RidgeRunner’s Diana 34.
This report covers:
- No accuracy test
- The test
- Explanation
- End velocity testing
- Chronograph
- Cocking effort
- Success?
- However
- Pest rifle
- Summary
Today I’m looking at reader RidgeRunner’s Diana 34 again. Please read Part 3 that I’ve linked above so I don’t have to go over all of it again.
I know I’m reviewing this rifle frequently, but I’m doing it so I can get it back to RidgeRunner as quickly as possible. But I won’t cut corners. Right now this rifle performs like an older version of the Diana 34. They were accurate and inexpensive but not a lot of fun to shoot. After my experience with the HW 30S I want RidgeRunner to experience some of the same things.
No accuracy test
I won’t test accuracy. That’s up to the rifle’s owner. But this is a Diana air rifle which means there is no reason for it to be anything but accurate.
The mission
I’m trying to tune this rifle so it cocks easily, shoots smoothly and is a delight to own in all respects. Today I will test the rifle the way I tuned it last time. Then I’ll discuss how I proceed. Let’s go.
The test
When I finished the tuneup in Part 3 the rifle was detonating. I wanted to try it with heavier pellets to see if it would calm down and when it did what the velocity would look like. I chose a Crosman Premier 10.5-grain dome for this test, and let me tell you I expected one thing and got something completely different! That’s good because it means I’m open to all new things. Let’s look at what happened. Before I started measuring the velocity I shot three shots to wake up the powerplant.
Shot………..Vel.
1………………921
2……………..908
3……………..937
4……………..888
5……………..871
6……………..874
7……………..834
8……………..809
9……………..784
10……………794
11……………792
12……………768
13……………759
Explanation
This list of velocities requires an explanation. Because the first three shots were not chronographed, I figured the first shot that was actually the fourth shot fired was about where the rifle was — power-wise. Now, at 921 f.p.s. that 10.5-grain pellet is developing 19.78 foot pounds at the muzzle. That’s a lot for a Diana 34, however it’s not outside the realm of possibility. But it is way more power than I am looking for on this job. I want to be a lot closer to 12 foot-pounds or even a little less. But I didn’t stop there.
Shot four seemed to be the dropoff for the rifle. Okay, I’ll shoot ten more shots from here and throw out the first three. However, then came shot number seven. At this point I decided to hold my pronouncements until I saw a stable patch, as evidenced by a string of shots that were relatively close to one another.
Then came shots nine, ten and eleven. I figured the velocity had bottomed out with them. At least I did until I saw shot 12. And shot number 13 was the shot that ended this test. Across 13 shots the velocity has varied nearly 200 f.p.s. At 759 f.p.s. The 34 is getting 13.43 foot-pounds.
End velocity testing
That’s it for the current tune! I stopped testing because, as hard as the rifle is to cock, I don’t care where it becomes stable. This tune will not stay on the rifle.
Chronograph
I hope today’s report emphasizes the importance of owning a chronograph. I wouldn’t have known any of this if I didn’t have one.
Cocking effort
Speaking of the cocking effort, where is it now, after 16 more shots (the first three plus the 13 that were chronographed)? Remember — at the end of Part 3 I told you the rifle cocked with 28 pounds of effort for most of the stroke but did bump up to 30 pounds at one place in the cocking stroke.
After the string above the rifle now cocks with 32 pounds of effort. Yes, that is more than I reported the last time. I’m just as surprised as you. The stroke stayed at 30 pounds for the first half then increased to 32 pounds for the remainder of the stroke. That is way too heavy for what I want, so this tune is toast.
Success?
I went online to look for a spring guide and mainspring replacement. Pyramyd AIR didn’t have any guides for the Diana 34, nor did they have a mainspring. So I just entered “Diana 34 mainspring” in the search bar of my browser and guess what came up? Vortek Products, Inc. Under that was a “12 foot-pound PG4 tune kit for a Diana 34.” Success! The very company that made the SHO-3 kit for my HW 30S also makes a 12 foot-pound kit for a Diana 34. Were they reading my mind? I don’t know why Pyramyd AIR does not carry this kit, but believe me, I plan to lobby for it!
