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Air Guns Diana 34 Easy Modular System (EMS) Synthetic: Part 2

Diana 34 Easy Modular System (EMS) Synthetic: Part 2

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Diana 34 EMS
Diana 34 EMS with synthetic stock.

Part 1

This report covers:

  • Poor launch
  • Get on with it
  • RWS Hobby
  • Air Arms Falcon
  • Norma Golden Trophy
  • JSB Exact Heavy
  • Trigger
  • Cocking effort
  • Well lubricated
  • Discharge sound
  • The breech
  • Summary

Apparently I don’t need to do the rest of this test. Several of you have decided that the Diana 34 Easy Modular System (EMS) Synthetic is a lost cause, as in, “Bring in the guilty party and we’ll have us a trial!”

Poor launch

Much of the problem of the public’s reaction stems from a poor launch of the product. I agree with that observation. You don’t bring out a major new product with features you tout, but fail to address them in the manual (barrel shims and barrel swaps). You also don’t keep the parts that are unmentioned (the shims, plus the spare barrels and gas springs) back, hoping that no one will notice. The launch of the 34 EMS has all the earmarks of a millennial project. What we didn’t learn in B-school we will learn on the job! Here, hold my beer!

In the 18 years that I have been writing this blog, this is the harshest criticism I have ever given a new product. The last time I criticized something this much I called a trigger on a new Umarex air rifle “stinky” and my wife, Edith, laid into me for it. This time, though, it is worse, and it isn’t me who is taking notice. It’s the whole world! All you need to do is check it out online.

If the fundamental purpose for the Easy Modular System is the ability to switch calibers by changing barrels, correct barrel droop and change from a coiled steel mainspring and conventional piston to a gas piston, you don’t bring the product to market without those things and also avoid mentioning them in the manual! Does the right hand even know what the left hand is doing?

Get on with it

Now let’s set all of that aside; we have an air rifle to test. It is made by Diana and, unless the rumors of Chinese barrels are also true, it should be quite accurate. The reports that have been done thus far say that it is. Today we look at the power and several related things. Let’s go!

RWS Hobby

Diana  airguns have loved RWS pellets since the two were paired together many decades ago. Let’s start with the Hobby pellet that should give us the highest velocity with practical pellets.

Ten Hobbys averaged 927 f.p.s. The spread went from a low of 919 to a high of 937 f.p.s., a difference of 18 f.p.s. At the average velocity this 7-grain pellet develops 13.36 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.

Air Arms Falcon

Next I tried the 7.33-grain Air Arms Falcon dome. Sometimes this pellet is faster than the Hobby. And it was this time, with a high of 941. But the low was 892 and the average was 919, so on average the Falcon is slower. The spread was a whopping 49 f.p.s. The muzzle energy of 13.75 foot-pounds is higher than the Hobby though, because this pellet weighs more.

I threw out the first shot that was an obvious detonation. It developed 976 f.p.s. but there was only one shot like it.

Stock up on Air Gun Ammo

Norma Golden Trophy

Next to be tried was the 8.4-grain Norma Golden Trophy dome. Ten of them averaged 835 f.p.s. The low was 828 and the high was 845 — a difference of 17 f.p.s. At the average velocity this pellet generated 13.01 foot-pounds at the muzzle.

JSB Exact Heavy

The JSB Exact Heavy dome weighs 10.34-grains. Ten of them averaged 778 f.p.s. with a spread that went from 770 to 796 f.p.s. — a difference of 26 f.p.s. At the average velocity this pellet generated 13.9 foot-pounds. That was the highest of the four pellets tested, and it was with the heaviest pellet. That means that this 34 EMS is tuned to favor heavier pellets — something not common in a spring-piston airgun.

Trigger

In Part One I told you that the two-stage trigger came to me set far too light. What I have done is a combination of getting used to a mushy second stage that is extremely light and making some adjustments. Stage one now takes 11 ounces to complete while stage two releases at 1 pounds 2 ounces, which is 18 oz. The start of the second stage is now quite obvious to me, but then the trigger keeps moving through stage two. It’s not crisp at all. But I am getting used to it and I think I will be able to do well with it in the accuracy test.

