Bought an old airgun at an online auction without even now what it was, it's named Milbro 70 series modell 77 .177,it can also be found as a Diana modell 77, as far as I have read milbro bought some or all of Diana after ww2 and then Diana bought it back in 1984, i have not found so much info about this modell, only that it's a low power so so gun that isn't worth much, well i can agree that it's low in power, but that is not always a bad thing, cause this gun is very smooth, it reminds of a hw30s in the feeling, but one size bigger, unfortunitly it didn't have any open sights but i had a scope that works ok, the power is around 4 1/2-5 ft/lbs or 6 joule, i have only tried it at home shooting at 3m, need to do some pellet testing to see but jsb 7.33gr, 7.87gr and 8.44gr 4.52 headsize shoot very even over the chrony. If you now anything about this modell please write some info! 
A German/Brittish classic
- Thread starter AG72
- Start date
Blue Book says 400 fps in .177 300 fps in .22
might be a great youth rifle, hard to say how many made there way to the States
value was 125.00 in 100% looks like your is missing the rear sight
might be a great youth rifle, hard to say how many made there way to the States
value was 125.00 in 100% looks like your is missing the rear sight
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Mine shoots around 500 fps with the jsb's mentioned in last post, i have seen numbers a bit higher than that but don't know the pellet used, yes the rear sight is missing, and there is some wear and dings, don't realy know how old she is, or if its anything done internal, i think they have a leather piston washer, so i might give it a squirt of ballistol into the transferport and let it be for some days. I payed less than 40$ so i think i got a good one for the money, but i have to check accurasy first
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Thanks, yes i think it's a good one, the size fits me perfekt, going to search for parts like springs and seals so i can change when needed
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Those guns have quite an interesting history.
After WW2, Milbro (full name Millard Brothers, located in Lanarkshire, Scotland) purchased the pre-war airgun production machinery and many parts from the Diana factory in Germany, them set up production in Scotland. Starting in the late 40’s they initially made straight copies of the pre-war German models. Later on the guns were modified with different stocks, triggers, sights, etc., but retained the basic “architecture” of the old German models. There were “Series 70” and later “Series 80” models.
Most Milbro rifles were based on the Diana 25 youth rifle or slightly larger model 27. I believe the Series 70 model 77 was one of the latter. Very nice all-round light rifles, as you note in the same general category as the R7, etc. They do have leather piston seals which will last until doomsday if you take care of them. The breech seal may be leather but can usually be replaced with a rubber O-ring and maybe a little shimming.
Milbro went out of business in 1980 or so. Up until that time they had rights to the “Diana” name in the UK. Post-war German rifles sold there in those years used the brand name “Original” (as in, hey fella, this here is your real original Diana, LOL).
After WW2, Milbro (full name Millard Brothers, located in Lanarkshire, Scotland) purchased the pre-war airgun production machinery and many parts from the Diana factory in Germany, them set up production in Scotland. Starting in the late 40’s they initially made straight copies of the pre-war German models. Later on the guns were modified with different stocks, triggers, sights, etc., but retained the basic “architecture” of the old German models. There were “Series 70” and later “Series 80” models.
Most Milbro rifles were based on the Diana 25 youth rifle or slightly larger model 27. I believe the Series 70 model 77 was one of the latter. Very nice all-round light rifles, as you note in the same general category as the R7, etc. They do have leather piston seals which will last until doomsday if you take care of them. The breech seal may be leather but can usually be replaced with a rubber O-ring and maybe a little shimming.
Milbro went out of business in 1980 or so. Up until that time they had rights to the “Diana” name in the UK. Post-war German rifles sold there in those years used the brand name “Original” (as in, hey fella, this here is your real original Diana, LOL).
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Thanks for the info MDriskill, yes this modell is very nice to handle, did my first shots at targets today at 15 and 25 meters, wind was horribel with very strong gusts, so bad that the papertarget flew out of the holder... But i managed to get some great result with jsb 7.87gr, the pellets i used was jsb 7.33gr, jsb 7.87gr and jsb 8.44gr 4.52 size, at 15 meters the tightest group was with the 7.87gr, at 25m they spread out a bit so i adjusted the scope 2 clicks up and shot another and got a very nice group but 2 of them dropped realy low, don't know if the pellets where bad or if the wind did it or what, the rest of the ones i shot was with the others in the middle, the trigger is fantastic, i think Diana is the reason for that, very happy with this gun! 
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Those guns are not too common over here, and that one is in outstanding condition. You did very well for 40 bucks!
Do check the breech seal to make sure it’s doing its job. I would also try different makes of pellets, I like to try RWS and H&N stuff in older guns, which may be more like the ammo around when they were new.
Do NOT put Ballistol, or any other combustible oil into the chamber. Silicone oil is much better for leather seals.
The gun may have a date stamp on it somewhere. I have a Milbro model 27 from 1952 that has the date stamped in the face of the butt.
Do check the breech seal to make sure it’s doing its job. I would also try different makes of pellets, I like to try RWS and H&N stuff in older guns, which may be more like the ammo around when they were new.
Do NOT put Ballistol, or any other combustible oil into the chamber. Silicone oil is much better for leather seals.