Now I will tell you that the current Vortek website is quite confusing and also a bit screwed up. you have to be very patient when you shop on it. However…
However
Yes, there is a HOWEVER. While looking for the Diana 34 kit, the Vortek site dumped a PG4 kit for the HW 50 into my cart without my asking. I didn’t even know that kit existed, but do you know what it is? It’s a 7.5 foot-pound kit that will take the HW 50S I own down from cocking with too much effort to perhaps a rifle that’s as nice as the old-time HW 50S used to be. So I bought it, as well. Guys, this website foulup is a blessing in disguise! After I finish with RidgeRunner’s rifle I plan to write a new series on the 50S. Who knows? It could take over from the 30S as my pest rifle!
Pest rifle
Speaking of my pest rifle, after seeing Roamin Greco’s super offhand targets and reading how he shot them I want to test my HW 30S again tomorrow for Friday’s report. I want to see whether my great group (for me) at the end of Part 3 was real or just a fluke as some have intimated. Would you mind?
Summary
Things are heating up with RidgeRunner’s Diana 34. Now there is a Vortek kit to install and it isn’t the mostest-powerfulest one around. It is a sensible 12-foot-pound kit. I can’t wait!
BB,
I think RidgeRunner will be one happy camper when he gets this rifle back.
Hopefully, he will post some targets for us, and give us his impressions of his “new” rifle. 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
P.S. That’s awesome about the PG4 kit for the HW 50…sounds like a “God wink” moment. 😉
Dave,
You may rest assured that there will be some targets to look at when she comes back to RRHFWA.
Awesome; I’m looking forward to that! 🙂
B.B.
The crony says that that rifle is dieseling. Was there smoke in the chamber when you cocked it for the next shot?
Sorry you are taking the easy way out on RR rifle. I was hoping you would choose a spring, modify it to your needs, have your neighbor turn a spring guide and top hat, then add or subtract washers to get “perfect” spacing and preload.
-Yogi
PS you can not go wrong with the HW 50s! I own three. If you want a 7-10 fpe HW 50, I suggest you get a Timbum short stroke kit.
B.B.
That D 34 must have been dieseling. Did you notice any smoke when you cocked the gun for the next shot?
I’m disappointed that you are taking the easy way out on RR’s gun. I was hoping that you would choose a spring that fit the piston, modified to your needs. Have Denny make a top hat and spring guide for the new spring. Then you get to play with adding or removing washers to tune the rifle for amount of pre-load that you desire.
Sorry you had issues with the Vortek website, I ordered some stuff 2 days ago with zero issues. Got to like their shipping too.
-Yogi
PS You can not go wrong with the HW 50s. I have three! If you are considering a 7-9fpe HW 50, I suggest you consider using a TimBum short stroke kit.
Woops…….
-Y
Yogi,
You must have really wanted to emphasize your comments. 😉
BB did exactly what I was hoping he would do. The only time you should resort to your techniques is if you have plenty of time and you cannot get the kits already made up. I have a couple like that. The kits do not exist. There is just not much demand for them. Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks the 34 should be a little tamer.
However, the Vortek Kits are not all that!
Spring wire is suspect, if you get more than 3,000 shots before the spring is tired, you are lucky.
New open spring ends are very problematic! Ask me how I know….
-Y
Yogi,
If I get that many shots out of it, I will consider myself 1) very lucky and 2) likely very, very old. A tired spring just may be the ticket for me by then. 😉
RidgeRunner,
The DARKSIDER who now shoots the occasional session with his break barrel Magnum Gas Springers says, Huh? 3,000 shots is only 6×500 tin!
I went to the NRA Range yesterday to see if i will be using it to replace the now closed Elite Shooting range and shot at least 100 pellets down the 50 Yard indoor range…i sorely miss Elites’ 100 yard/meter indoor range already. That means only 30 range sessions will probably happen with both of my SIG SSG ASP20s before i join all those pushing up Daisies. For most of my Big Bore range sessions i shoot at least that many too. For the small bore PCPs i don’t really get rolling until i have launched at least 25-30 Projectiles!