I did a lot of adjusting to get the trigger to this point. It was lighter when the rifle was unboxed. I found that the instructions in the manual were not that helpful, but if I turned the adjustment screws to be heavier, the trigger pull got to a point where I could use it. This is no T06 trigger, if that’s what you are wondering. It’s something new and I suspect that those who like light triggers will like it.

Cocking effort

I will tell you that the test rifle became noticeably easier to cock as this little test progressed. I went from two-hand cocking at the start to one hand before the first 10 shots has been fired.

I guessed that the cocking effort was above 30 pounds in Part One. But when I measured it after today’s test and another 45+ shots were on the powerplant, it was just 29 pounds. And it is very smooth!

It is possible to uncock this rifle by taking the safety off and pulling the trigger while restraining the barrel. That is a very good thing, in my opinion.

Well lubricated

It was also obvious from today’s test that this Diana 34 EMS was well lubricated at the factory. If you look at the side of the base block in the picture below you will see a smear of white grease on the wall. There was also a spray of oil mist when the rifle fired for most of today’s test. And there was a lot of detonation back on Day One. I ended that by shooting a heavy pellet.

Discharge sound

The test rifle registered a 101.3 dB on my sound meter. I shot into a silent pellet trap to ensure the noise of the pellet hitting the trap was cancelled. What this means is the 34 EMS isn’t thunderously loud, but it’s also not for small suburban yards where you don’t want the neighbors hearing. Call it a 3.9 to a 4.1 on the Pyramyd AIR 5-point noise scale on the website.

Diana 34 discharge

The rifle also shoots solid, with zero buzzing. This is a tune job I would be proud of.

The breech

We don’t yet have a wrench to loosen the barrel, nor the instructions for how to set the barrel up correctly so the breech is properly sealed, but I thought you might like to look at the breech.

Diana 34 EMS breech
This is the breech and you can see where the wrench has to fit.

Summary

I see a lot to like from this 34 EMS. It’s smooth and cocks easier than the power indicates. The trigger is different and a little too light for my tastes but once learned, it’s not that bad. And the rifle fires solidly and smoothly. I have high hopes for the accuracy, based on what I have seen from other tests.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

85 thoughts on “Diana 34 Easy Modular System (EMS) Synthetic: Part 2”

  1. B.B.,

    So to an unjaundiced eye this rifle cocks and fires smoothly without slapping you silly. Has a light trigger (uninfluenced by Lawyers!). They sold the rifle without proper accoutrements or instructions. It seems Marketing has been asleep at the wheel. Hopefully this doesn’t become a Trainwreck! Maybe the engineer who helped develop this is somewhere tied up in a basement? Accuracy to be determined, fingers crossed. Pompoms in the attic for now?

    Siraniko

    • It sounds a lot like someone started shipping early before all the details in the production chain were ironed out (accessories, documentation, etc.) and ready for showtime.

      Could be contractual obligations or management gambling to meet a particular deadline and someone in production requested a delay that wasn’t granted. Could be that they had to hit certain windows for financial scheduling or shippers/suppliers/retailers.

      Happens all the time in software, but software can be updated after the fact. Either way, your rep takes a hit, but sometimes that’s still better than the alternative depending on the logistics and contracts involved.

      Of course, the real lesson is to not make the same mistake next time. Learn from old mistakes and make new and interesting mistakes next time!

      Nathan

  2. B.B.

    In the last 3 years Diana has been acquired by a large shooting sport conglomerate. They have moved factories. They have stopped their association with RWS. Umerex has stopped being the importer of springers. I’m surprised that the EMS even made it into production!!!

    What happened to the SIG ASP? They spent all this money of design, development, and tooling yet less than 3 years later they cancelled the whole program. Did the plastic stocked version ever even get in production, or was it the wood stocked version?

    Here is hoping the Dian EMS has a long and useful life.

