This time it's the classic RWS Diana Model 34, a timeless spring-piston rifle that has pretty much defined the genre for over 50 years. Still made in Germany, still one of the biggest bangs for the buck.
Mine is in .22 caliber, since I much prefer that caliber over .177. It's going to be the new backyard pest rifle anyway, so bigger was better. It's replacing my now semi-retiring 1963 vintage Sheridan Blue Streak 5mm pneumatic, which I had rebuilt and hot-rodded by Mac1 Airguns about five years ago.
Make no mistake, though, the old Sheridan is actually just a touch more accurate and significantly more powerful than even this "magnum" springer. They both shoot 14.3 or 14.5 grain pellets, with the 34 getting 670-ish fps over my Chrony, and the Sheridan getting about 790 fps. The Sheridan tears one ragged hole when bench rested across the back yard (about 25 yards), where the 34 might open it up to 1/2" or so. Still nothing to sneeze at.
The 34 is far easier to scope, which is its real selling point for this duty. The Sheridan wears an old Williams peep and a Williams white bead front sight I grafted on years ago. It's an absolutely wonderful carrying/hunting rifle. I bet it doesn't weigh five pounds. The 34, however, at 7 1/2 pounds a full size rifle by any standard.
Here they are, the old Sheridan and its new stablemate:
Just by way of comparison, here is the new 34 alongside my Model 70 in .375 H&H:
And, finally, here is a close-up of the powerplant. The bluing and overall fit and finish of the rifle are outstanding:
Looking forward to many happy plinking sessions, right in my own back yard.