A few weeks ago I started searching for an ultra lightweight .177 PCP and stumbled upon the Diana Bandit pistol. The goofy grip really turned me off until I saw the Diana Chaser CO2 Carbine. For a while I thought about ordering both and converting it myself, but found Wes's website and ordered exactly what I wanted from him. He even swapped the bolt to the right side so it can be fired like a traditional bolt action carbine. Today the PCP showed up at the house and I eagerly assembled and began zeroing the iron sights. After a three or four magazines something went wrong and I think I double chambered some pellets. This happened the first time I tried a magazine, but the rifle just fired them anyway. Now it won't fire at all and the pellets are definitely stuck in there. I have a carbon fiber cleaning rod for our .25 Seneca Eagle Claw, but despite the package saying it is a .117 and .22 rod the rod certainly does not fit the .177 barrel of the Bandit. So now I wait on another CF barrel rod from Amazon.
What should I call this little PCP? Sometimes I want to just call it a PCP Chaser rather than refer to it as a Bandit at all. Especially since the bolt is on the other side now.
One thing I really don't like about this platform is the bouncy bolt. There's nothing holding it down, so for now I put a rubber band around the PCP tube and put some downward force on the handle. Seems to work just fine but it does look kind of funny. I really like the compact size and it fits in our double rifle case with the Eagle Claw even with the scope mounted, but I do have to separate the butt stock to get both to fit. The Iron sights are not that bad either, but kind of goofy to adjust. The elevation adjustment can also be thrown off if the rear sight gets caught on something and lifts upward. After I become proficient with the iron sights I'll probably get a 11mm to picatinny adapter and mount some kind of reflex/red dot sight.
What should I call this little PCP? Sometimes I want to just call it a PCP Chaser rather than refer to it as a Bandit at all. Especially since the bolt is on the other side now.
One thing I really don't like about this platform is the bouncy bolt. There's nothing holding it down, so for now I put a rubber band around the PCP tube and put some downward force on the handle. Seems to work just fine but it does look kind of funny. I really like the compact size and it fits in our double rifle case with the Eagle Claw even with the scope mounted, but I do have to separate the butt stock to get both to fit. The Iron sights are not that bad either, but kind of goofy to adjust. The elevation adjustment can also be thrown off if the rear sight gets caught on something and lifts upward. After I become proficient with the iron sights I'll probably get a 11mm to picatinny adapter and mount some kind of reflex/red dot sight.