    -Y

    • Yogi-

      I was aware that Diana was purchased in 2014 by German Sports Guns. They are part of the LSO Group along with Sig-Sauer,Mauser and Blaser. Has there been another buyout?

      • Did not know – will say that, at least on the firearms side of their business, have been pleased with their GSG MP40 9mm; bought one last year before the pandemic gun/ammo purchasing panic hit and later managed to find spare magazines. There were complaints about trigger feel and travel, but did not find it to work badly. Will be installing an improved trigger bar, so it should improve trigger action. Of course, given the current ammo shortages, the MP has been on extended break. 🙁

        If GSG & Co. are smart, they need to address their engineering and marketing problems across ALL lines, SCHNELL!

    • Yogi,

      SIGAIR did do the synthetic (plastics) stock. What they never got to was the much discussed adjustability parts for the stock.
      As far as what happened; their firearm sales, military and civilian EXPLODED. (Right along with every other arms manufacturer’s EXPLODING sales.). So given the seemingly much more profitable firearms sales just now than SSG ASP20 in synthetic or wood regardless of caliber they decided to shift production and sales away from the truly adult airguns. See if you can find the SIGAIR SuperTarget pistol.

      You know I’m not a Sproinger guy but even I think this is a real loss to the adult airgun World. What other company has done a breakbarrel product this well on their very first time out of the barn?

      shootski

      • Shootski,
        I think it’s a crying shame what Sig did to the airgun community. I understand why they did (follow the money) but it’s still a shame. They wanted to do it right with airguns. Well anyone that bought a ASP20 won’t forget how Sig bailed out. I would be concerned about parts in the future. I was never impressed with the way Sig over inflated the advertised velocity of most all their C02 guns. Yes I know most do, but if you have read BB’s reports throughout the years, Most of the time, he can get close to what is advertised (usually using the lowest weight pellet he has). But Sig seems to have the most gap between what he gets vs what the box says. Just me.

        Doc

        • Doc,

          I bought an ASP20 in the final days. Why? When the Godfather of Airguns side that this is the breakbarrel of the Century I decided to See his Raise and now I’m going to Call! So far it look like B.B.’s Stake is SAFE.
          AM I worried about the SIG 5 Year Warranty? No, my guy with an Esq. behind her name will be in contact with them if they choose to not honor said Warranty. I really don’t expect it will be a big problem.
          CO2 guns and velocities is a temperature driven thing even more than it is a pellet weight thing as you well know. I had lots of experience with 100+ FPE .25 caliber shooters before I moved to HPA.

          Time will tell! So far the ASP20 in .177 has brought a smile to my face every time i press the trigger.

          shootski

          • Shotski,
            Yes I know about C02 and temps but the same about their gap in claimed and actual is still bigger than most others. In other words, temp (of the C02) affects all C02 guns the same.
            Glad you like you ASP20! A very good gun I am sure. With Sig not making them anymore, who knows, you probably have a future collector’s item in your hands! I do wish Sig would have stuck to it though.

            Doc

            • Doc,

              I wish they had too!
              Time will tell if they come to understand it to have been a big mistake to have dropped it when they did.
              All I can say is I will enjoy learning about adult breakbarrel airguns and have something of unusual quality/qualities to compare to other makers efforts.

              shootski

  3. B.B.,

    I’m still hoping that Diana will come good and make the touted parts available, along with full instructions on how to use them. It would be a real shame if the 34 EMS turned out to be all sizzle and no steak.

    “Diana airguns have loved RWS pellets since the two were paired together many decades ago”. I bought a .22 Diana 52 in a sale by a big online retailer in a western state a couple of years ago. The first pellet I tried with it was RWS Hobby. To my consternation I could not get a pellet into the breach no matter how hard I pushed. I tried RWS Superdomes and Superpoints also, but no joy there either. The only pellet it would take was Air Arms Diabolo Field and even that was so difficult to seat that my thumb was very sore after 20 pellets.

