Diana 34 EMS with synthetic stock.
This report covers:
- 50 yards is difficult
- The test
- Target
- Crosman Premier Heavys
- Adjust the scope
- JSB Exact Heavy
- Adjust scope the second time
- H&N Baracuda Match 4.50mm
- Trigger pull
- Summary
Today I test the Diana 34 Easy Modular System (EMS) for accuracy at 50 yards. The last report was on April 7, so this has been a long time coming.
50 yards is difficult
One of the big reasons this report has taken so long is that 50 yards is difficult for me to schedule. First, it has to be outdoors, because I don’t have that sort of distance inside. I could get it at my church, but I doubt the pastor would want me shooting inside his freshly-painted facility. So outdoors it has to be.
And second, Texas where I live, usually has wind. Wind is a problem when shooting pellets at 50 yards, so sometimes I am all set to go and the weather doesn’t cooperate. But last Friday was perfect, as I have already told you in the report on the HW 30S. As I said at the end of that report, I stopped shooting the 30S and shifted over to the 34 EMS before the wind kicked up, because in Texas it’s not a question of if the wind will blow, but when.
The test
The shooting bench was already set up so all I did was switch rifles and pellets. It took almost no time. I shot the rifle rested directly on the sandbag.
I shot the Diana 34 EMS with the rifle resting directly on the sandbag.
I shot 10-shot groups and the wind cooperated right up to the end of the test. Just after I stopped it started picking up.
Target
I had used a 25-yard slow-fire target for the 30S because of the peep sight. For today’s test I used an NRA 50-foot small bore rifle target whose bulls are a little larger than those on a 10-meter rifle target. There are 11 bulls on the target sheet in 4 rows, with a sighter in the center.
The 34 EMS was scoped with an older UTG AccuShot 4-16X50AO scope, mounted in BKL 2-piece double-strap one-inch rings. Since the rifle was sighted for 25 yards I started with the scope as it was set, but I knew the pellets would hit lower so I started shooting at a bull on the top row.
Crosman Premier Heavys
The first group was shot with Crosman Premier Heavy pellets. Ten pellets went into 1.691-inches at 50 yards. As I said, they did land below the aim point.
At 50 yards the 34 EMS put 10 Crosman Premiers into 1.691-inches.
Adjust the scope
Looking at the first group through the spotting scope I estimated the pellets were striking 4 inches below the aim point, but when I measured it today I discovered it was actually 5-1/4-inches. The scope adjusts in 1/8 MOA increments, which is close to one inch at 100 yards, so I adjusted the scope up 64 clicks to raise the impact 4 inches. That’s 8 clicks per inch at 100 yards, or 16 clicks per inch at 50 yards. I also adjusted it 8 clicks to the right as the rifle was shooting about one inch to the left.
JSB Exact Heavy
The second group was shot with the JSB Exact Heavy pellet I was running short of. Ten of them went into 1.348-inches at 50 yards. This group did rise by almost 4 inches but is still 1.35-inches below the aim point.
The 34 EMS put 10 JSB Exact Heavy pellets into 1.348-inches at 50 yards. This was the smallest group of the test.
Adjust scope the second time
So I adjusted the scope again. This time I went up 20 more clicks, which should have been right for the JSB pellets.
H&N Baracuda Match 4.50mm
The last group I shot was with 10 H&N Baracuda Match pellets with 4.50mm heads. They went into a 1.754-inch group that was about 9-tenths of an inch above the aim point. This pellet obviously strikes higher on the target than the JSB that proceeded it.
The 34 EMS sent 10 H&N Baracuda Match pellets with 4.50 mm heads into a 1.754-inch group at 50 yards.
Trigger pull
As I noted in Part 4, the trigger on this rifle is not crisp. You feel it move through stage 2 of the pull. It isn’t creepy — just not smooth. I never knew when it was going to release, so I had to hold on the target all the way through the pull. This was not difficult because the rifle rested solidly in the sandbag. The 34 EMS does rest securely.
Summary
We have certainly looked at the Diana model 34 EMS closely this year. I think Diana launched the rifle incorrectly, but they had a major change of personnel in their marketing department at the time the rifle was launched, so that could explain it.
The modular part of the rifle doesn’t look so modular from the user’s viewpoint. The barrel is supposed to be changeable, but not by the user. The spring is supposed to be interchangeable with the N-Tec gas piston, but the parts for that don’t seem to have materialized. And the front sight that is fiberoptic is supposed to swap out for another sight that is nowhere to be seen. All good things that never materialized this year.
