Very happy new gun day

[TonyL]

I'd guessed that the piston in gas ram format would be light and looking at that article by Hector confirmed this. So I thought it would favour the lighter pellets. When I undertake more intensive testing I'll certainly be trying the FAP / Jumbo RS. And, although not a lightweight, I'll definitely be trying the FTT.

Good start, John.

I'd describe the cycle as very fast. Almost snappy but not harsh? Very little sight picture disturbance (also helped by the heft) and the excellent trigger aids function and follow-through.

[TonyL]

Just completed zeroing the rifle at 15 yards and getting pellet on pellet with Hobbys.
Not sensational but a good start. Tony made a wise move using that particular pellet !

Deiseling lessening also.

Mine is now my potential rough weather / ratter (if I got a ratting perm).

I've always loved the Hobby as a short range rat mullerer and these initial findings would back this up- fine accuracy and goodly wallop!

[Blackrider]

Mine is now my potential rough weather / ratter (if I got a ratting perm).

I've always loved the Hobby as a short range rat mullerer and these initial findings would back this up- fine accuracy and goodly wallop!

I have a similar use in mind but for feral pigpen and the odd rat.
I will try other pellet brands culminating at a 25 yard zero.
I also may try a couple of other scopes possibly with an illuminated reticle.

[TonyL]

One of those scopes with just a fine, illuminated central dot might prove most useful in that scenario methinks, John?

[EricP]

One of those scopes with just a fine, illuminated central dot might prove most useful in that scenario methinks, John?

I tried a red dot on my Zbroia Kozak for a bit of fun. It was very good, even at 30 yards. For fast acquisition particularly at shorter ranges I would think it’s a good idea. The Hawke one is good.
Eric

[Blackrider]

One of those scopes with just a fine, illuminated central dot might prove most useful in that scenario methinks, John?

Yes, that’s all I would need !

[TonyL]

I tried a red dot on my Zbroia Kozak for a bit of fun. It was very good, even at 30 yards. For fast acquisition particularly at shorter ranges I would think it’s a good idea. The Hawke one is good.
Eric

They are good fun. And, as you say, for quick target acquisition at close ranges, very effective.

I had one of the old Singlepoint red dots on my Mercury back in the early 80s. Great for close range rats around the barn. Even with the larger dots they had back then, your brain automatically centres the dot, so you can be precise. And shooting with both eyes open meant that the dot covering (much of) the target wasn't an issue.

These days I have a Walther Competition atop my 2240 "mini-carbine". Haven't hunted with it, but it's great fun.

I guess that, as we get older and our eyes get worse (mine certainly are anyway), these might be slightly harder to use now, especially in less than perfect lighting conditions and this would lead me to look into a small scope with good glass with that central dot. I think there are a few about? Nikko, maybe?

[TonyL]

Thanks Tony, yes Ronsters visit went well.
We popped by NM Products, first time there for me, it's a nice little shop stacked to the rafters with stock. Had a great chat with the owner too.
I actually ended up buying 2 of those Diana rifles, one for myself and someone else wanted me to pick one up for them too.
Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, hopefully get some time this week.

Have you managed to have a play yet, Terry?

[Blackrider]

I have with mine, I was on the range early at 7am this morning !

Basically, good news and bad news /

Good news is the gun is settling down with dieseling almost gone ! Also pellet testing went well using Hobbys, Superdome, FTT, Exact Jumbo, Exact Express and AA Diablo Field.
Bad news is/was halfway through the AADF trial, the comb raiser extension came off the butt which altered the shooting characteristics of the gun.
Now Tony had warned me of this and he had glued the two internal ss support rods into the underside of the comb. Unfortunately I had yet to do this and suffered the consequences.
That mishap put an end the shooting as I didn't have the Torx drivers to gain access to the inside of the synthetic butt section and "fish out" the loose ss rod. Problem was put right on my return home, rods now glued in place !
Moral here, Take good heed from Uncle Tony !

Scope mounted is a Tasco AG 4x32AO on 2 piece double screw medium Sportsmatch mounts.

As for pellet testing, Bench rested indoors, 25m target, two ten shot groups per pellet brand. Bull percentage Estimated ;
Began with Hobbys 11.9 gr. 20mm groups. 15% Bulls. Good fit !
Superdomes 14.5 gr. 15mm groups. 30% Bulls. Good fit.
FTT 14.66 gr. 20mm groups. 20% Bulls. Tight fit.
Exact Jumbo 15.89 gr. 20mm groups. 25% Bulls. Good fit.
Exact Express 14.35 gr. 30mm groups. 0 Bulls. Loose fit.
AADF 16 gr. Test aborted due to reason as stated above !

I've mentioned pellet fit as I think its relevant, not in a Hunting situation as only a few pellets are loaded but today I probably fired onwards of a 150 shots and the FTTs really were uncomfortable on the trigger finger after repeated loading, one pellet was so tight I discarded it. The cold temperatures didn't help either. The E. Express were quite loose with one falling out of the breech on raising the barrel after loading. The rest were all a good fit and presented no issues !