    I had another .22 Diana 52 thirty years ago and there was no problem loading it with any pellet, even the old 5.6mm Eley Wasps in the light blue tins. I had to have the breach of the new Diana 52 reamed. Very disappointed with the poor quality control. Amazingly the rifle came with a test target from the retailer which claimed to have been shot with RWS Hobbys! I would have returned the gun to them, but shipping costs from my side of the pond were too high.

  4. I have to say this air rifle has not as of yet won me over.

    Although the trigger is lighter, it is not necessarily better than it was not too long ago.

    Marketing at the very least needs to be taken out and be thoroughly flogged for touting all of the “modular” stuff without having it available. They rave of a nice sight system, but what I see are glowy thingys. Changeable barrels? Changeable power plants?

    IMMHO, the Diana Group needs to take a slight step back. It was not too long ago that Diana was offering some very nice sproingers. The problem with many of them was they needed a little work, filing off burrs on the cocking slot, etc. They were being rushed out the door to the sales floor, as this was.

    They are also trying to run the airgun company like you would a car company. “We have to change the styling every year! That new model was not an instant hit, so we will discontinue it before the market even has a chance to realize what it is!”

    I thought they were onto something a few years ago. You could buy custom walnut stocks. At least that is what they were saying. What happened to the 340 N-Tech Luxus? By the time they worked out all the little kinks, it was gone.

    To be continued…

  5. B.B.,
    Hmmm, the breech end of that barrel looks more like a beautifully chamfered crown that ought to be on the muzzle…
    How was the pellet insertion? Is there any tapered lead-in? I’m sure you’d have told us if there was any difficulty inserting pellets.
    If the breech looks this nice, how about showing us a photo of the crown?

    Could you push a pellet through the barrel and tell us if the barrel is choked?

  6. Part 2

    The main issue here, once again IMMHO, is they are now part of a large corporation which is demanding immediate profitable returns on their investment. In the airgun world, unless you are selling something real cheap and it is available to the general consumer in the big box stores, initial sales will not be great. The learned airgun shooters have gone through this phase some time back and are most hesitant in general to jump on the latest and greatest. We tend to sit back a little bit and see how they compare to what we already have and know.

    This is one reason the companies are so eager to send out samples to the various reviewers who have a large following. This is advertising. This will more likely reach the target market. With the good reviewers we see how each one shakes out. We learn its high points. We also learn its shortcomings. Of course this is dependent on if the reviewer is more interested in their audience than in kickbacks. It usually does not take long for the learned to decide who they should listen to.

    If the Diana Group wants to make a long goal profit from owning Diana, they need to slow down, and maybe back up a little bit. Weihrauch has been making airguns for a long time. Many of their offerings have been around a long time. They make some of the finest airguns in the world. Over the years, instead of introducing new models every year, they have refined their offerings. It has taken Weihrauch a long time to establish their place in the world market, but they are there. An experienced airgunner knows that if it is a Weihrauch, it is top shelf.

    This is what Diana was attempting to do before they were bought out. TCFKAC was starting to do such also. I was never tickled with their sproinger offerings, but their PCP offerings were becoming quite refined and very competitively priced. But the corporation is now pushing them to get things out the door and increase profit margin.

    I just recently bought a Maximus at a stock reduction, closeout price. I picked it up because I strongly suspect it will go the way of the Discovery. Right now if you want one of these, you have to hunt around and find where someone happens to have one in stock or special order one. If I had not gotten such a great deal, I would send it back. It has obvious rushed out the door issues. Fortunately, it does not leak. Also, since I intend to highly modify this air rifle, the issues it has will be fixed along the way.

  7. Yep, FM is gonna be looking seriously at Weihrauch. Still don’t understand the concept of rushing and pushing product out the door before the product is ready and working well, as intended. This is nothing new, but seems to be getting worse on all fronts. There are many, many reasons for this. B.B’s “millenial project” comment reminded me of this hit-nail-on-head commercial.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrdOveX4TEk

    Disclaimer: FM has a millenial daughter, but she knows how to load/shoot a handgun safely AND knows what a lug wrench looks like.

      • TT
        My wife was a Tom boy. She will get in there and do stuff. But both my daughter’s are always getting into things needing fixed or projects.

