Diana/Mauser K98

[Barryg]

It's here!

feels a little gritty and graunchy on cocking.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps9ofxtxxh.jpg

Its usually the cocking slot that wants deburring on those 460 actions

[tinbum]

Tea-break, slings on! Just the top hats to make and I can crack on with this.



Yippeeeeeee!

[tinbum]

Ok, heres the situation now:

Stripping down; Anyone who's ever stripped an AK will be familiar with this procedure. Undo the muzzle thread protector and the front sight unit, forward furniture with bands, sling loop and barrel sleeves all slide over the front.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...pslkbhmizw.jpg

Next undo the three standard stock screws and remove the stock. With the action removed you are left with a basic Diana Underlever, so its drift out the two rear pins running through the trigger block while containing the preload pressure, disconnecting the cocking link and removing the cocking eye from the compression tube using a hex key to undo the retaining screw.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...pszo8nduqm.jpg

Once out the comp tube, piston and spring were examined. The transfer port had a 2mm restrictor washer under the breech seal. This was removed. The piston was pretty standard Diana fare and the rear skirt was polished and both the piston and comp tube degreased. The spring was a 2.65mm wire and 42 coils, after some experimentation and a little while crunching numbers in an almost scientific way this was ditched in favour of a 3.15mm 32 coil spring. Guides were made to suit, it was carefully relubed and put back together.

On firing there is some recoil going on, but frankly nowhere near what I had expected from such a heavy piston travelling such a long way. Power tested at 10.8 with JSB 8.44's up to 11.8 with H&N Sniper Light 7.5's, its a heavy piston! The snipers were a good firm fit into the barrel and I'm hoping the gun likes them as the BC is great for an air pellet.

In short, is it as smooth as my stroked TX! No. My stroked 95? No. My unstroked 99? No. But its a damned sight better than a standard 80 and very pleasing to look at, hold and shoot.

I'm already wondering what a 1.5-5x20 on high mounts would look like on it?

[Rickenbacker]

What a jolly good read ... the baby Simmons looks crap on any gun, so that should give you an idea.

[gingernut]

Ordered mine in .22.
Calibre just available apparently.
Price not outrageous.

[Harrympope]

What's the price on them? I don't see them in the USA yet and am curious.

[Shed tuner]

Nick, stick a nose ext on it mate...

@28mm bore, 70mm stroke should be loads. not 100, or 140, or whatever craziness it is at the moment.

And then mill some slots in the piston. lots of them. Aim to get down to 300g.

Then bring it to the Bash

[gingernut]

£345 before haggle/discount/pleading.

[tinbum]

Nick, stick a nose ext on it mate...

@28mm bore, 70mm stroke should be loads. not 100, or 140, or whatever craziness it is at the moment.

And then mill some slots in the piston. lots of them. Aim to get down to 300g.

Then bring it to the Bash

Heres the thing Jon, its a 115mm stroke, that would be a 45mm extension. Could you imagine the bonkers preload? And what would the cocking effort turn into?
I didn't weigh the piston and can't be arsed to strip it again now, it didnt seem that heavy. But then I've been working with HW80's for the last couple of weeks........

Mrs Bum is out tomorrow, probably discussing shopping, kittens and periods, I'll investigate then.

[tinbum]

What a jolly good read ... the baby Simmons looks crap on any gun, so that should give you an idea.

But does it look German?

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psgbxgrtim.jpg

[Barryg]

In short, is it as smooth as my stroked TX! No. My stroked 95? No. My unstroked 99? No.

I was just wondering Why

What do you think is stopping it being as smooth as the others ?

Apart from the piston rings on the TX why are they smoother, is it just the fact that you have spent more time on the others, do you think you could get as smooth with more time spent on it or is there something specific that is causing it not to be as smooth?

[maximus]

But does it look German?

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psgbxgrtim.jpg

which of your chins do you rest on the stock?

[Rickenbacker]

But does it look German?

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psgbxgrtim.jpg

It looks as bad as I feared it would... perhaps stutzen rules apply, where you need to delete the iron sights and fit a mid-size proper scope (like a Bushnell Trophy or summat) in a lowish single piece mount?

[Blackrider]

A small Zeiss, Pecar, Lisenfeld or Khales would do it justice. Preferably with the "Post reticle" or failing that a German No. 4.
Not too much mag, something like 4x32 would be ideal and forget about the Solignon bayonet !

Mount it on steel Hilver rings or similar not Sportsmatch, Hawke or whatever.

That's what I would have !

[accused]

I know its an old thread but in part it made me buy one so I thought I'd say thanks for the posts above.
I love the gun, so much character and thanks Nick for the strip down guide.

I like it so much my perfect mk1 80 is now for sale, one heavy gun is enough!