Diana

Sweet Inspirations

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Sweet Inspirations

Borrowing from the past

By Dennis Adler

During the 1850s Colt produced .44 caliber Dragoon Models with detachable shoulder stocks. Although far from the first use of this combination to turn a holster pistol into a short barrel carbine, the Colt models from the 1850s through the 1860s are the most famous. Dragoons with shoulder stocks were generally fitted with a folding rear sight on top of the barrel lug (which you can see folded down). Accuracy with the stock attached was greatly enhanced and point of aim was more accurate than with the pistol’s hammer notch rear and half moon German silver front sight.

At the end of the article on the Crosman Backpacker Model 2289G I put in a picture of several Frank Wesson single shot .32 rimfire pistols from the 1870s which were fitted with shoulder stocks to make them into carbines. This shows that the concept for the Crosman was rooted in our past, but it is far more interesting than that. For so many of the very popular airguns we have today, the past is the source of their inspiration, like the early Gletcher Russian Legends, and Umarex Legends models such as the MP40 sub machinegun and M712 Broomhandle, among others. But this particular subject of making carbines out of pistols has its roots far more deeply planted in the past. Frank Wesson built his guns as simple, affordable single shot pistols, some with longer barrels that could be used to hunt small game and affixed with a metal skeleton shoulder stock to make the pistol more accurate, like a rifle, but removable for easier transport. In an airgun context the 2289G, Diana Chaser, shoulder stocks for any of the Crosman 1399 series models as well as other Crosman pneumatic pistols, even the shoulder stock for the Umarex S&W 586 (perhaps the closest relation to the Frank Wesson pistols) fall into this same category. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 7

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 7

The .22 rifle conversion

By Dennis Adler

The Diana Chaser rifle/pistol kit is the best of both worlds, an excellent entry level target pistol in .177 or .22 caliber, and a rifle all for one price. The conversion from pistol to rifle (the kit comes with the Chaser assembled as a pistol) begins with laying out the main parts. Since I have already mounted the Hawke scope on the pistol I am leaving it attached for the rifle conversion. Shown are the pistol, rifle barrel, barrel band and two hex head tools required for the barrel switch.

When is a pistol not a pistol? When it is a rifle. Rifle to pistol conversions are not uncommon, particularly in AR-15 and AK-47 based platforms that have been reworked from long range target rifles, to SBRs (short barreled rifles) and to pistols without stocks, with folding stocks, braces, or collapsible stocks. Depending upon how the rifle’s platform, barrel and stock are reconfigured can make it anything from a civilian legal carbine to a Class III firearm, and yet, at their core, one and the same. Airguns do not have such restrictions, and the Diana Chaser actually takes a reverse approach by converting the pistol into a rifle with a 17.7 inch rifled steel barrel chambered in either .177 or .22 caliber (4.5mm or 5.5mm).  As a pistol and pistol carbine with the addition of the Chaser stock sold in the rifle/pistol kit, the Diana model has already proven itself a very capable CO2 powered single or multi-shot entry-level target pistol. With the rifle/pistol kit you get to take the Chaser to the next level, 10 meter target rifle. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 6

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 6

Adding optics

By Dennis Adler

There have been some conversations over the rear sight on the Chaser and if it could be replaced with a better rear sight, and it might be possible, but if you are going to upgrade the Chaser .22 (or the .177 model) might as well go for optics and get the most accuracy you can from this exceptional entry-level CO2 powered target pistol. I decided to match it up with a Hawke 1x30mm red/green dot scope with a 9-11mm rail mount. The Hawke has flip up covers over the lenses (pictured closed), which is great on a rifle, but for a pistol they are easy to remove being hinged on hard rubber covers that slip over the barrels of the sight.

Yes, I know this is supposed to be a test of the Chaser .22 with the rifle barrel but there has been a lot of talk about the sights on the Chaser, such as changing the rear sight for one with more adjustments. With the 11mm rail running the entire length of the receiver this opens the door for several possibilities to upgrade the Chaser. One suggestion has been the Air Venturi Williams notch rear sight. It will fit, but whether it will be comparable with the very tall ramped front sight on the Chaser is another question. This is something we will have to delve into at another time, as well as other options for adjustable sights. But today, to put one possible upgrade for the pistol or rifle version to bed, I want to address the very affordable option of adding optics. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 5

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 5

Range testing the .22 caliber model

By Dennis Adler

Depending upon your caliber preferences, .177 or .22, the Diana Chaser rifle/pistol kit is the best buy as it provides the pistol and pistol barrel, shoulder stock, and 17.7 inch rifle barrel in the zippered, form lined case. The Stormrider .22 caliber pellet magazine is an extra cost option, but the case liner is designed to hold two.