        We are resealing and painting the pool this year. They already called me today and said make sure I got everything ready for Saturday morning that they will be over bright and early to get it done this weekend.

        The problem is I got to work overtime this weekend 3rd shift. I go in Friday night and get off Saturday morning. Already know I’m going to be tired come Saturday. I’ll probably just stay up after I get off work. Which I tend to do anyway on the last day of the week I work.

        But as it goes it will be worth it in the end. I hope.

    • After a couple of Wehrauch air pistols, I relented and got a HW30S despite already having a Diana 24c.

      While the metal blue is nicer on the Diana, and the Weihrauch has the infamous issue with the trigger being located a bit forward from the pistol grip, the trigger pull, ease of cocking, and balance in the hand all make the extra cost of the Weihrauch worthwhile.

      Just to round out the details, the wood is comparable and I admit that the plastic trigger (and slight lateral wobble) on the Diana bothers me. It’s not even the fact that it’s plastic, so much as it doesn’t feel very solid.

      I do prefer the safety on the Diana as it can be manually engaged. Once the HW30’s safety is disengaged, your options are to shoot or break open the gun and decock it – at least decocking is something both of these lower-power sproingers allow.

    • FawltyManuel,

      Both my adult offspring are Xenials they (and all the rest of us) shoot, ski, ride, openwater swim, kayak, boat, do our own oil changes, pay our own way, and take responsibility for our actions!
      The grandkids are in for it if they don’t Get It!

      shootski

  8. If BB’s tests show this rifle is accurate many readers will forgive other shortcomings mentioned. Also the smooth cocking and shot cycle are pluses. As for best pellets my Diana 34 does not like RWS as well as JSB 10.34, AA 10.34 or even Crosman brown box 10.5 or 7.9 grain pellets.

    I’m hoping the owners of Diana are interested enough in this new offering that they will read this blog series and correct the obvious.

    Deck

    • Deck,

      You are dreaming. This is not written in German. We Americans do not no anything, most especially when it comes to engineering.

      Likely they are waiting to see how many of these sell and then divide that number in half and make that many accessory parts. “Vhat?! Zu vant zis part?! Auchtuleiber! Zees Americanas vant zee vorld!”

      As for forgiving the shortcomings, why? I can buy a real Diana 34 with a T06 trigger for less. Maybe. When people start realizing what has happened to the Diana 34, they will jack the prices up and hang on to what they have.

      • Hah! Still remember the words of my – sadly no longer here – German friend and military vehicle enthusiast when describing the installation of a part for a VW Kubelwagen engine: “You MUST drill the holes PRECISELY!” I don’t think he would have been happy with this Diana.

        • FM,

          I do not know. It may be built well and shoot well. We have to see. The trigger is a big disappointment. I have a 46 here with a T05 trigger. This trigger is a big step backwards. I cannot help it, I have become a trigger snob. Even the old gals around here with single stage triggers have a nice, clean break. The Maximum does not have such yet, but it will.

  9. RR

    Funny stuff!

    In time we will know if they pay any attention to the world’s largest market. If not I will just shoot my 34 and the old 35 with loving awe of how things used to be.

    Stay safe!

    Deck

  10. The manuals may need to be written in a localised way, because N.America is not the largest or fastest growing market, that distinction goes to the emerging APAC. Airgun factorys are easier to get up and running compared to firearms factorys. Did Sig attempt an aggressive marketing campaign there? I suspect not, because it is a firearms company? I’ll stick with HW, but a Diana model 60 would get to stay at my place. So, a few bucks are saved with a polymer stock on this model, but HW offers solid wood, and laminates as well. I never liked the end cap with the knurling. I always thought it was plastic, but no, its metal. All the little parts that this model offers are exactly the sort of thing a bricks and morter buisiness would have, but it needs to be done more web based, because there are so many new consumers now.
    R

  11. BB,
    I am getting to like this rifle less. Now it’s loud! The T06 trigger has been replaced with a ‘lighter’ trigger with no discernible second stage – it this better? I believe the bells and whistles touted at pre launch did not work out so they were dropped. If they do re introduce them later I would not trust them to work properly.
    I do not share Decksniper’s view that readers would forgive its shortcomings if it accurate, so far it has not won me.
    BB can you be a little More critical? As well can you do some comparisons with the original in the rest of its test? It this rife more powerful than the original?