That said, the rifle by itself is still a good value as a spring-piston air rifle. As long as you don’t get one for the wrong reasons, like holding out for the options, you will be getting a quality spring-piston rifle.
“…50 yards is difficult for me to schedule.”
Hey B.B.,
I’d let you shoot up here on the mini-farm, but it likely wouldn’t be worth the trouble; for safety and convenience sake, I have all the ranges here set up to shoot from North to South (as we have a road on the East, and a golf course on the West); and sadly (wouldn’t you just know it?), the wind here blows from East to West, so I’m almost always shooting in a crosswind…no big deal at 15 yards, but like you said, at 50 yards, it is a big deal! =>
Take care & God bless,
dave
BB,
I think the modularity of the Diana 34 EMS is factory side instead of end user side. It is easy for them to mix and match parts at the factory as an order for the dealer. I doubt that the modularity and availability of parts will ever be extended to the end user as that will void their warranty. It’s a wonderful air rifle. A shame that the marketeers missed out on properly launching it.
Siraniko
Really appreciate and wholeheartedly support innovation and modular systems especially with airguns.
When the manufacturers roll out their new promised modular system that isn’t supported by that same manufacturer it alienates newbie airgunners.
I’ve lost count of the number of posts across multiple airgun sites complaining about the lack of modular parts from Diana for this EMS system that was highly touted. Their marketing was far and wide for the modularity of the 34 brand that was dependable.
When the EMS hit the market support for the modular parts was no where to be seen.
Shame on you Diana for failing to support your EMS marketing promises and shame on you for tarnishing your 34 brand that took years to build up.
Kevin
I agree. Shame on Diana.
a not expensive spring gun that at 50 yds shoots 1.3″ group is a great thing regardless of marketing gone wrong
mildot52
I don’t know about that.
Let’s see. Don’t promise me a Cadillac then give me a Volkswagen Bug.
Not that I don’t like the VW Bugs. But don’t say I get one thing and something else shows up that I can’t use how it was intended.
A modular gun with no parts available. ???
I could care less about all those add ons. by the time you get done you might have 1000 into a springer??
mildot52
Probably not with the 1000. But I know what your talking about.
But the thing is don’t say what your going to and don’t do.
Not our problem. It’s now Diana that will have to deal with it.
And in all reality I do like Diana. It is what it is.
I like Diana. They are a storied German brand, dating back 100 years. That’s special.
I don’t disagree that the EMS rollout was botched.
I also just can’t get my head around the strategy of outsourcing some manufacture to China. Look at the K98 PCP. A sub-par gun. Lots of downside risk to the brand.
Now my SPRINGER K98 (made by Diana in Germany) is a finer instrument. One of my most accurate guns.
Hoping Diana can turn the corner. But we shouldn’t make too much of the botched EMS rollout. Good companies can make mistakes, IF they learn from them.
StarboardRower
BB
You have the pictures mixed up for the Baracuda and JSB Exacy Heavy pellets.
GF1,
You noticed that too, huh?
GF1,
I just looked and still can’t see what you mean.
BB
BB,
The pellet shown in the last picture is a JSB and the previous picture is a Baracuda.
RR,
Oops! That one will remain. 🙂
BB
BB,
Did you put the wrong pellets with the wrong groups?
It looks to me as though the captions are incorrect. While the group size reported looks right, the pellets are simply misidentified in the captions for the 2nd and 3rd groups. If you switched the pictures, then the pellets identified would be right, but the group sizes would then be incorrect. Am I right? B.B. all I think you need to do is switch the pellet mentioned in the captions of the last 2 groups.
Hi everybody,
I just checked the official Diana site and the German description for the 34 EMS classic clearly states that the owner can modify the rifle after purchase. The English version is shorter, but it does say it is compatible with the NTEC piston.
So, at least judging from that, they haven’t backed out of the modularity idea.
Perhaps it would be fair to at least contact them and ask what the plans are for the EMS system before definitely concluding they have broken their promise. Maybe there are delays due to the pandemic or other issues.
If they really won’t offer any parts, that would definitely stink, though.
Stephan
Stephan,
I wouldn’t say they have broken their promise. Just launched the rifle in the U.S. before they were ready.
