Sidelever Fever

Darn Mike you are likely in the top 10 reason's no one can find a decent classic. Congratulations!

Some may not know that once upon a time it was even easier to find a nice 10m/FT rig that fit correctly.

RWS75.1618444466.jpg


Appreciate your sharing and inspiring wonderful memories (you lucky son of a gun you).



John
 
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In retrospect I should have said D54.

I can understand why and read this post after my comment.

Actually, another intent was to inject how "perfect" a sidelever operates more than all other air rifles.

I have mostly break barrels that to me are "easy" and my only sidelever is tuned to 15.XXgr JSB (HEAVY .20) .20s. No other pellet at all! Only THOSE are to be used in it and the spring is not the original factory spring etc. The barrel is rifled .20 for the D54 and in the meantime I was enjoying using one (the gunsmith's own .20 D54 he used in competition) I saw another name used called "The D48 On Wheels" because it operates like a rail gun on tracks that slides on tracks to let the recoil shove the cannon back in alignment and hit the target without the mess up of a fixed system relying on variable pressures from human hands. That sort of thing.

I was also aware the D52 and others "more powerful" were made but now discontinued leaving only the Air King or D54.

This is a sidelever I enjoy owning!


jus sayin
 
I just brought my .22 RWS56 to the range Saturday for the first time. I was hitting a golf ball and large sticks of chalk at a laser ranged 106 yards with decent frequency. The pellet was still striking the dirt with seemingly good force at that range.

Those Diana's are fine rifles. I hit a golf ball in the Long Ranger challenge a couple years ago at 150 yards with my D460. Also took a squirrel with a head shot at a lased 79 yards with my D48 and WalMart pellets. Both videos were on youtube for a while. I think CGP showed there was 3 fpe on the Golf Ball at that range, barely broke. It took seven shots if I remember correctly. I don't think I have a copy of it any more but I still have this (and I am sure there are forum members who remember it):

IMG_20210414_220303316_HDR.1618452408.jpg

 
I bought one a few years ago, the seller claimed it was fully functional. Within 10 shots or so it had lost some 30fps or more and it was obvious the seal was done. I emailed him and told him of this and several sarcastic replies I brought the issue to eBay. They issued me a full refund much to the dismay of the seller. I have seen only a few since then but at this point I think I only want a deluxe model with the checkering or I'll pass altogether. 
 
Today I realized why the sidelever D54 meant more to me than any other rifle I have in the last armory--so to speak.

It was put together by a man who put himself in the making of this rifle. A man I had insulted and instead sent me his D54 .20 to ME to test fire 200 or more shots from a can of pellets he sent to me, prelubed JSB 13.XXgr EXACT that had to be loaded one at a time while working a sidelever spring bigger than HW80s or R1s.

The scope was Traditions Black Powder 3-10X 40mm in second generation Diana Zero Recoil Mounts with silver screws just like the one I have now from Connecticut Custom Airguns model Diana 54 Air King serial 02170367 as rifle #27 of 30 by Mayer & MayerGrammelspacher in Rastatt, GE; using 0.20 cal Lothar Walther barrels under design and specifications in Darnestown, MD, March 18th, 2020. 

Signed by Hector J Medina Gomez Airgunsmith.


 
I just reported on my second .20 in HW50 from AOA on another topic (the HW50S.20--now I have TWO!).

I have 3 HW35Es and these .20 HW50s are lighter and just as accurate.

But the Hector Special (.20 HS) in D54 is the last word on ALL Diana sidelevers. More power (D52 and others NOT related to the D48 system) are trouble for various reasons in my estimation and also in Hector's. He said the D48 on wheels (D54) in .20 JSB 13.73s is the most KE gotten period.

I stressed him more to make mine for HEAVIES instead of standard weights and HE DID IT!


 
Mike

Remember that with great blessings comes persecution. We can react in a Godly manner and be a good example or not. I believe you have. It's a shame that you can't just share your collection in peace. 

Personally, I am greatly appreciative of the time you take to share. So, thank you sir!

JC

Btw...I believe that the 380 uses a totally unique system that I would love to hear more about. I recently acquired one.
 
You know, I got this D54 .20 to copy what an airgunsmith handed to me to shoot 200 rounds out of which he had already hand lubed.

The reason he handed his gun to me to test was to give me a second chance with a sidelever and try it out and see if it can beat the underlever or break barrel.

I had SEEN the AIR KING years and decades ago but never made the plunge to get one. It DID fascinate me to shoot a springer and not deal with the recoil; allowing me to focus on trigger control and all the rest to shoot it offhand.

So I did and sent it back and ORDERED one LIKE it from Hector Medina in .20.

When I got mine I was absolutely shocked at what he had done including installing the same leather lace glove over the buttstock like his to give the elevated head a place to go in the Diana Zero Recoil Mounts and Rings.

The scope is the same as his: Traditions Black Powder 3-10X 40mm with lenses as bright and clean and true (integrity here in this glass) as Zeiss or Kahles or Schmidt Bender TO MY EYES!

So now I am testing medium springers, two HW50s .20s with the JSB Exacts and they are IDENTICAL in performance with the "newer" one feeling a bit yet out of the "zone" it will work into just like the other.

But the shots go to the same point of impact with either rifle offhand at 35yards and I can't BELIEVE how close this little rifle doing fantastic things is as easy as the first 1960s springer I had from W. Germany in the name of BSF in .177.

It is bringing me back to THOSE days with my training .177 rifle in the 1960s with FORCE and ACCURACY in .20 beating .177 or .22 HW50s I've owned and gave or sold away in the past. I had GIVEN up on HW50 but in the .20 it is supreme!

The Diana 54 from Hector is a story because it was sent back to him a couple times for finer things he incorporated with insulting "no fee" note on it. He just stood behind his gun and altered it according to me and my wants and did it.

That's the kind of airgunsmith we need when we spend as much as it takes TO DO SO with a qualified person you end up knowing by worksmanship and legend.
 
Mike

Remember that with great blessings comes persecution. We can react in a Godly manner and be a good example or not. I believe you have. It's a shame that you can't just share your collection in peace. 

Personally, I am greatly appreciative of the time you take to share. So, thank you sir!

JC

Btw...I believe that the 380 uses a totally unique system that I would love to hear more about. I recently acquired one.

Yep, sure can ... see below

I'm guessing another POS that I have hidden is spouting jealous nonsense again, not the first likely not the last. I don't see any comments from some dozen or so members that I have blocked. They can play games from their mommy's basements and hide, they have no influence on my life.

The 380 has a sledge system for recoil reduction but it is housed inside of a shroud so you see nothing move like you do on a FWB150, 300(S), etc. There is another Anschutz that uses a unique oil pot/hydraulic system for recoil, the 250.

Fine example, right there.
 
It's been a while since 2 ladies have been so obsessed with me. They both follow me so actively through not one but 2 posts. Imagine this all over an air rifle that by opinion not fact was stated to be the "best". One had to even ask me to define fact and opinion 😂😂😂 The fine example would be you calling me an ass at least twice, that's a exemplary! 
 
It's been a while since 2 ladies have been so obsessed with me. They both follow me so actively through not one but 2 posts. Imagine this all over an air rifle that by opinion not fact was stated to be the "best". One had to even ask me to define fact and opinion 😂😂😂 The fine example would be you calling me an ass at least twice, that's a exemplary!

If you can translate for the one right above you, let me know, because I don't understand a word he is saying. lol.