  12. This is a good product with features that are difficult to market as the whole concept is new and requires educational marketing. The branding tells a lot, but the marketing team still has to position the product accurately. The benefits of the new modular design shouldn’t make people walk away from a fine product.

    Many suburban Americans will have no issues with ‘creatively’ drilling a hole in an expensive brand new product to improve the functionality, or simply in the name of customization reasons. I think Diana has figured out this fact and just given us something that we can spend some time on in our garages. Come on now, modifiying this air rifle will be fun!

    A rifle like this has unlimited marketing potential, several ways to position; it can be bought as is, it can be customized online and sent home, or it can be purchased in pieces and easily put together at home. Even PA could add this beauty to her custom line. Let’s see if these options will be avaliable one day. My point here is, they could effortlessly be with such a revolutionary design.

    I might even order a .177 spring version and the non-fibreoptic sights. One day, I might want to add a scope, and order the muzzle brake too. Then a cold winter comes, and I’ll say, “what about a gas ram?” What will be the answer? A big yes! “Well, how about starting to hunt? But I bought a .177, God dam… Oh wait, no need to curse; there is a .22 barrel upgrade that I can order and install jumping on one hand!” I can see myself buying everything that comes with this airgun other than those fibreoptic sights – well, I guess they come with the gun at the moment, but I project that being changed one day.

    Also don’t we all hate to send an airgun to the manufacturer when some part malfunctions and has to be replaced?

    When you buy this air rifle, don’t only assume it as a modular gun; it is also a regular airgun that you can upgrade with ease. “Can I remove the sights when I add a scope?” one asks, and the answer is, “Yes, easily!” There is nothing more or nothing less to that mindset as there is absolutely zero performance compromises due to the modular design.

    When most manufacturers dictate us fibreoptic sights and high cheek pads, Diana boldly gives us endless amount of options. And I’d say hats off Diana for such courage and bravery.

    Still, anxiously waiting for the accuracy test.

    • Fish, aren’t you jumping the gun – pun intended? Those options are not available. Anyway, mods could have been done to the original 34. The ads pushed this gun to be readily and easily modified. It’s very moniker clearly states that. What was the point in this model as a replacement? An addition to Diana’s line should have been the way to go.

      • The options are not avaliable yet but can be – and I ‘believe’ they will.

        Oh, man, don’t even remind me the old 34 – My heart aches. I would pick the old, old 34 with her amazing ‘non-fibreoptic globe’ sights any day over the EMS. But I’d pick the EMS over the previous fibreoptic sighted 34 though and then buy the non fibre sights…

        About modifiying, I ‘think’ it will be easier with EMS design.

        Well, I believe – again just a belief of mine here – EMS is only marketed in the US. I don’t see it on the German Diana website – at least, not yet.

      • Also, removing the fibre optic sight from the previous 34 was not possible. Eventhough some might have removed them, they were not intended to be removed, and such process would have been very difficult for an ordinary user. Also, I don’t know about being able to convert spring 34 to gas ram before – especially that easily.

      • And I was not expecting both of the sights, the muzzle brake, both the ntec and the spring power plants, and etc… to be all included with that price tag.

        Anyway, still, the final verdict shall wait until the accuracy test of BB.

      • Okay, Ton, I’ve just figured out what you meant with the mods being done on the original 34. Yes, yes, yes, I agree with you on that. Let’s say, they could have only changed the design of the sights and made them interchangable, and that would be more than enough modding for me as well. I would replace the fibreoptics with non fibre ones and move on with life… I think we think alike.