It is however the biggest downside to the multi pump powerplant in that shooting half that number of pellets just eats up far too much range time!
I think a hybrid system multi pump with an external fill fixture for the valve/plenum could be done and it would sell!
I was amazed at how shot up the ceiling baffles, ceiling, tracks, and target carriers are compared to my last visit to the NRA Range. It all works (well the lane next to mine was down for the target carrier being broken) more or less. The cardboard backer on my lane was in tatters something they always changed for most every shooter some years back.
It was a decent few hours of shooting practice Off Hand regardless.
shootski
shootski,
I have over a dozen other gals around here that some range time. I just do not have the time left in me to shoot just one of them that many times.
RidgeRunner,
I don’t believe what you say for a minute!
At least I hope and pray you are totally off base on when you will be called home.
shootski
I myself hope to wear a few of these gals out by then.
BB, this is the best piece you’ve written. Brilliant! I think your HW50S with 7.5 foot-pound kit will be better than your new HW30S – or your good old Diana 27. I wonder if that 7.5 foot-pound kit can be installed on HW35 as well. Diana 34 with 12 foot-pound kit will be great too. Instead of the EMS series, Diana should’ve brought back RR’s 34 with a 12 foot-pound power plant. 34 needs only the droop shim upgrade – not the modular design. If that dream 12 foot-pound strong 34 could also be disassembled without a compressor, than it would be much more than ‘modular.’ Diana 34 is long. Perhaps, no compressor will be needed with the 12 foot-pound kit. Also, if my memory isn’t confusing me, PA was selling the both kits you mentioned in today’s blog.
Fish,
The funny thing is I never really wanted a 34. I knew it was way too much sproinger for what I needed and the new EMS is really a rich man’s toy.
“Drooping” is not really a big problem. There are many solutions for that “issue” available, and many of them are not that expensive. Adapters for scopes are available with “droop” compensation and really improve the scope mounting also.
RR, you know that I know all the other drooping solutions. Still, on a Diana breakbarrel, it’s a good thing that the ‘droop shims’ were introduced.
Fish,
I never did go in for those. I guess they just scare me too much. I would much rather shell out for adjustable mounts.
RR, I understand.
The best solution is simply to align the last few inches of the bore bore with the scope rail or vice versa. How hard can that be, Diana?
Now there is an idea…shim the scope rail where it attaches to the barrel instead of shimming the scope mounts or rings. Certainly that can be done cheaply during manufacturing. While you are at it, Diana, replace that dovetail scope rail with a standardized picatinny rail, so we can mount rings directly to the rail without a one piece adjustable mount. Keep the traditional open sights.
B.B.
I think the HW50S has a tough battle to unseat the HW30S One of my favourite parts about the 30 is that the slim spring tube and long barrel combine to give it the balance and feel of a rimfire sporter. Something that none of the other spring piston rifles I’ve handled have managed, tending to being rear-heavy and chunky in the hands.
Cheers,
Nathan
Nathan,
I concur; the HW30S is slim and trim and just a delight to handle.
Every time I pick mine up to shoot it, I think to myself,
“The engineer who designed this little beauty had his head on straight.” 😉
Cheers,
dave
Tom,
Given the amount of work on your plate the Vortek kit should save you some time (and especially effort) in getting RidgeRunner’s rifle to where you want it but adding to your work load simultaneously. You will also be reporting/writing about the Vortek kits at the same time. Hopefully it will be a drop in and ready for shipping after testing.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
It should be. The kits come with everything you need, including lubricant.
A sproinger is deceptively simple. It requires a good bit of engineering to have one that works nicely.
Many manufacturers attempt to “cheat” and end up producing a large collection of junk. Then there are companies that invest a good bit in R&D and produce some very fine products.
Finally got around to installing the vortek kit on my 34 (coincidentally purchased used at the same Texas air gun show where I first met Tom).
Really like the new feel, turned it into what I had hoped it could be.
I realize this is a challenging project and a great blog report, but is it economically feasible to do?
