Diana Stormrider Multi-shot PCP Air Rifle

Things I liked: I'm an experienced shooter (military-VFW, law enforcement, armorer). This is my first PCP rifle and purchased as "plinker" to shoot with my family at targets. I was tired of constantly pumping air rifles or buying CO2 and thought I would give PCP rifles a try since coming down in price the last year or so. I'm very happy with purchase: Affordable, good quality, shoots great, accurate and easy to operate. On a full take, I had about 55 shots. The last 10 still pierced tin cans but not all the way through both sides. That said, having an air rifle with 30-40 shots with power is nice.

Things I would have changed: The magazine works - but it's not good quality. After fooling with it a few tries - I found it easier to use. However, I found loading pellets one at a time no issue at all. My teenage son, using magazine for first time, ended up forcing two pellets into chamber and I had to use rod. It was interesting since bolt couldn't engage and magazine couldn't be removed. The magazine was likely not properly seated and bolt couldn't fully engage, so he re-cocked it and the rest is history. I was able to duplicate the problem easily. Suggestion, load only 3-5 pellets until you get used to using the magazine.

What others should know: Pumping for first time was interesting. Rife came 3/4th full and not having any experience - pumping at that high of pressure for first time was not easy. I expected the pumping to be easier than it actually is. Once I cycled the initial air pressure, the pumping wasn't as difficult. It takes about 80-90 pumps to fully charge and the last 20 take some work;) However, once you get used to it - it's not a problem.

Verified Purchase

Things I liked: 1. Accuracy - quite accurate using .22 Crosman Premier Hollow Point 14.3 gr. Pellets. These pellets also feed easily from the magazine 2. Optional regulator With the regulator set at 110 BAR I get about thirty shots at 705 FPS with 14.3 gr CPHP pellets. 15.7 FPE, plenty of power for squirrels at the ranges that I shoot. 3. Size and weight easy to pick up to shoot the squirrels on the bird feeders. Much handier than my Marauder. 4. Multi shot – If I miss with that first shot at a squirrel (yes, it happens!) I can immediately take a second shot. 5. Silencer – the integral silencer is highly effective. Typically, all I hear when I shoot the rifle is the sound of the hammer and impact of the round. 6. My outfit consisting of a Stormrider and a 3-12 Bug Buster scope is really quite elegant looking!

Things I would have changed: 1. I did not see the quality problems that others have mentioned. The only problem that I had was that the little screw that holds the breech on fell out. When I tried to replace it, it would not tighten. Fortunately, PA accidently sent me a replacement breech kit in a previous order. The kit contained a screw. I was able to firmly secure the replacement screw. It has stayed secure. I would keep an eye on that area of the rifle. 2. The lack of a cover for the fill port is a potential problem. There is a sleeve on the replacement pressure gauge that supposedly rotates the cover the holes. But when the gauge is secured on the pressure tube, the sleeve doesnt rotate. I bought a protective plug off of eBay. 3. The fill probe did not fit the original female foster fitting on my filler unit. I had another that worked OK. 4. The replacement magazines are rather expensive.

What others should know: My Stormrider is a .22 with a regulator. I had PA do the original installation of the regulator. Based on a review in Hard Air Magazine, I requested that they set it at 125 BAR. This setting did not give the results that the magazine article indicated. I reset the regulator to 110 BAR and got, for me, much more satisfactory results. Working with the regulator is not complicated but extracting and replacing it in the pressure tube is a pain in the rear. The earlier model of the Stormrider had real problems with the bolt handle bending/breaking. The newer model that I have has an improved bolt handle. Some people are still reporting problems. I have not had any (yet). When retracting the bolt, I grasp the bolt handle right next to the bolt to reduce the leverage on the bolt handle. When loading a pellet, I push the rear of the bolt forward with my thumb. This method was suggested in an earlier review.