side levers

[fatttmannn]

I like them myselves. Have the following- Webley Viscount .22, Hammerli Model 2 in .177,Air Arms branded Woodsman Carbine in .22, Original Diana 52 Firebird Carbine in .22, Baikel .177, and Norconia sideleaver allso in .177. so whats youre take on them,

[jonnyone]

I like them myselves. Have the following- Webley Viscount .22, Hammerli Model 2 in .177,Air Arms branded Woodsman Carbine in .22, Original Diana 52 Firebird Carbine in .22, Baikel .177, and Norconia sideleaver allso in .177. so whats youre take on them,

Hiya Dave.
Like you I have a Diana 52 and I did consider making it my main hunting iron at one stage in place of my HW80. But that never came to pass as I never quite got on as well with it as my 80. It is a solid gun though and accurate and its FAC potential is well attested if you go that direction. Always fancied one in .177 to see how that performed. The gun itself is abit let down by a plastic trigger (mine is dated around 1988). It also creeps a little. A replacement T06 would improve this no doubt.
I once had a chance of a Woodsman while on calls in Aberdare a few moons ago n wish in hindsight I had upped my offer.
I bet the recoil on the carbine 52 is a tad sharp?
Dave

[fatttmannn]

Hiya Dave.
Like you I have a Diana 52 and I did consider making it my main hunting iron at one stage in place of my HW80. But that never came to pass as I never quite got on as well with it as my 80. It is a solid gun though and accurate and its FAC potential is well attested if you go that direction. Always fancied one in .177 to see how that performed. The gun itself is abit let down by a plastic trigger (mine is dated around 1988). It also creeps a little. A replacement T06 would improve this no doubt.
I once had a chance of a Woodsman while on calls in Aberdare a few moons ago n wish in hindsight I had upped my offer.
I bet the recoil on the carbine 52 is a tad sharp?
Dave

Its quick, and am waiting for Welsh Willi to have a spare slot so he can do a kit for her. I have an 80 a series 1 that was made for my 18th and still going strong. Agree with the triguer on the 52 could be better but has a sideleaver hunter it has to be to my mind the best out there. You mention the .177 , I did have a 54 Airking, but my old car required a majour job to keep it on the road so I had to let it go that was simply awesome and at first chance when funds allow it will be replaced has its it is the best sidelever out there by a mile. The Woodsman allways appealed to me has I had a Jackal Parabelum when I was younger and latter a HI-Power both in .22 but allthough powerful for hunting with acceptable accuracey they were very noisey due to the stock and a bit non P?C( hate that bloody phrase) and wernt really wellcome at the club the Woodsman is after all only an AR7 without the military look, allso has the peried silencer which makes her a bit quieter to use, I call it the Warlock. my 52 is the Valkarie

[Phil Russell]

They are generally very nice rifles. The Diana 48/52 series are a bit heavy but can compete very well for accuracy against non sidelevers. The recoiless 54/56 (do I remember correctly?) are a good design but also on the heavy side. Many say you have to short stroke the 48/52 to get acceptable performance / shot cycle at <12 ftlbs, but I have shot very sweet examples in standard format.
The Air Arms series of sidelevers from yesteryear ... Mistral, Bora, Camargue, EX88 were highly regarded when they came out and I remember the magazine reviewers positively drooling over them.
Cheers, Phil

[fatttmannn]

They are generally very nice rifles. The Diana 48/52 series are a bit heavy but can compete very well for accuracy against non sidelevers. The recoiless 54/56 (do I remember correctly?) are a good design but also on the heavy side. Many say you have to short stroke the 48/52 to get acceptable performance / shot cycle at <12 ftlbs, but I have shot very sweet examples in standard format.
The Air Arms series of sidelevers from yesteryear ... Mistral, Bora, Camargue, EX88 were highly regarded when they came out and I remember the magazine reviewers positively drooling over them.
Cheers, Phil

Yes Phill agree with all of that, respect Sir.

[original45]

Got a couple of early aa models which are nice .
But the diana original 48/52/54 I get on with.
Love em.
Got a cupboard full.

[Bonzo!]

They are generally very nice rifles. The Diana 48/52 series are a bit heavy but can compete very well for accuracy against non sidelevers. The recoiless 54/56 (do I remember correctly?) are a good design but also on the heavy side. Many say you have to short stroke the 48/52 to get acceptable performance / shot cycle at <12 ftlbs, but I have shot very sweet examples in standard format.
The Air Arms series of sidelevers from yesteryear ... Mistral, Bora, Camargue, EX88 were highly regarded when they came out and I remember the magazine reviewers positively drooling over them.
Cheers, Phil

I was handed a air arms khasmin 177 a short while ago side lever shoots well considering it's age.

[Rickenbacker]

Tap loading side levers - Are all crap. Especially Jackals and Trackers.

(Actually, all tap loaders except MK1 Airsporters are crap).

Diana side lever sporters - Heavy and relatively crap.

The side lever is generally an unbalanced, asymetrical exersize in uglyness. And if it wasn't for the difficulties of fitting a rear sight, they'd all be top levers, probably.