The W. H. B. Smith 1950’s shoot-off: BSA MK2 Airsporter vs. Diana Model 50

[45flint]

The Diana will win.

Whats pretty nuts is I took the diopter sight off the Diana and moved the sight to the closer rail for the open sight. It pretty much held POA. The Diana trigger is a long two stage trigger. The long first stage to me is like a having a safety. The second stage is target quality, I think they say it’s a ball bearing trigger? Very sweet. The BSAs trigger isn’t even close. But I forgot that it needs RWS Superdomes took the wrong pellets out. Got too cold. There’s always another day.
With diopter:


Closer rail open sight:

[45flint]

Had a fun day shooting these two 1950s classics. I had bought some very good RWS Meisterkugein pellets at a recent gunshow, .177 for the Diana 50 and .22 for the Airsporter MK2. Being two different calibers probably does not help a comparison but that’s what I have. The Airsporter is a much more powerful gun at +10 fpe with the Diana at +6 fpe.

Sights, the Diana’s sights are far superior to the BSA, fully adjustable with simple turns of a knob. BSA is adjustable for elevation with set screws but the windage would need to be adjusted by drifting the sight in the dovetail. This one easily goes to the Diana by a large margin.

Trigger, the Diana is a two stage ball bearing trigger with a very long travel to the first stage and a very light match pull at the second. BSA is a single stage firm trigger. This easily goes to the Diana again by a large margin.

Ability to hold on target. Diana is very easy to hold on target, the spring seems to give a controlled thump as it is released. The BSA is more powerful holding on target with a artillary hold works well but no question it more jumpy and a challenge.

The BSA is a innovative sleek beautiful rifle and a joy to own, but I end up agreeing with Smith that it’s “target” performance doesn’t seem to match the standards of rifles like the Diana. It’s power however can make it a much more useful gun for say hunting or pest control.

Fun reliving the past in your backyard. To me collecting is also about experiencing the shooting as it was.

[Geezer]

Not surprising.

German 1950s focus: organised club target shooting.

British 1950s focus: plinking and short-range pest control in back gardens and farms.

[Shed tuner]

Detune the airsporter a bit and see if it helps. But the trigger will still be poor.

[45flint]

Detune the airsporter a bit and see if it helps. But the trigger will still be poor.

Not really interested in altering it, it’s still a good gun just interesting to compare. And like said the Diana is more of a target rifle.

[Shed tuner]

Not really interested in altering it, it’s still a good gun just interesting to compare. And like said the Diana is more of a target rifle.

I meant just a weaker spring, not an alteration. If it makes it nices to shoot, you'll enjoy shooting it more... I'm thinking you weren't planning on hunting with it

My mk2 runs around 9FP and isn't too harsh at all...

[45flint]

I meant just a weaker spring, not an alteration. If it makes it nices to shoot, you'll enjoy shooting it more... I'm thinking you weren't planning on hunting with it

My mk2 runs around 9FP and isn't too harsh at all...

Harsh may be a “harsh” term lol. I’m comparing it to a 6 fpe heavy gun in the Diana. If I was comparing it to my Beeman C1 it surely would be the smoother one? The trigger and sights of the Diana are just a treat. Maybe these early ones are under appreciated; graceful lines and great natural shooters.