Especially if you had to purchase the airgun, extra parts and stuff and pay someone to do all this as well. For what? To get a smoother shooting airgun.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just get something like a Multi-Pump Dragonfly Mk2?
I know there is a certain amount of nostalgia involved with a nice springer, but what you are doing is removing the actual experience of shooting one. Kind of like a Resto mod.
I suppose if you did everything yourself and got a good deal on the rifle it may be worth it, some.
But I suspect it involves an emotional attachment to springers for the shooting experience we may have enjoyed all along. I own a bunch of springers, but I would only do this if something was broken and I really had a keeper on my hands, for whatever reason.
How many pumps could be done in the time it takes to complete a shooting cycle for a springer without a mag, to get the same performance that is.
And which would be more comfortable to shoot?
Now, converting an easy springer to function normally with a dieseling condition would be a good challenge. Replace the piston seal with a real piston. 🙂 A slug gun! But then you have the neighbors to deal with and the possibility of really hurting someone 🙁 Forget I mentioned it.
Bob M,
Firstly, to each his own.
ALL of my airguns are single shot. You would also be surprised how fast someone can pop off a follow up shot with a sproinger. Another bonus is I am not flappin’ ’round like a goose trying to get off another shot.
I quit hunting a loooong time ago, before I even discovered airguns. Also, where I live there is shooting going on almost every day and some nights. My place is pretty quiet. The game likes to hang out here.
RidgeRunner,
I’ll be right over to get in some poaching…i mean Legal Hunting. I just got finished poaching some eggs and got my terms twisted! ;^P
shootski
Dude, do not bother. I am not even allowed to hunt around here.
RidgeRunner,
Our very sub URBAN county has come to the realization that the Whitetail are outnumbering the browse and beginning to damage our Urban “forest” have a meeting to go to to discuss the most effective method of population reduction.
I may be too busy to come over to help you with your local overpopulation ;^).
You and your spouse would never know i had been working your part of the woods until you noticed the Bamby population reduction.
This County meeting should be really entertaining at a minimum.
shootski
I would love to hear all about it. Last year we had 4 deer who were regular visitors to our back yard. This year it is 8. No shrub or plant is safe.
RG,
Before the young’uns came along, I regularly saw about eight of them around here. Not too long back Mrs. RR and myself counted over fourteen in our front yard.
There are squirrels everywhere. I used to have a bunch of rabbits, but the dog ate them. She has caught a few of the squirrels, but they cheat and scamper up trees. I may have to help her with them. They eat all of my apples before I get any.
Well, if no hunting is allowed, I may have found a new use for TIAT: put a thick layer on all the trees to slow demand tree rats down. Ha!
That just might work!
Roamin Greco,
Dependin on the laws you might be able to gt a depredation permit and eliminate them IF they return and you can clearly document the depredations.
The meeting is scheduled for next month and i will be attending. They have had an outfit doing the survey for the past two years with drones and trail cameras. The report says that sharpshooters are the most cost effective cull method. They also discuss traping, sterilization, chemical birth control as well as relocation in their report which all cost way more than lethal culling and are considered by them to be inhumane due to trauma the deer experience during capture, transport and release in unknown territory.
I’ll share what our local heavily liberal citizen/subjects decide.
shootski
ROTFWL! You are likely to be more upset than amused. Those dingleberries will not stand for you thinning down the herd with your airguns. No, they will hire a “professional” hunter to come in and shoot them.
Speaking of Bambi, the dog and I saw a couple of fawns the other day.
RidgeRunner,
You may well be correct about the local dingleberry reaction. See my reply to RG above. My LLC will be bidding IF the dingleberries listen to the contractor they paid/gave money to for something that had been obvious for at least the past eight years in our parks, on highway shoulders, and many folks yards.
shootski
The Metroparks of the county north of me in Ohio is trying to have a cull. It’s been a s%$&show and a pretty good argument against citizen involvement in wildlife management.
OhioPlinker,
This year the Black Bears came into our county for the first ime in likely seventy or more years. The Id 10 Tangos were wondering were the bears came from! Somehow they don’t seem to understand the effects of the beloved Stream Valley Parks and Rail Trails that go all the way to the Blue Ridge and beyond.
