My springer curse has been lifted! (RWS 48)

[AK Mike]

Some of y'all might recall a post I made several months back that I just had terrible luck with springers. I just never was quite able to get the feel for them, hated the twang, etc. I certainly appreciated the simplicity of grabbing a tin of pellets and hitting the range, as well as the simplicity and durability of a springer, but just never quite got along with them.

Well...one of my buddies (y'all know 'im as "BlindMouse 2of3" as I recall)
picked up a RWS Diana Model 52 that immediately impressed me. It was built stout as hell, I could actually hit my targets with it, and it didn't have any freakish twang, but more of a simple rearward recoil, similar to a small centerfire powder burner, which I could definitely cope with.

So...I was impressed enough that when I saw a model 48 (same gun, plain stock) for $180 supposedly in like new condition, I jumped on it.

I'd made the transaction in early January, and it arrived day before yesterday, Feb 2nd. I guess the dude decided to save half the money I sent him to ship it by sending the gun to me on the slow boat detoured through China.

I eagerly opened the box to find my gun as described, except refurbished. I'd have appreciated the mention of that little detail beforehand, although it wouldn't have deterred me, I'm totally comfortable with refurbished.

But...the gun looked fantastic, unfired even. Upon cracking it open, BM and I of course discovered it to have absolutely zero grease, but happily the spring and seal was in great condition. So, after greasing the spring and muckin' around with the cocking lever for 45 minutes or so, we finally took her out back for shooting.

We were shooting at 35 yards, with the temp around 12 degrees. Here's the meat of the review:

The stock- it's a strange thing on these guns. They look like some kinda Chinese mil-surp SKS crap when viewing advertisements for them, but they're actually a very attractive piece of wood in person. The lack of checkering would make cleaning mud out of it, and refinishing it much easier. The lack of a cheekrest would kinda suck for shooting scoped, and right handed, but once again...for my purposes it's fine with me. I'm looking to mount a simple peep sight on mine, and I also intend to work on my left handed shooting abilities, so it works out great.

The one thing I didn't like about the stock when looking it over in my living was that it was short. I muttered to myself "who the hell is this thing marketed towards? Some kinda German cave troll that's five feet tall and equally as wide?" For what it's worth, I'm six foot even and built like Shrek.

well...a little while later, when shooting in 12 degree weather and bundled up with a thick coat, the wisdom of the stock length came through, and I ate my words a bit. Now I'm torn whether or not to add a thicker recoil pad to the gun, or just leave it be.

The loading and cocking is different, but after a couple dozen rounds it became a pretty natural movement. I personally found it to be very easy to load, more so than a break barrel for sure.

Upon shooting it I found the trigger to be very crisp, and perhaps a tad heavier than I'd consider ideal, but nothing a thousand rounds or so won't straighten out.

as far as accuracy...well...I really don't know that it's fair to measure accuracy with a micrometer when a gun is being shot open sighted at 35 yards by a shivering dude in cold weather.

But after a brief "getting to know you" period I was pretty easily able to hit silver dollar sized targets, and when shooting from a rest I could shoot nickel sized targets pretty consistently. the 2"x2" wooden blocks for the most part became childs play. under the circumstances, I was VERY impressed. I'll give it another try when summer comes and I get a decent peep sight mounted on it, but I have no doubt that I can hunt with it.

It shot Predators very well, but happily, it's preferred pellet is the 14.3 grain Crosman Premiere Hollow points, which are cheap, plentiful, commonly available, and certainly sufficent for shooting stupid chickens and the like.

Later in the evening we dug out the Chronograph, which did turn in some pretty disappointing numbers. The CP's averaged about 730 FPS with 17 FPE 16.2 grain Predators came in at around 680, and also around 17 FPE.
The numbers were not very impressive, but sufficient. I wonder if maybe it still hadn't entirely warmed after being outside for a few hours, or if it's just a break in issue or what. We used BM's model 52 which gave us very similar results.

Having said that....

Ya' know...this is almost a spooky gun to buy. I read a bunch of reviews on them complaining about inaccuracy, hold sensitivity, harsh recoil, twang, hard cocking, etc. I just plain don't see it at all. The gun was as accurate as I could have asked of any gun under the circumstances, I figure Ive put a little over 100 round through it so far and have not noted any hold sensitivity, the recoil is definitely perceptible, but it just feels like any other old powder burner to me. No big deal. didn't notice any degree of twang, and the cocking was no problem for me. Maybe if I ever put like 400 rounds through it in a day the cocking would get old, but quite honestly I'd get bored well before that time.

another complaint I've often read about is the weight. Once again, I'm left scratching my head. It weighs slightly less than the common HW 80 that I've heard bragged up so much, and plus it handles very gracefully, and easily takes a couple sling studs.

a note of curious mention though- you'd be amazed at how little wood is in that forearm area. It's very thin, due to the design of the anti-bear trap mechanism.

Another curious note of mention- BM and I were shooting the 48, 52, and a couple of PCP's. We realized as we were heading in for coffee that whoever was shooting the springers seemed to stay warmer and definitely had warmer hands than the PCP shooter. It was kinda unusual, I thought.

Anyways, in closing.....so far I believe the RWS 48 is a great gun as a hunter, ocassional plinker, and as a survival gun. and they can be had at great prices. I'm awfully glad I've gotten mine.

[TWBryan]

I'm glad you have something you like. I've come to appreciate springers more and more over time. I think Natchez has the best price on Williams peep sights.

[BlindMouse2of3]

I know I enjoyed comparing the two and also enjoyed the direct hit on the paintball at 35 yards with the 52. Not open sights mind you, my 52 has a 4-16 centerpoint on top. I also liked the 48 for it's little shorter stock as I am 5'10" and like a shorter length of pull. I think I like the 48/52 better then the BSA lonestar I just picked up. I look forward to trying that 48 with a peep sight I think it will be the ferfect setup. I might just have to trade that lonestar in on another springer.

[AK Mike]

Originally Posted by BlindMouse2of3

I know I enjoyed comparing the two and also enjoyed the direct hit on the paintball at 35 yards with the 52. Not open sights mind you, my 52 has a 4-16 centerpoint on top. I also liked the 48 for it's little shorter stock as I am 5'10" and like a shorter length of pull. I think I like the 48/52 better then the BSA lonestar I just picked up. I look forward to trying that 48 with a peep sight I think it will be the ferfect setup. I might just have to trade that lonestar in on another springer.

It was a damn good day shooting. I think that paintball was back further. You're talking about the one you moved way back further up the hill, right? In any case pretty darn impressive, with an unzeroed scope on your gun and numbing, shivering hands.

Ordered the peep a couple hours ago, as well as your Chrony lights. It's supposed to actually screw to the gun itself rather than a dovetail mount. I'm pretty excited to put it on there...

Don't be gettin' rid of that Lonestar yet...I jost woke up this morning kickin' around the notion of pawning my Ultra off on you. (so I can spend more money on springers, of course)

Hope yer havin' a good, safe hitch. I'm still enjoying not working my mine.

[BlindMouse2of3]

Cool will be nice to have them lights and it'll sure make it easier.

If that sight comes in I might just have to take your 48 off your hands while your at work so it can be properly tested I look forward to seeing it.

my scope isn't that far off, it was rough sighted at 20 yards before. just had to aim quarter mil low and half mil left is all.

Don't threaten to sell me that ultra again this time I'll buy it. On second thought just give me a dollar sign and we'll make it happen.

[dwalk]

i have the RWS 52 and i see no problems with it but i do have it in .177 and would prefer to have the .20 or .22; i'm thinking of having it converted by 'Rich from Mich'