviously with exceptions.  Gun City in ChCh had none when I was down there - tried to sell me Gamo LOLLOL

Magnum Sports in Stratford seem to have plenty of 16 gr and 18 gr in stock at the moment.

I import a lot of JTS pellets from Krale.  Not available in NZ but they seem to work better than anything else I've tried in most of my and my shooting colleagues guns (the reason I bring in so many).

Unfortunately they have been out of stock for several months in the sizes I buy, but that should be fixed in the next week or so apparently.


Edited by KiwiTR6 - 16 minutes ago at 11:39am
Daystate Red Wolf .22
FX Dreamline .22
Diana Outlaw .22
HW98 .177
HW30 .177
Diana 340 N-Tec .177
Diana Two Forty .177
FWB Sport 124 .177
Diana Mod 25 .177
Crosman 2240 Custom .22
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