I look forward to our county’s meeting and hope it is poorly attended but suspect organized groups are already planning to disrupt any logical discussion.
shootski
May I ask, in the hunts you have been involved with, what becomes of the meat? I would imagine that much goes to the local food pantry to feed homeless people. If so, perhaps a spokesperson from that organization would be a good advocate in favor of providing healthful protein to the homeless in the region?
Here we have an organization called “Hunters Sharing the Harvest” that coordinates with hunters and local businesses that will butcher deer and provide it to the local shelters and food pantries.
Bob M,
You may have a lot of springer. However, none are properly tuned or you would know the difference.
Find an FT Match near you and ask one of the springer guys if you can shoot a few during warm up. Then you will know!
The is a reason that the Air Arms TX is/was B.B. favorite most accurate springer.
-Y
BB,
Don’t you worry about this bunch. I am quite pleased with what you are doing. 🙂
All,
For those of you folks who missed it, I bought this air rifle without dickering about the price to help out a widow. As a bonus, I ended up with an air rifle that was really a safe queen for a great price. Since I do not hunt, taming this thing down a bit is not a bad thing. It will make shooting it much more pleasurable. Besides, those folks in the UK hunt small game with sub 12 FPE air rifles all the time. You really do not need all of that power.
Yes, I have a bit of Scottish blood in me, but I am willing to open up that wallet if there is anything in it and I get what I pay for. 😉
“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.” — Psalm 68:5
RidgeRunner, helping out that widow was way cool. *thumbs up* 🙂
Dave,
Well, I did get a nice air rifle out of it.
Cool; that sounds like a case of “win/win” to me. 😉
Tom,
By the time RidgeRunner has this beauty back in his hands, it’ll be as well-tuned as a Viennese string quartet! The feral soda cans in his yard are already feeling nervous, I imagine.
Michael
Michael, yes, you are quite right…they are nervous! LOL 🙂
Dave, That is so cool!
Michael, I thought you’d get a kick out of that! 😉
FM is no prophet but still predicts Tom will choose the HW30S as his backyard “pesting tool.”
FM, I really wonder if he will pick the 50S though. I say he’ll pick the 50S in the end. Let’s make this interesting. If he picks the 30S, then I’ll write a poem.
My thoughts:
– He might find the 50S to be more comfortable to shoot standing. What seem to be minor differences in the stocks might make huge difference in action.
/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/09-08-21-04-HW-50S-30S.jpg
– At 7.5 foot-pound, the 50S might end up having no recoil whatsoever, considering its heavier weight. That might eliminate the need for artillery hold. Then he can firmly hold the rifle, which might help with the accuracy standing. Also, shooting standing under pressure, sometimes a perfect holding position might not be possible to achieve at every shot. Something that doesn’t recoil will help in those tense situations.
– I wonder if he’ll need an old stock to comfortably see the sights on the 50S as well. If not, then there’ll be another advantage.
May he choose what works best for him and may the Force (of compressed air) be with him and the rest of you.
HW50 seems to be a fine rifle but as the “30” is working well for undersized FM, will not mess with success – or the poor wallet.
BB
Just wondering if combustion was the reason for the velocity curve. If so lubricant in the piston chamber is diminishing resulting in the velocity dropping. If you continued shooting how far would the velocity drop? Maybe even to below 12 fpe? Your velocity curve showed little sign of leveling. However even if the desired fpe is actually already there with the current tune it doesn’t address the cocking effort. Unless there is some hidden cocking linkage problem the current spring has to come out. I remained dumbfounded by this rifle’s behavior when Ridgerunner still had it. Could something be binding whenever it decides to?
Enjoying following this report series!
Deck
Deck
Deck,
Without a doubt variable combustion was the reason for the decline in velocity. Every spring piston gun that shoots over 600 f.p.s. diesels, which is a form of combustion. This rifle detonated, which is an explosion you don’t want. There was never any smoke.