The gun may have a date stamp on it somewhere. I have a Milbro model 27 from 1952 that has the date stamped in the face of the butt.
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Yes i will try some other brands of pellets later on, the breech seal is very flat and looks like it have been there for some time, going to meassure it and see if there is any similar to buy (maybe the Diana 27 seal will fit) or if i can make one of a o-ring and dental floss...
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Took her out for a ride again, with the chrony and some jsb target 8,02gr flatheads, was a bit windy as always but i set up a target at 10 meters and 25 meters, chronoed first with jsb 7.87gr at around 508 fps (155 m/s) the jsb target 8,02gr was around 479 fps (146 m/s) then started to shot some at 10m and it just was one hole with both pellets, at 25m the 7.87gr was hitting low so adjusted the scope to the center of the target then plinked some, this gun is a joy to shoot! Then went for the flatheads, they hit high at 25m adjusted 7 klicks down to get it centered, shot a very tight group except from one that went high, was amazed a flathead could be so accurate in the wind with this gun, so i plinked some and then went back to target shooting, and now the pellets hit high again... Shot some over the chrony and the fps had got up to 492 fps (150 m/s) with them and 524 fps (160 m/s) with the 7.87gr, adjust the scope with 7 more klicks down and was centered again with the flatheads , but the wind picked up so the groups at 25m was moving with the wind so i changed back to the 7.87gr, they sure buck the wind better, but when i was zeroing it back i didn't have to adjust the scope 14 klicks, just 7, but i think the power went up after some shots so thats the reason for that, after all a good time out!
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A couple days ago i lubricated the leather pistonseal and breechseal and let it soak in, today i brought her out and shot some over the chrony, first 10 shots she was smoking, but no sonic crack, highest number was 189 m/s.... then shot 10 shots with jsb 7.87g
175 m/s
174
175
176
176
175
177
175
175
177
An average of 175 m/s, 574 fps 7.84 joule/5.78 ft/lbs
So she gained some power, but what impressed me more is how even the numbers are, hopefuly they will stay the same, still waiting for a new breechseal, but she got better when i took the old one out of the breech and cleaned it
175 m/s
174
175
176
176
175
177
175
175
177
An average of 175 m/s, 574 fps 7.84 joule/5.78 ft/lbs
So she gained some power, but what impressed me more is how even the numbers are, hopefuly they will stay the same, still waiting for a new breechseal, but she got better when i took the old one out of the breech and cleaned it
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Hi guys,
I stumlbled across this thread looking for some extra info. I have a Diana-Milbro Model 70 Series 77 From 1973.
Mine is .22 cal (5.5mm). It does shoot slow though
I's my dad's. It was left for decades and I picked it up this year. Replaced the broken leather seal and the breech seal, cleaned everything, polished the piston, new spring, sanded and polished the metal, reblued it quite succesfull.
Ironically, my rear sight is not missing but the windage wheel broken of. Since I couldn't find a replacement (boy I looked!) I glued it, so no more windage
Mounted a scope on it and it shoot very accurate at short distances (10-25m) with some practice!
Pre-restauration:
(windage wheel still on but bent and stuck, broke the screwing pin part later...)
Post restauration
I stumlbled across this thread looking for some extra info. I have a Diana-Milbro Model 70 Series 77 From 1973.
Mine is .22 cal (5.5mm). It does shoot slow though
I's my dad's. It was left for decades and I picked it up this year. Replaced the broken leather seal and the breech seal, cleaned everything, polished the piston, new spring, sanded and polished the metal, reblued it quite succesfull.
Ironically, my rear sight is not missing but the windage wheel broken of. Since I couldn't find a replacement (boy I looked!) I glued it, so no more windage
Mounted a scope on it and it shoot very accurate at short distances (10-25m) with some practice!
Pre-restauration:
Post restauration
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Wow nice restauration! Hope you enjoy it, I have not shot with mine for some time but i realy enjoy it!
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Thx! It was a first experience for me, but watched TONS of youtube video's
I have plenty of fun with it, it will be passed on to my son once he is old enough!
I was happy to see some figures, I couldn't figure out the power on this gun without a chrono, thx mate!
I'm amazed to see I get some nice groups to 20-25m on .22 cal with only 8 Joule!
This week I'll buy a Gamo roadster 10x gen2. 24 Joule and magazines!
My shooting buddy will get a Hatsan BT65 Elite QE, but I'm not a huge fan of PCP, there something about shooting with the power of your muscles stored in a mechanical gun I guess
I made an amateuristic video about this gun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scz3Wi-06Cc
I have plenty of fun with it, it will be passed on to my son once he is old enough!
I was happy to see some figures, I couldn't figure out the power on this gun without a chrono, thx mate!
I'm amazed to see I get some nice groups to 20-25m on .22 cal with only 8 Joule!
This week I'll buy a Gamo roadster 10x gen2. 24 Joule and magazines!
My shooting buddy will get a Hatsan BT65 Elite QE, but I'm not a huge fan of PCP, there something about shooting with the power of your muscles stored in a mechanical gun I guess
I made an amateuristic video about this gun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scz3Wi-06Cc
Upvote 0