Since Diana culled this model from their range I've hankered after one. And a couple of weeks ago decided to do something about it in case time marched on and I couldn't find one.
As I have already got basically the same action sat in a different stock in the form of a Diana 440TH in .177 I kept an open mind about owning a 430L in .22 so that between both models I have a feel for the gun. So despite tracking down a couple of .177 examples still about I managed to place an order with Sportsman gun Centre which surprisingly found me a .22 example as the very last one out of Edgar brothers- likely being left over from when they had the franchise.
The gun is very well balanced and feels lighter than the 440. I have a strong feeling that it's lighter than a 97K but my 97 is on loan to a good friend just now so I can't compare.
As per the comb of the stock is a little below the ideal for a scope only gun. But there again it's the same stock that goes with the open sighted 430 so no surprise there. Finish to both stock and metal is very good, though in this example the Diana godess symbol seems a little faint.
The stock is ambi which is neither here nor there for me though I do have to fess up here and say that selfishly I prefer a dedicated right hand stock (apologies to the lefties out there). One aspect that puzzled me is that despite making the stock ambi, Diana have opened and deepened the loading port in the right side only unlike the 77/97? I think they missed a trick there.
The T06 trigger is to my mind superb though in this particular gun feels just a whisker dry and sticky. I think it will improve with use or I will drop a couple of drops of SM50 around the trigger pin to ease things.
The underlever in these guns is a little longer than the ones of the standard 430 and 440 models from what I understand. Consequently they afford more leverage for cocking. This is not to be sniffed at since the 440 I have is something of a bullworker to cock particularly with it being in .177 as well. The latch lock up is not as positive as I would like and I do wonder how positive it will remain in time. But for now at least it's good. The action is not as well lubed as I would like and I will get inside the gun in time to smooth and polish things out and apply a high moly paste. It's not the worst I've experienced in this regard however.
The firing cycle on the gun is not at all bad as factory fresh guns go. Discharge is soft with little spring twang despite a bit of a lube deficit. I think the guide and spring are well matched from what I can tell.
I've not really put the gun through its paces on paper but thumb nail size groups at a little over 20m are comfortably achieved. I've tried Ftts and Superdomes through it thus far. Ironically as I've not shot .22 for some time now I've not got a large selection of pellets to try.
Ive topped the gun off with an old Tasco 3-9x40 TV view scope which suits it but if I take to the gun this is another model that I feel the small Hawke AMX scope will suit down to the ground.
Overall initial impressions are positive. The magpie that foolishly flew into the tall beech I was checking zero under in my second outing wasn't too impressed with it mind.
Dave