  13. ALL,
    Why is most writing this gun off before an accuracy test?? Geez, lets calm down and wait. It already cocks and fires like a tuned gun. I don’t own one but from what I’ve read from other reviews, lots buzz some. So we have a model that seems to come pre tuned! Also what if very accurate? Isn’t that the most important thing there is? For me accuracy trumps these short comings. What if we had a gun with all the bells and whistles and it wouldn’t shoot a good group? What would that be worth? I’m just saying let’s be fair and let the test play out. Sure there were mistakes, but there is hope!

    Doc

    • Having a little grease in a gun out of the box is hardly an earth shattering innovation. Weirauch rifles buzz and twang and wait for the owner to grease. By the way, ‘pre tuned’ was not touted by Diana. They gave us a smear of grease in lieu of the features they promised. So what if it is accurate? The original was!

      • Ton,
        So what if? Ok, what if it’s more accurate than the original? It already can address the droop that the original is know to have. Also, it has a threaded muzzle that the original doesn’t (for the record, I don’t care about a threaded muzzle, but for those that do). So if Diana has a smear of grease it’s bad. Yet if the Diana was hard to cock, buzzed, was dry and rough, we would fuss, would we not? The tests will show if it’s shooter or not. Could it be the gun is too expensive compared to the older one? I really don’t know is why I’m asking. I don’t know what last one was going for on PA. It doesn’t tell now. I do know you can still buy a Panther 34 for around $240 (so $100-$110 less?).
        I’m not saying this gun is better or worse. As for looks, I can’t stand it. Doesn’t look like a quality rifle in the photo. Too much plastic for me. Would a wood stock look better? I will wait an see on this one.

        Doc

    • Doc Holiday,

      I was going to hold to my usual wait for Accuracy to decide if the shooting iron is truly deserving of my INTERESTINGNESS.

      The repeated smooth and easy(?) cocking comments force me to say: With that much grease evident are we wrasseling pigs or cocking an breakbarrel?
      Since B.B. has already fiddled with the trigger perhaps he can remove the excess Grease to see if it hides a serious fault!

      shootski

      • Ton,

        I was taught by my parents, who were born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a few short years before its Fall that: “The only thing that is a certainty is change.”

        shootski

        • Ditto, your interestingness,
          But maybe the older guns are better than the newer ones, as oppossed to cars, where the newer ones are better performing and require less maintenance. I think it’s easier to just buy the rifle callibre you want. Diana’s approach seems to go against that, but maybe their research shows that is just my old Boomer way of thinking.
          Rob

  14. B.B.,
    If the accuracy portion turns out well, and you do break out the pom poms, I hope GSG & Co. sends you a check, as you will essentially be doing the marketing work on this rifle for them…and perhaps that was their plan all along. =>
    Keeping fingers crossed for accuracy,
    dave

  15. BB,

    Are you planning to continue this report in the future as the muzzle brake, non fibre optics, and such become avaliable to you? That would be very important, I believe, as I’ve read at various sites that the muzzle brake improves the accuracy. I also wonder if the non-fibre optic globe sight is plastic or ‘iron.’

    Fish.

  16. I hear Diana and Wehrauch quality discussed here all the time, but does FWB still make and import airguns and what is the quality of their most recent products like? Have they done any innovating in recent times?

    Half

  17. All I can say is I am truly sick at myself for procrastinating and not buying a 34T06 Classic in .22 when I had the chance. I bought my first 34T06 Classic in .177 from PA in 2013 and it was a godsend around our farm. The mainspring broke and while it was at the Umarex repair center I immediately bought another new one, also in .177, from PA in 2015.
    I kept putting off buying one in .22 and now am just sick about it. The 34T06 Classic is the air rifle to beat in my humble opinion.

      • Thanks for responding and I really enjoy your blogs.
        I had looked around back in the day and could have bought a new rifle for the price of just the barrel from ones seen online. The .177’s are my go to rifles and are used daily, they are as accurate as a day is long plus I have a back up if one goes down. I do occasionally use a b/a .22 rifle with CCI .22 cb’s which work well so guess I’ll just follow the new 34’s letting some time get under their belt before I purchase one.
        Thanks again for responding.

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