Diana Model 5 Pistol

[Biker_Bob]

I'm after an honest opinion on a Diana Model 5 pistol, the old type with wooden handle.
Are they accurate? What power do they put out?

Alternatively the Haenel Mod 28, similar questions.

Can they be deployed for target shooting out to 20yds?

Thanks

[ptdunk]

Hi,

I found the mod 5 to be better than I expected.

See me shooting it and the Heanel 28 @4:00mins and @6:18: https://youtu.be/qt2zfenq4QI

IMHO they both suffer from the same problem: The leather breech seals become compressed with use and the barrel starts to point up fractionally and your poi shifts up.


I fitted a PU breech seal to the Mod 5 which stopped that happening and once zeroed I found it very accurate. The grip is a bit basic but I'd be happy trying pistol HFT with it, shooting 40mm killzones out to 25yds. I bet it would get a few.

The 28 suffers from the same problem due to the way you cock it, basically putting upward force on the barrel, and I found the poi shifted up annoyingly after I thought I'd zeroed it. It would definitely benefit from a PU breech seal.

I found the Mod 5 is more powerful and accurate but the 28 has excellent balance so maybe you'd get good results from one due to the better ergonomics.

Both great pistols, be interested to hear how you get on.

Cheers,
Matt

[Biker_Bob]

Thanks, I have of course already watched that video (as should we all) and that's partly what's put me onto these pistols.
Interesting points about the breech seals.
I would have thought that the barrel to action contact point should be metal to metal (giving a consistent lock up angle) and maybe the old leather breech seals harden over time, causing the contact point to become leather to metal (and hence a variable lock up angle). I can see that replacing leather with a more supple material would restore metal to metal contact.
Trouble is there don't seem to be any of either for sale at the moment.

I've found a Slavia ZVP which looks to me a lot like a copy of a Diana model 5.

[Maple]

Of the two you mention, I would say that the Diana is generally the better pistol to use. The Haenel is a very high quality made pistol but the four I've had have all shot poorly. Strangely the best one of the four was the only .22 one.

[PhatMan]

Biker_Bob,

My (1948 - 1952 ?) 0.177" Diana 5 makes ca. 3.2 ft.lb (450 fps) with RWS R10 pellets (7 gr.).

I have found these to be a very accurate pistol (once you get used to shooting recoiling springer pistols).

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

[AC99]

I bought my mod 5 in the early 60's (and still have it) and actually used it in 10m matches and competitions from the early/mid 70's and found it a very accurate pistol. Looking at my old score books I averaged about 175 ex 200 then before I bought a mod 10 and later a FWB 65 followed by a couple of pcp's.

Back then of course, before the advent of recoilless pistols, everyone shot recoiling springers which can take a bit of getting used to now. I think over the sixty odd years I have owned it the seals were only changed once but then it has not been shot a great deal over the last forty years or so.

I have not shot it at longer ranges so cannot comment on how it would perform.

Aubrey

[Biker_Bob]

That's a nice pistol - is the handle wood or plastic?
I'm fine shooting recoiling pistols, I've had great success with HW45s but just fancy something classic.

[PhatMan]

Biker_Bob.

Wood

If you can shoot the HW45, then the Diana 5's will be a piece of cake

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

[Biker_Bob]

Thanks - I really thought they were plastic. I guess that detailed profiling and stippling was heat pressed into the wood.
I've seen a few of these for sale but rejected them because I thought the handle was plastic.
Great, I'll start shopping again...

[ptdunk]

Thanks - I really thought they were plastic. I guess that detailed profiling and stippling was heat pressed into the wood.
I've seen a few of these for sale but rejected them because I thought the handle was plastic.
Great, I'll start shopping again...

The ‘broom handle’ type wood grips are pre war, then for a short period the nice wood grips shown above, soon to be replaced by the much more common plastic grips you usually see in grey or brown.

The post war wood gripped ones seem pretty rare.

Cheers,
Matt

[lodmoor]

When you talk of post war Diana guns are you referring to those produced in the UK or the ones that were produced by Mayer and Grammelspacher in Germany under the name (for UK) as 'Original'?

The ZVP was probably the third airgun I ever bought (nearly 60 years ago) and, with a Webley I picked up a week or two later, got me into collecting pistols.

[ptdunk]

When you talk of post war Diana guns are you referring to those produced in the UK or the ones that were produced by Mayer and Grammelspacher in Germany under the name (for UK) as 'Original'?

MGR, I don’t believe Milbro Diana made a mod.5 in the U.K.

[45flint]

When shooting the 28 you need to add style points. To me its always been fun to just see how good I can do with the era gun I am shooting. 20 feet is much better than 20 yards.

[Biker_Bob]

Hmm, so it definitely sounds like the 28 isn't as good a shooter as the Model 5
I'd like a German manufactured one - I assume it will either say "made in Germany" or just "foreign" on it somewhere?

[Benelli B76]

If you want a challenge, use a model 5 for target shooting. If you want superior performance and accuracy shoot a model 6. The model 6 can out perform or match most .177 spring pistols. I also find it easier to strip and maintain as it is easier to install the springs. It is surprising that it also produces a fair velocity even with the small swept volume.

Baz