A further point to note is the gun was zeroed using the Hobbys previously and not altered for the other pellet brands therefore various degrees of "drop" were experienced according to different pellet weights but the groups could easily be recognised.
A recent US Youtube clip showed a Diana BULLSEYE ZR-Mount being used on this particular air rifle so as I've had one lurking in the box doing nothing ever since I sold my 54 AirKing I'll give that a go next time out !

Overall I'm really pleased with the gun and have no regrets buying it especially for the price !

[TonyL]

Naughty boy; told ya!

Glad all sorted now though, John, and it's a quick fix, isn't it?

Very detailed little report there.

So, Superdomes tops for now, eh? Sounds like it fared much better than the little Brocock rammer of mine on the Sunday.....I'd switched to a bit of paper testing in the afternoon and, although it had seemed okay on spinners, on paper using the Hobby at just over 20 yards, it wasn't so good. Switched to the Superdome and the firing cycle became extremely harsh and it was dieselling like mad from nowhere. Guessing it was the high start pressure giving the very light piston and softer set-up (than the Diana) a tough time, the increased pressure and temperature promoting the excessive dieselling!

NOTE.....This was on the Brocock, not the Diana. Guessing the higher ram pressure (going by feel) and guessed higher piston mass of the Diana helps.

Shame the Exact Express didn't give a better showing. I'd guess this would have a much lower release pressure, making for a nicer cycle. But poor pellet fit affected its showing. Just goes to show why you need to pellet test, though. However, the lighter JSB that I really had in mind was the RS. Lighter still and if a particular batch was to suit the barrel, who knows?

Now, the FTT.....good showing, but not the best so far, and a very tight fit. These were the pellets I was to next test in mine......What is the stated head size of the ones you have? The reason I ask is that they come in different stated sizes. And in the YouTube video on the Diana factory visit, the man from Diana shows the presenter the gauge they use to check head sizes. So it might mean that with H&N pellets, the stated sizes do actually mean something and that a smaller one might fare much better? I think they go from 5.51, 5.52, 5.53 and 5.54?

I remember NickG once setting up a 77 at a Bash that wouldn't shoot JSB / AA stuff accurately. I let him try some FTTs (.177 in this case). Accuracy much improved. When he bought some they were really tight. Stated 4.52 whereas mine said 4.50 on the tin I think he then got some 4.50s and all was good again.

I'd have high hopes for better fitting FTTs and Jumbo RS / FAP. And I wonder if some of those JTS ones might suit? They make a heavier flat head too that should be interesting for ratty work.

Thanks again for sharing your findings, John.

[TonyL]

Will report back with further findings once I can and it'll be interesting to hear how Terry and Mark get on with their testing.

Just remember to glue those posts into the cheekpiece, chaps.

[Blackrider]

Tony, the FTT's were 5.55.
They run from 5.50 to 5.55 I think although I'm sure I've seen some at 4.90 ?
The 5.55's shoot very well in my two Fenmans and the Stingray.

In addition to the pellets I tried above, I also ran a few shots with Eley Wasps, both Pink tin 5.5 and Blue tin 5.6 and neither were outstanding.
The only other .22 cal. pellets I have are two sizes of the alloy Defiant including the Vintage type which I didn't use.

As for the Exact Express .22, I'm not sure why I bought them as they're not marvelous in any of my .22 guns. I suspect I may have them because they are the same weight as another pellet which I had run out of, however I do use them in .177 (TX200HC) as I do the RS (HW 95k) !

The "final shoot-off" will probably be between the Superdomes and the Exacts I reckon !

Another matter which I really should have mentioned previously is that after the pellet testing, back home I noticed that the scope mounts had slipped backwards on the rail by about 10mm !
The mounts were Sportsmacth Medium twin screw, 2 piece . I noticed at the Bash you had fitted a one piece mount and that would be the way to go I'd say !
As stated previously, I'm now trying the Bullseye Zr mount and failing that it'll probably be a Dampa mount.
In shooting the gun, I can't say I experienced a great amount of recoil if at all any but there maybe "something subtly going on" inside the gun which may need to be taken into account ?
This effect my also be connected to the matter of the internal comb rods falling out !
I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter !

I hope this information will be of use to the Lads who have recently bought the Diana and others who may do in future !

[TonyL]

Mine's actually on two-piece, double screw Sportsmatch mounts, John, with no hint of creep.

Will check the sizes of my FTTs - thank you for the information.

[Blackrider]

Mine's actually on two-piece, double screw Sportsmatch mounts, John, with no hint of creep.

Will check the sizes of my FTTs - thank you for the information.

Interesting, I could have sworn it was a one-piece.

[TonyL]

Nope, definitely two-piece, John.

Having said that, I'm sure the Bullseye one-piece will fulfill the intended role admirably.

I'm going to have a guess also that the FTT in smaller head size will be right up there in the accuracy stakes. And I'd guess the FAP / Jumbo RS may well deliver the sweetest firing cycle (and, maybe highest ME figures) as well as, hopefully, good accuracy, due to that light piston.