BB
BB,
This air rifle has been around for over a year and a half now. Where is the EMS? What happened to the T06 trigger? With this fiasco and the rebranded Chinese air rifles, it looks like if you want a decent Diana, you are going to have to look through the classifieds and go to airgun shows. Fortunately for me, there are a couple of nice Dianas living here at RRHFWA.
I will also not be recommending a Diana to anyone. At least Weihrauch is still available.
RR,
As far as I know, the “Performance Series” (e.g. 34 and 350, LP 8) is still made in Germany (although not in the original Diana facilities) and the cheaper models are made elsewhere (mostly China I guess). The T06 trigger is still used in the more expensive models.
To be fair, I know German-made products that are poor and Chinese-made products that are excellent (like many Behringer audio products which are manufactured in China).
You *can* of course debate the wisdom of selling slightly upgraded GSG products under the Diana name. It does water down the brand. The least they should do is make sure the products labeled “Diana” are good, which apparently hasn’t always worked (there have been many complaints about the build quality of the “Oktoberfest” rifle).
Personally, I also prefer Weihrauch since they are still owner-operated (and not a company run by a spreadsheet as BB likes to put it).
Still, I’m not sure I would prefer Diana vanishing from the market entirely.
Stephan
Stephan,
Well, this is still made in Germany, but it is not what the Diana 34 used to be not so long ago. A spreadsheet company just cannot leave well enough alone. Most of them will hire new marketeers that feel you must have new models every year.
Fortunately companies like Weihrauch are VERY slow about introducing new stuff. Even then they continue to offer the old tried and true, such as when they came out with the 110, they still offer the 100.
With their one gas sproinger, the HW90, they went with a well tried gas sproing, the Theoben. From what I understand, unlike so many gas sproingers, it has a superb trigger. I would not mind if one of these was to show up at RRHFWA.
“Fortunately companies like Weihrauch are VERY slow about introducing new stuff”
RR,
I’m not surprised at this. I recently viewed a (poor quality) video of a tour of the Weihrauch factory a guy made with his cell phone. The facilities look like what you would expect from the 40’s with many operations being hand done. Would guess the average age of the craftsmen would be in the mid 50’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgCQf16QSjk
By contrast, FX is constantly evolving their products. In the factory tour (by AEAC) you see a modern facility, state of the art equipment and young people (mid 20’s) seated at work stations. Different from having dedicated craftsmen, everyone is trained on all phases of the assemblies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGQdCFtk91k
I’m not saying that one approach is better than the other (though I wonder what will happen when the experienced craftsmen at Weihrauch start retiring) I’m just pointing out the differences in the companies approach and mindset.
Cheers!
Hank
Hank,
Likely these craftsmen will have apprentices.
The major difference is the mindset. Weihrauch is a long established company with a high reputation they wish to hold on to. FX is attempting to mass produce an overly expensive air rifle that a few people have helped to establish a high reputation for.
By this I mean a few very well known airgunners have spent many hours shooting and tweaking on their Impacts to help bring that particular air rifle along. Extreme Benchrest was created to showcase the Impact. In recent years there have been air rifles that beat the Impact at its own game, some costing less.
I am not saying the Impact is not a fine air rifle. I would like to have one. But for what one of those cost, I can get two or three equally fine air rifles.
RR,
Agreed, the Impact is not cheap but it is no more expensive than the Daystate, RAW, Steyr and similar airguns at the “Audi/BMW/ Mercedes” level of things.
One thing I really like about the Impact is that you CAN easily tune it to different pellets IF you want – mine shot extremely well straight out of the box. But, if you want, ten to fifty FPE is easy.
Been looking (closely) at Daystate (Red Wolf and Wolverine) and RAW (HM 1000X) they are factory tuned to a specific pellet and are not “user friendly” to retune. You have a choice of standard or high- power which I find limiting as it forces you to chose between (in .22) 15-18 gr pellets and 25 gr pellets and slugs. I’d really like to go high- power (to have options) and tune down to the 15-18 gr weights I prefer but (from my present research) that doesn’t seem easy.