Aside from larger caliber, the .22 Chaser is identical to the .177 model in both pistol and rifle/pistol kit versions. For this test I am using the rifle/pistol kit Diana Chaser. When I chronographed the .22 caliber model in Part 3, I only had domed pellets on hand, so for this evaluation of the .22 Chaser I am going to chronograph the pistol and rifle (in two separate tests) using 14.0 gr. RWS Meisterkugeln Professional Line lead wadcutters, H&N Sport 13.73 gr. lead wadcutters, RWS Hobby Sport Line 11.9 gr. wadcutters, and Sig Sauer Crux Ballistic Alloy 10.3 gr. domed pellets for the lightest possible grain weight. The factory rated maximum velocity for the .22 caliber Chaser is 460 fps (established by Diana with a variety of different pellets), so we’ll see if any of these .22 pellets can hit that mark with the pistol barrel. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 4

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 4 Part 3 Part 2 Part 1

Range testing the .177 caliber model

By Dennis Adler

As a pistol the Diana Chaser delivers a lot of bang for the buck. It’s medium-loud with no felt recoil whatsoever. The balance of this airgun in the hand makes it easy to hold on target in either a traditional one-handed target shooting stance or with a two-handed hold and Weaver stance. If you are serious about learning to target shoot with a single shot pistol, using a one-handed target shooting stance, the Chaser is a great airgun to begin with. It has good sights, a surprisingly light, well made trigger, and is easy to load and fire with its bolt action design.

If I was seeing the Diana Chaser rifle kit, or even just the Chaser pistol for the very first time, and had no advance information on its suggested retail price, then saw what features it had, how it came packaged, and how well it appears to be made, I wouldn’t have blinked if I was told the pistol sold for $149.95 and $199.95 for the rifle and pistol kit; in fact I’d have thought it was darn reasonable. Why? Because we are talking about an entry-level airgun market where model ranges are often separated in price by less than $50, and retailers look at the MSRP, wholesale cost per unit, allotted shelf space (in stores like Walmart), and then the discounted price it will actually have to sell for. When you consider all of variables, all of a sudden $50 is a big number. This even applies to internet retailers like Pyramyd Air, because almost every gun is sold below MSRP. The beauty is that no one has to drive to the store, you just pick and click and it’s on the way. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 3

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 3 Part 2 Part 1

An entry level target pistol that impresses

By Dennis Adler

This really is a dynamic duo, the Diana Chaser in 4.5mm (.177 caliber, top) and 5.5mm (.22 caliber), offer multiple ways to shoot target and match grade pellets at a price and with features that are almost unmatched in this category of air pistol.

The Diana Chaser models offer more options than many airguns, and I have to use airguns rather than air pistols since the Chaser can also be a carbine pistol or a rifle depending upon how you configure it. I like that a lot because it gives the Chaser so many more possibilities than a single purpose entry-level air pistol.

Before I begin chronographing the 4.5mm and 5.5mm models, I want to explore the three basic forms in which the Chaser can be assembled. If you only have the pistol this is a short story. You have a very neat CO2 model that can be used as either a single shot or multi-shot pistol with the optional Stormrider magazines. If you opt for the rifle kit, you have three different ways to assemble your Diana Chaser and each one gets better. read more

Diana Chaser Pistol Part 2

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Diana Chaser Pistol Part 2 Part 1

An entry level target pistol that impresses

By Dennis Adler

The foam liner in the cardboard box comes out and fits into the zippered carrying case so you have a range case with the gun. No problem with storage here! For less than $80 you might have expected a blister pack, certainly not this. Diana has made entry level pistols respectable again. Note the space at the top right that will hold a couple of tins of pellets, and two openings for the extra cost Stormrider pellet magazines. 

There are several features of the new Diana Chaser that really make this a great target pistol regardless of its affordable price point. That it’s a Diana makes a perfect place to start because there’s a certain level of quality that you expect with the name, particularly with a single shot target pistol. As I mentioned in Part 1, the Chaser has a distinctive grip contour that is designed to press the extended base of the grip around the palmswell of the shooter’s hand. The grip also has a pronounced thumb rest shelf. These two features help stabilize the pistol in your hand, especially when shooting one-handed. And the grip contours are ambidextrous. read more