Having only recently found airguns about 9 monhts ago and stumbling upon a beautiful Diana 27 five weeks ago my "wish list" is long. However, I think I would be ecstatic if by this time next year I have been able to aquire the following list.
Diana
35
25A Or something is suitably older and shootable
58
45
I realise the list is long - but I do have 12 months to find them. Here's to everyone finding at least one very cool find in the new year.
Same story. I got the the airgun bug only last august and bought my first Diana august 1st and it was a 27 .177. Shortly after I got a fine 25 .177 and I must admit I like it even better than the 27.
That little gun is sweeeeeeet ! ... and very easy to work on (mine is not a "D") . It is fun taking it apart and to see how it works. All is very simple and works very well even after 35 years.
Keep well.
I have to go down again and join the guests. 1 hour and 45 minutes to New Year!
My first "want" this year is that I'm going to have to send my '76 Beeman/Diana 35 out for a fresh Mainspring.Took her apart and besides being gummed up with old Lube turned to Varnish, the insides are amazinglly un-worn! One tiny rub mark on the piston, and a warped Mainspring. The origonal Leather seal cleaned off and looks like new! Not hardly any wear inside the 3 Ball trigger group either! Diana sure built a good one for me! Can't wait to feel that big 35 firing at FULL power again!
I have a couple rifles I need to break-in and get myself broken-into first... Maybe later this upcoming year I will look into getting a .177 RWS 46 Stutzen, and possiblly either a .177 Gamo Stutzen or maybe one of their new .177 Shadow 640's?
Pellets are my first concern this year though. I really want to test many of the JSB offerings, as they seem to present very good quality also a good number of head styles and weights to try out. The mere three styles of JSB's I have tried have really been impressive!
No needs, but some musings on models on your lists.
January 1 2006, 12:50 PM
I have the 25D. If its on your list, you should move it to the top. Its a little more harsh after the installation of an R-7 spring, so if you can find the original springs, use them instead. For pure shooting pleasure, its hard to beat. No scopes on this little lady please.
I have the 48 in .25 (just finished some target shooting with it about 10 minutes ago). It is really a super rifle. Out of the box it is a dream to shoot.
I just sold my 350 in .177. After having it tuned it was just not different enough from the others in the case to make it worth keeping. I don't think the 350 has any advantages over the 36. Save your money.
I have the 54 in .22. My Vortec sear went bad or something, so I had it repaired. It went from dreamy to dangerous to its current state of "tricky". When it is behaving, it is THE best shooting rifle in the case. For paper targets I will choose it over my Kimber every time. Its one of those "jeeze louise why did I wait so long" type rifles.
Does anyone really think the 300R is worth the extra moving parts? I see those plastic magazines and just cringe. Seems to me that a PCP repeater makes sense, but a springer repeater is just odd. The advantages of multiple shots from one magazine are far outweighed by the chance of dryfire, incorrect indexing and chipped magazine cogs. You still have to cock the spring in a big motion (unlike a pump .22lr where the motion is so small that your eye never leaves the target and your finger never leaves the trigger), whats the problem with loading another pellet by hand in that instance?
You should see the 300R in a European context. In belgium we also have no limitations on airgun power so a 48 or a 54 are indeed very fine choices. However if one goes shooting in England from time to time (as I do) one has the infamous 12fpe limit. The 46 and the 300R models are just legal in the UK so no need to install weaker springs. Furthermore, when hunting in somewhat cold weather with gloves, the repeater seems to make sense. I know I fumbled a lot with these small .177 pellets. (but then, I am a fumbler ).
In the late 70's, in an effort to revive the sales appeal of these older designs, Diana created the models 25S, 27S, and 35S. These have 2-piece cocking linkages, automatic trigger-blocking safeties, and "squared-up" stock lines per the fashion of the time. The model 50 received a similarly changed stock, and later had its own "S" version with auto safety.
The "regular" models seem to have stayed in production and appear to have out-lived the "S" variants in fact.
