I read somewhere that Diana outsourced some of their production to China. I don't have any problem with that but I've always had a yearning to get a German spring gun. Can someone explain which models are still made in Germany and which you'd recommend? Thanks
Diana China vs Germany
- Thread starter newhobby
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I'd go HW ... what a variety to choose from. I like the HW97/77/95 and the wife likes the HW30. My kids have the Diana 34's from the 90's. If you like a springer, its well worth getting a great one. Interested in what you go with.
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I agree with HW,I also like English made air guns ,sometimes better,their prices have went up though.
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The only Diana models made in China from what I'vebeen told, are the ones with the numerical model numbers spelled out. For instance the Diana models "Two Forty" and "Two Fifty" are chinese made. Whereas the Diana model "250" was made in Germany.
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What Razor62 said. Diana Eleven, Two-forty, Two-Fifty and Two-Sixty are Chinese springers upgraded some and QC'd more than most. So, if you are looking for a better Chinese gun, get one of those, at the power level and stock material of your choosing.
German-made Dianas are the 280, 34, 34 EMS, 350 Mag, 48, 52, 54, 56 and 460 Mag (some of those recently retired from the production line) plus literally dozens of older models; Diana has been making airguns for c. 130 years, way longer than any other manufacturer currently in business.
German-made Dianas are simply great guns. Diana bashing is a favorite pastime for some, but that's based mostly on frivolities such as current Diana trigger guards being made of tough plastic instead of pot metal as on Weihrauchs. When it comes to accuracy, consistency, dependability, and durability, things that actually matter in a gun, Dianas are not an iota lesser guns than Weihrauchs. Taste is another matter altogether.
I've had more issues with my four Weihrauchs than with my eight Dianas, to date.
If you are looking for a .22 cal springer, you can forget Weihrauch - their .22 cal barrels are mostly terrible. I've yet to have a bad barrel on a .22 cal Diana.
One thing I like about Dianas is that they actually shoot what the manufacturer claims. Weihrauchs only shoot what the company states with Hobbies, or the lightest-weight lead pellets available, wadcutters with terrible BC. Dianas shoot the (much higher) claimed velocities with FTT's, or real-world long-range / hunting pellets. That has been my experience.
Many people compare a middling Weihrauch to a magnum Diana and exclaim how the Diana was harder to shoot accurately, harder to cock, noisier etc., without taking into account the magnum Diana puts out 50% more muzzle energy! Apples to oranges, big time.
When it comes to high-power springers that are actually highly accurate, Diana is about the only game in town. They are true gamegetters, for decades on end.
German-made Dianas are the 280, 34, 34 EMS, 350 Mag, 48, 52, 54, 56 and 460 Mag (some of those recently retired from the production line) plus literally dozens of older models; Diana has been making airguns for c. 130 years, way longer than any other manufacturer currently in business.
German-made Dianas are simply great guns. Diana bashing is a favorite pastime for some, but that's based mostly on frivolities such as current Diana trigger guards being made of tough plastic instead of pot metal as on Weihrauchs. When it comes to accuracy, consistency, dependability, and durability, things that actually matter in a gun, Dianas are not an iota lesser guns than Weihrauchs. Taste is another matter altogether.
I've had more issues with my four Weihrauchs than with my eight Dianas, to date.
If you are looking for a .22 cal springer, you can forget Weihrauch - their .22 cal barrels are mostly terrible. I've yet to have a bad barrel on a .22 cal Diana.
One thing I like about Dianas is that they actually shoot what the manufacturer claims. Weihrauchs only shoot what the company states with Hobbies, or the lightest-weight lead pellets available, wadcutters with terrible BC. Dianas shoot the (much higher) claimed velocities with FTT's, or real-world long-range / hunting pellets. That has been my experience.
Many people compare a middling Weihrauch to a magnum Diana and exclaim how the Diana was harder to shoot accurately, harder to cock, noisier etc., without taking into account the magnum Diana puts out 50% more muzzle energy! Apples to oranges, big time.
When it comes to high-power springers that are actually highly accurate, Diana is about the only game in town. They are true gamegetters, for decades on end.
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This is good news to me. I been looking for something to replace my gamo. Settled on a 350 mag or the 54
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One of the first guns to replace my Gamo was the 350 Mag. They have something of a reputation for being hard to shoot accurately, but I had zero accuracy issues with one from the get go, being schooled on the importance of follow through.
The 54 is a very different beast, in almost every aspect. I had to get one, too, and am really glad I did.
The 54 is a very different beast, in almost every aspect. I had to get one, too, and am really glad I did.
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I collect the classic post-war Diana lineup that lasted until the early 1980's. Most versions of the "adult" models 27, 35, (break-barrels) and 50 (tap-loading underlever) were plain in appearance - almost embarrassingly so! - and went through a lot of detail variations over time, but always had quality where it counted: lovely finish, fine barrels, the excellent ball-sear trigger, some of the best open sights ever made, and seals and springs of astonishing durability. The hinged breech design is sturdy, finely adjustable for tension, and IMHO much superior to HW's (I've never seen one with an alignment issue). They eventually became obsolete due to leather seals, tricky dismantling, lack of safeties, and more powerful competitors, but are superb in their own way.
A personal fave is this 1979-vintage model 27S, an uncommon late model that was a commercial flop, but fixed some quirky details of the standard 27. I typically do 15-shot chrono strings, and this gun did (with 7.3 gr AA Falcons) one of the most consistent I've ever recorded: average 669 FPS; hi-lo spread 7.7 FPS; standard deviation 0.33% of the average velocity.
Don't get me wrong, I prolly love my old Weihrauchs even more! But many Diana models are definitely worth a look.
A personal fave is this 1979-vintage model 27S, an uncommon late model that was a commercial flop, but fixed some quirky details of the standard 27. I typically do 15-shot chrono strings, and this gun did (with 7.3 gr AA Falcons) one of the most consistent I've ever recorded: average 669 FPS; hi-lo spread 7.7 FPS; standard deviation 0.33% of the average velocity.
Don't get me wrong, I prolly love my old Weihrauchs even more! But many Diana models are definitely worth a look.
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That D27S looks almost like a little brother of the D45, with the period angularities etc.
Little antique Dianas are not uncommon here, but they are usually in pretty bad condition. For these guns, I've grown especially allergic to scratches, rust, worn-off bluing, broken sights etc., since they will never be hunters, anyway.
Little antique Dianas are not uncommon here, but they are usually in pretty bad condition. For these guns, I've grown especially allergic to scratches, rust, worn-off bluing, broken sights etc., since they will never be hunters, anyway.
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I had never thought about it that way, but you are surely correct! There were also "S" versions of the models 35 and 50 by the way, with similar 70's squared-up aesthetics.
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