BB
Well, all these comments are enablers for buying a 7.5 joules version of the HW 30. The scoped black wood/stainless finish version with the short threaded barrel looks very intimidating for my summer vacation budget.
BB,
My comments the other day about the special technique you had found to get your best group was not meant to mean that you will not be able to shoot that well again. But, I think as you shoot off hand more I think that your traditional hold will be better. I do expect you to improve. I do agree that I have to pull the trigger when shooting offhand and time it with my wondering sights to hit my target.
I have an old HW50s, and think I would prefer it to a HW 30 or newer detune HW50S.
Good luck with your projects,
David Enoch
Here is a picture of my .177 HW50S (old model)
Another
BB,
I was just out shooting this old HW50S and notices that the front hood is just small enough to center in the rear aperture. Even if you could not see the front sight you would be centered. Also, since Cardew and others have proved that barrels over 10-12 inches do not increase accuracy or velocity of springers would a short barrel with the front sight much closer to the rear sight be easier for you to see? You would be loosing sight radius though. Just another thought.
David Enoch
David, beautiful rifle!
Fish, this old gun is in very worn shape but I tend to love old well worn guns. Worn off blueing and wear and scratches on the stock just add to its character.
David
David, same taste here. I’d always pick a well worn guitar, motorcycle, or rifle over the brand new ones.
Hey David! I love that laced up leather hand guard on the barrel. Does it help preserve the bluing from rubbing off or does it hide the worn out bluing?
Roamin Greco,
I’l bet it makes it more comfortable if it requires a SLAP to start the cocking cycle! I would hang a piece of yarn of it but in some parts of Texas the rawhide strips might be a better telltale in the strong winds!
I like the box fan over on the left side of the shooting bench.
shootski
Roamin Greco,
On previous Culls (mostly on military posts/bases, private properties, and regional parks) the Meat typically goes to the local pantries. There are butchers that donate their work. I don’t charge the military or parks but do ask for the Backstrap (Tenderloin) occasionally if i feel comfortable with the browse in an area; some places i recommend the meat be disposed of because of contamination concerns.
Private landowners do what they want with the meat.
shootski
Ah, now that is one nice piece of shooting gear…love it! 🙂
GF1! hihihi! Where are you guys?
Yogi
Well, I just did a comparison between a well-tuned rifle, my TX200 and two other heavy hitters.
A Black Ops Sniper and a Valken Infiltrator. I believe they are both made in China.
The TX200 – Bang and it’s over.
The Black Op Sniper – Shaky vibration and a violent bang. You know a spring is having a violent reaction inside.
The Valken Infiltrator – Bang and it’s over.
Wait a second. How could a China made springer have about the same reaction as a perfect Air Arms well-tuned work of art?
Found out. This Intruder is the gas piston one I have. And the sheer weight of the rifle all but cancels out any uncomfortable piston reaction.
So, you are right. A well-tuned springer can feel like a gas piston in an air rifle that can handle it with ease. I’m sure the weight of the TX200 contributes to a mild reaction also but it is head and shoulders above the Black Ops Sniper. However, you will have to pay a price for it way above that Sniper.
So, I guess if you could possibly upgrade the Black Ops to perform like a TX200 for less money, then it may be worth it. Not if you go above. Unless you just want the challenge.
RidgeRunner,
You may well be correct about the local dingleberry reaction. See my reply to RG above. My LLC will be bidding IF the dingleberries listen to the contractor they paid/gave money to for something that had been incredibly obvious for at least the past eight years in our parks, on highway shoulders, and in many folks yards.
shootski
Roamin Greco, shootski, davemyster,
The gun came with the leather sleeve on the barrel. The barrel has some blue wear. I expect the sleeve was to keep sweaty hands off the worn bluing to prevent rust. I like it both practically and aesthetically. I have two of the Big Game swivel benches on the back porch. I made a stand to raise up the old box fan. It helps with both the heat and misquotes. It is starting to get too hot to shoot by 11:00 even with the fan. Here in the DFW area I shoot more in the Fall, Winter, and Spring than I do in the Summer.
David Enoch