The "S" guns were sold under the "Condor" name in the UK. The 35S stock was also adapted for the model 45 action, making for an odd-looking gun that was sold as the "Crosman Challenger 6100" in the US and, oddly enough, called the "RWS 45" in Europe.
a 46 Stutzen in .22. Seems that while the standard 46 and 46C are offered in .177 and .22 by dealers here in the US, the Stutzen is only sold in .177 although it is produced in .22. Anyone know where to find one?
I just LOVE Dianas. Especially the TO1 trigger (three ballbearing original disasseblable, difficult to put together again, model)
I have handled other vintage and modern air rifles but I have always gone back to the quality of the Olympian huntress (Diana for the Romans was just Artemis of Greek Mythology).
Now, am I the only one who finds the S-Dianas not as pretty-looking as their plain counterparts?
The S:
Seem to have lost the classic Diana lines.
That trigger guard looks silly.
The stock, too.
How about their longer bbl (barrel)?
Did than help in anything?
Or the two-piece cocking lever?
Can you, please, tell me why the S Dianas are desirable (if they are)?
Your observations are very good, they probably have no real advantages for actual shooting, and may not be worth significantly more money, but their relative rarity appeals to collectors. I like the model 27 in particular--already own three from different eras--and would like to have the "S" variant of it.
Right! I recenly (last week, in fact) got a call from a friend who was assigned to find me a Diana 27. It's done! I am now the proud owner of a 1973-made Diana 27 in .177 cal.
So, I was wondering if I should look for a D27S, as well. Or should I opt for a Diana 25D, instead?
and the gun I like by far the most is the 25
This gun is so light and tiny that it is a real joy to pack around.
And quite accurate
The downside (is this a downside ?) is the power which is only around 5 fpe with R10 heavy or H&N FTT (these are the pellets it likes best and this is with a recent seal and a Maccari R7 spring)
You can probably find a fine 25 for around 100 USD and get as much fun with it as with a 1000 USD pcp.
I wonder if the Weihrauch 25 would be a good substitute for a Diana 25. Has someone compared them ?
same size, weight, lenght, the Weihrauch may have a bulkier stock, maybe
My only true wanted dianas I actually managed to get in 2005
January 3 2006, 3:37 AM
I managed to buy a P5 Magnum at a great price and traded into a 46E in 22. The only possible choice left on my want list is a 54 in 22 or perhaps 25(do they even make the 54 in 25 caliber?) Actually I'd even settle for a 177 if the price was right.
I have a 1960s regular Diana 25 (.177). It was my first and..
January 6 2006, 1:43 AM
...most fun air rifle I have. It is very accurate out to 25meters, but I shoot it even at a 100meters, as I just plink on soda cans. The trigger leaves something to be desired, hence my desire to find a 25D, which frustratingly are nowhere to be seen. I do find many 25s in regular style, like mine, but I am sentimentally attached and I just can't part with it. I wonder how the Diana 27 shoots compared with the 25, as I just concluded a deal for a 1973-made Diana 27. A Diana 75 is also in the pipeline as well as an FX Revolution in .22 cal. (I placed an order). Also, a .25 cal. D54 Air King or D42 would be nice for the near future, more out of curiosity than anything. Apparently, there is quite a selection of .25 cal. pellets available to choose from, which may be a good sign.
Joris, besides a HW 25, maybe an HW 35 could be close to a Diana 25, if not outpowering it. I find HWs somewhat bulky and noisy to alm (kraaack, snapchunk!). The HW55 is one of my favorites, as I like at much as any low-to-middle power Diana.
Finally, there is an air rifle that interests me but I cannot locate: a Feinwerkbau Deluxe sporter in .177 (Model 124) or .22 (Model 127), or both !
Some day, I'd like a 48 .25. I used to have a B21 .177 (Chinese 48 clone) and it was one hot shooter. I'd like to see what the real thing can do with the big 1/4 inch.
My current Diana family consists of a recent 34N, 1968 Winchester 435, 1980 27, and a Hyscore 815 pistol, all in .177.
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