Anyway, I don’t segregate, if it shoots pellets – love them all 🙂
Hank
RidgeRunner,
At first, I felt a little bad about getting an X25S Diana 34 clone (due to severe budget constraints at the time); I had thought to push the budget with “the-powers-that-be” (i,e, my wife) in order to get an EMS instead; but since, as Kevin pointed out, “When the EMS hit the market support for the modular parts was no where to be seen,” I’m now glad that I did not. It’s better to have a clone that exceeds expectations than a modular rifle for which one cannot get modules. =)~
Happy shooting at RRHFWA,
dave
Dave,
You did good. I have often thought of some of those Chinese copies. There is a good chance that your “clone” is better than what is available now.
RidgeRunner,
The “clone” is good (it got a full tune before I received it; I’m sure that helped a lot); but sadly, when they cloned the model 34, they also cloned Diana’s engineering defect…the gun had excessive barrel droop. Fortunately, that was easily fixed by following B.B.’s advice on how to shim a scope. Still, one must wonder…I’ve had three Weihrauchs that didn’t need to be shimmed, and two Dianas that did. Why doesn’t Diana fix this issue?…like fix the guns to take out the droop, instead of offering a mount to take it out? Kudos to Weihrauch on this issue. I DO recommend their guns. =>
And remember, if any of your airguns ever decide they need a “change of scenery,” we will gladly make space for them at DHFWA, hahaha!
Take care,
dave
Because German shooters use the sights that come with the rifle. They are both on the barrel so droop does not matter to them. That is why!
-Y
Hmm
I know I know. A China RR.
I never thought I would hear the day. ??? 😉
Everyone,
It’s no big deal. The PELLETS in the last two picturers are reversed. The GROUPS are what I say in the text and captions. Just showing the wrong PELLETS.
BB
BB
Yep that is what’s wrong.
You put the wrong pellet by the wrong group.
Probably someone that don’t normally shoot those pellets would probably not even pay attention.
But this is the world renowned BB’s blog where you have the above average readers commenting. 🙂
And oh yes. It is a big deal. 😉
GF1,
Yes, it is the WRONG pellet. But the group is right, isn’t it? I mentioned the JSB Heavy pellet in the text before the picture and also in the caption and that is the JSB heavy group.
So — the groups are not WRONG. Just the pellets.
No, that’s not a big deal. People can learn from it and continue to breathe.
BB
And of course you would think that.
And sure people will learn from it.
Whatever BB.
BB,
Thanks for including pictures of your shooting setup. Please continue to do so!
Is that the high-low MTM table?
Best,
AP
MisterAP,
Yep. That’s what it is.
BB
MisterAP,
B.B. is actually using his DOA shooting bench: https://www.doashootingbench.com/
He has a tripod at the side of the table for his spotting scope that makes it look like the MTM High-Low:
https://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/shooting/high-low-shooting-table.php
I looked at both but went with the DOA as I needed a more conventional large surface for my purposes. The MTM is interesting for sure.
shootski
Thanks, Shootski! Zoomed in a bit and sure enough, there they both were; DOA and spotting scope!
I thought the MTM was expensive till I saw the DOA prices. I settled for two TV tray tables for $40 total!
Tom: Am I confused or is something bass akwards? You wrote, above, “That’s 8 clicks per inch at 100 yards, or 16 clicks per inch at 50 yards. I also adjusted it 8 clicks to the right as the rifle was shooting about one inch to the left.” Wouldn’t it be the reverse, 8 Clicks at 50 yards and 16 at 100? If so, you might want to order coffee from Community Coffee, Baton Rouge, La. for a huge shot of “brain ether” to get the ole cognitions started at the keyboard! At 74, I have days like this, and more with the chemo brain. My youngest local grandkid (who might not make adulthood, just sayin’) always jibes me with “dementia” when I have “cognitive flatulence.”
LFranke,
If a bullet moves an inch with 8 clicks of adjustment at 100 yards, how many clicks does it take to move it an inch at 50 yards? Wouldn’t it be twice the number of clicks? And at 10 yards ten times the number of clicks?
BB
BB,
“I also adjusted it 8 clicks to the right as the rifle was shooting about one inch to the left.”
Shouldn’t that be 16 clicks to the right?
Boib,
Yessir, that was my mistake. But it worked!
I’m amazed by the confusion today’s blog has stirred up.
BB
BB
The universe is at work today.
Don’t fight it.
Long live the airgunners
Just as long as you finally understand today’s blog is what matter
I feel the impulses in the air today.
The higher powers are talking today.
We’re just practicing the philosophy of Confusionism, as first taught by Confucius. Or was it another philosopher? FM is confused. FM just wants to learn to do things right. That is why today he dutifully read the Godfather’s seven posts about the Benjamin Maximus.
