6talldog (Login 6talldog) from IP address 24.36.76.3
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Anyone have any real world velocity stats on this Diana ? My local gunstore carries the whole line (except for the Model 28) and I am tempted to buy the 26. It's only slightly larger than the Model 24 (longer compression tube) but still much smaller than the 34-36-38 series. My only reference cites a MV of about 660 fps, but my source is rather old. I recall reading somewhere that the velocity may currently be in the 750 fps range. I tried checking the Dianawerk website but it does not seem to be working anymore.
The Diana 26/28 was intended to replace the classic model 27.
They have the same cylinder, piston etc.
The 28 retained the ball clutch trigger.
The 26 uses a two lever (inferior in my opinipn) trigger.
The 28 has a better sock.
I have a couple of questions for you 6talldog if you don't mind. Have you had a chance to handle the Model 26 yet? If so, was it the TO5 version, and is it muzzle heavy like the TO5 version of the Model 24(I had the TO5 version of the Model 24 Carbine which I found muzzle heavy)assuming you've handled the TO5 version of the Model 24? Also, does it feel much heavier overall than the TO5 version of the Model 24?
RossB, can you tell me what the spring wire diameter of the TO5 versions of the Model 26/28 is? I'm looking for a lighter weight springer in .22 cal. that has mild power that has a spring that can handle 12.0 grain through 15.0 grain pellets without tiring the spring out or breaking it prematurely. I was told that .120" diameter spring wire could handle the above weight .22 caliber pellets without a problem.
That was the info I was looking for. I bought the Model 26 today. It does not feel muzzle heavy to me, but Dianas have always felt right and fit me well, better than most of the HW line. I don't know what you consider muzzle heavy as everyone has different requirements. As a comparison I used to have an HW30S (aka beeman R7) and I did not care for the "feel" of it. I also had an HW50S and I prefer the Diana 26 to that also. It weighs in at 6.68 pounds exactly whereas my Model 24 Carbine weighed in at 6.5 pounds. The 26 has a shot cycle that feels very much like a Model 24 only it has more power. I was looking for a lightweight smaller gun in the 700 fps range (with JSB Exacts) and this fits the bill perfectly. I used to have both a Model 24 and the HW30S but in my opinion both had shortcomings. The Model 24 felt more substantial than the HW30S but, in my opinion, both were too low on power for anything other than basement plinking. I still cannot fathom the rationale of those who attach cult status to the HW30S. It was nothing special from my point of view, even when tuned. The Model 26 is a well thought out rifle. The T05 trigger is great in my book, not as good as an HW Rekord, but very good nonetheless. At this early point it is proving to be very accurate, even more so than the Model 24 I used to have. It has about the same accuracy as the HW30S, but gain, at a higher power level.
PS: no twang at all, but from an initial inspection the spring and such appears to have little (or none) in the way of lube. My next step will be to strip it down and properly lube it. This should make it about perfect in my view. Love the slim stock, by the way. Too many airguns today have much too bulky stocks. Diana has got it right I would think. Not as much "bling" but the functionality is spot on .... in the true German way of doing things.
Glad to help, 6talldog, and congrats on the purchase of the Model 26! From what you say about the Model 26's feel, weight(thanks for sharing the actual measured weight) and shot cycle, I'd really love to get one or a Model 28, or both. I agree with you that too many guns have bulky stocks. I love the slim stocks of the Diana guns. Can you tell if the length of pull is longer than that of the 24C that you had? Have you had a chance to check the velocity either before or after your planned lube tune? If you haven't already completed the lube tune, is there any chance you could measure the spring wire diameter? One last question. Does the dealer you bought your Model 26 from do mail order to the U.S. and would you be willing to share his contact info with me(I included my email address in my post)? I'm inquiring about purchasing a Model 28 from the source in Belgium that Joris provided info for earlier, but I haven't heard back from him yet and it's already been several days since I sent the email.
Thanks again for the great report on your Model 26.
Hello,
yesterday I handled both the 26 and a 28 in a gunstore. Considering the small price difference: get the 28: much more beautiful stock, rubber recoil pad, better sights, trigger.
I only wished they offered walnut as an option (like the Weihrauch 35E)
Velocities (f/s)of Diana's are as follows: (first .177, then .22)
20 492 n.a.
24 574 426
26/28 771 574
34/36/38 918 688
48/52/54 1049 754 (.25: 606)
350 1181 853
It seems however that most Dianas get higher velocities in .22 than officially listed.
My source did not have the Model 28, only the 26. But I think I prefer the plainer stock of the Model 26 anyway. Takes me back to a simpler time when airguns were strictly for fun and I did not obsess about form over function.
Glad to help, 6talldog, and congrats on the purchase of the Model 26! From what you say about the Model 26's feel, weight(thanks for sharing the actual measured weight) and shot cycle, I'd really love to get one or a Model 28, or both. I agree with you that too many guns have bulky stocks. I love the slim stocks of the Diana guns. Can you tell if the length of pull is longer than that of the 24C that you had? Have you had a chance to check the velocity either before or after your planned lube tune? If you haven't already completed the lube tune, is there any chance you could measure the spring wire diameter? One last question. Does the dealer you bought your Model 26 from do mail order to the U.S. and would you be willing to share his contact info with me(I included my email address in my post)? I'm inquiring about purchasing a Model 28 from the source in Belgium that Joris provided info for earlier, but I haven't heard back from him yet and it's already been several days since I sent the email.
Thanks again for the great report on your Model 26.
Can you tell me if the gunstore that you handled the Model 26 and Model 28 in was the same one that you gave me contact info for the other day? I sent an email to the email address that you gave me asking about the Model 28 and never heard back from them. If the gunstore that you handled the Model 26 and Model 28 in was different than the one you gave me contact info for, can you possibly ask them if they do mail order to the U.S. or provide me with their contact info so I can try to contact them? I'm assuming that the gunstore you gave me contact info for doesn't do mail order to the U.S. since they didn't write me back, or maybe my email didn't reach them for some reason or maybe their email response didn't reach me for some reason.
"Can you tell if the length of pull is longer than that of the 24C that you had?"
Don't have the 24 anymore but the length of pull on the 26 is 14" exactly. As a comparison the LOP on my Model 38 is also 14"
"Have you had a chance to check the velocity either before or after your planned lube tune?"
I did not measure the velocity but I'm pretty sure that it's doing in the neighborhood of 700 fps with 8.4 gr JSB Exacts as I compared it to a Model 35 I have which does 725 fps with the same pellet. I put a Maccari Apex seal in while it was apart. Mainly because the factory seal had a small nick on one edge. The Apex is a bit tighter fit and needs to break in a bit. At that point I will measure actual velocity.
"If you haven't already completed the lube tune, is there any chance you could measure the spring wire diameter?"
I did not write it down but I remember it being .120" wire with about 35-36 coils, depending on how you measure the coil ends. It is under a fair bit of preload. The spring guide is .545" OD. The compression tube is 14" long (7/8" shorter than a 34-36) and uses the same saeal as the Model 34 as the tube diamaters are the same. Based on the receiver tube I would bet this gun would respond well to fooling with different springs. It has enough swept volume to allow this, unlike the Model 24 which is limited by a very small swept volume.
"One last question. Does the dealer you bought your Model 26 from do mail order to the U.S."
I'm almost 100% certain he would not ship to the US because our laws will not allow us to mail it across the border. UPS and Fedex won't do it either. The 26 is considered a firearm in Canada which complicates export greatly. I do not believe the Model 28 is available here as the distributor does not list it. The name of the gunstore is "Leamington Gunsmithing", phone number is 519-326-4701. Owner's name is Manfred.
Thanks for all the great, detailed info on your Model 26! From what you say about the length of pull of the 26 being the same as the 38, I would guess that the 26's length of pull is definitely longer than the 24's. To me, that is a definite plus over the 24. The .120" wire diameter is great as that would allow 14+ grain .22 caliber domed pellets to be used without having to worry about spring fatigue/failure. I have actually ordered airguns from Canada already. I've ordered from Specialty Shooting Sports Outdoors(a .22 caliber HW50S full power version) and from Airguns Only(a .20 caliber HW40 pistol) without any problems. They ship Parcel Post. Airguns Only recently told me that they've had very little trouble getting air rifles to the U.S. I'm currently trying to get a reply from a Belgium source concerning a Model 28 but if that doesn't work out, I'll likely give your source a call, and if need be, go for a Model 26 instead.