B.B.,
I’m not.
When we conflate angularity with linearity it always causes confusion.
The worst confusion happens to folks that have a Milling Reticle in an MOA adjusting scope; or occasionally the reverse but it seems folks that have milling turrets know not to do that.
Could be a Blog topic.
shootski
BB,
I guess it’s just one of those days 😉
Now that I compute it in my head, that would be correct because 1″ at 50 yards would be 2″ at one hundred yards because the base of scope correction is the line of the POI to POA at 100 yards. So an error of 1″ at 50 yrds would be a computed geometric 2″ at 100. I was bass ackwards!
LFranke,
It happens.
BB
BB
Yes the closer distance you get when your zeroing a scope the more clicks you need.
But one thing about it the closer in you shoot the finer the clicks are.
That means you can pin point your aim point and point of impact.
That’s why the 1/8 th turrets are better than the 1/4 turrets when going for zero aim point and point of impact.
And where is Fish today?
I figured he would be spilling it today.
B.B. and Readership,
Just sent off payment for my DAQ Murder Hornet blaster:
http://quackenbushairguns.com/currently_available.htm
Shooting the sugar/candy pearls should be a BLAST… I think i’ll order some of the silver coated ones. Of course I need to try it with some serious metallic shot as well. I doubt this will work inside the house however.
Camp and Garden .410 shot pistol.
shootski
Shootski, wow, that looks really cool!
Please post some pics and a write up after you shoot it! =>
thedavemyster,
I will do my best to learn how a .410 air shot pistol works with various loads. I’m open to suggestions on what kind of shot might be tried. In speaking with Dennis he says there are two full power shots on a 3,000psi fill. He aso said it is 1/2 ounce loads so 3-5 000 shot should work if memory serves. I suspect that range will be in the 20-40 yard range depending on the load selected. Less for the light candy and Air Soft bb
If it does better I won’t be disappointed.
At some point I may see if having the barrel threaded will allow use of a screw on choke…woodland
Wild Turkey!
Lots of possibilities but I WILL be prepared for the Murder Hornets!
shootski
Looks like fun times ahead for you! =>
It looks like a Crosman shoulder stock would work on that, too.
thedavemyster,
Yes all of the Quackenbush Outlaw Pistols come ready for the regular Crosman grip stocks as well as the 1300 carbine stock.
There are also some very beautiful stooks from Woods & Water…Hank could probably carve some beauties too!
Hint, Hint, Hint, LOL!
shootski
“Hank could probably carve some beauties too!”
For sure! LOL
Just got mine a few weeks ago. very cool. I think it feels better with the Crosman stock. I got this one for my Marauder pistol, along with some RB grips and inserts. If you find a source for the shells please post…
robfromboston,
RB grips brings back memories from long ago!
By shells are you talking the Brass hulls or the shot cups/wads?
A source for the Brass hulls is Dennis directly. I have him pulling together 25 of them which will speed up my load development. There are sources for empty .410 Brass hulls (MagTech .410 21/2″ The msrp is about US$40.00 per box of 25) but they have butts with primer pockets that would need to be cut off or drilled out; unfortunately they are FOREVER OUT OF STOCK!
Take a look at Balisticproducts.com, scheels, grafs, and precisionreloading.com
shootski
Thanks!
Darn, that isn’t critter or FT acceptable.
-Y
FM
No where to reply above. Don’t know if you will see this.
But so what do you think of the dark side so far.
FM is liking the Dark Side very much which he always thought might be the case if he ever dared to venture there. Max is the perfect companion for that journey and FM thanks GF1 for the introduction. 🙂
FM
Good. Did you let your boss see it. What did he think about the pcp world.
Liked it much; he suggested a pest control afternoon soon at his reptile-afflicted neighbors’ place, after FM works on sighting-in a little more. All is good.
FM
Great.
Isn’t it wonderful how you can just keep on shootin with a pull of the bolt. Well other than having to repressurise
sooner or later after all those shots.
And gun fun one use to pest control alot for the city and farm neighbors. Sounds to me like FM could do that where FM is at.
Max has a nice flat trajectory with those pellets Gunfun1 sent you at very resanoble distances. Just point and shoot.
A note. A red or green dot sight on Max sighted at 30 yards is a killer combination from 12 to 50 yards. Just put the dot at what you want to hit and your there.