Spring/Piston A little R&R with a rarely seen Diana....

[Kragman1]

Well, I have a little time to spend while I wait for the snow to add up to something worth shoveling, so I wanted to spend it behind the trigger.

I picked up the Cometa 220 since I've only shot it once, and when I did my eyes fell on my Diana 46. Frankly, it's a truly fine rifle and I do NOT shoot it enough. Not at all.
It should not languish as unknown and underappreciated.

They are pretty hard to find though, and this is the earlier version which isn't a powerhouse but is still a strong shooter. It's an underlever with a breech block that pivots upward, keeping the shooter completely safe from the finger chopping dangers of so many side and under lever guns. Trigger is a T01.

So, here we are, stock screws snugged up and ready to go:



I'm seriously out of practice, but I'll get some groups made and make a second post shortly.

 

[Kragman1]

OK, as promised....

The first group, the lower group in the center of the target came from a room temperature rifle and an ice cold shooter
It's mis-marked as H&N Sport (just switch the labels with the Meisterkugeln marked group above it). Five Meisterkugeln in a nice, round chuster.
Not bad, but not what I'm used to.
Fired a few more shots, moving down to the left, then down again with Hobby pellets.
The rifle liked them (as I remembered) but I was sighted in low and I was hitting the edge of the trap, so I moved on.
The last group (only 3 shots) was with RWS Super H Points, and clearly my rifle has a preference for them. I added a close up with a pellet alongside for reference.



Nice! Why can't they all be like this...?

This rifle has a beautiful cocking stroke and firing cycle. It is all-day easy to cock as well as smooth. The trigger tested between 1.94 and 2.18 lbs (3 pulls while shooting over the chrony) but feels lighter. Very clean and crisp. Not a 300s trigger of course, but very nice.
From speaking with the prior owner, I believe it has never been adjusted, and the rifle never tuned. It feels like a tuned gun as is. I will not be messing with it.

I took a few shots over a chronograph, just for curiosity. I figured it was a 12 lb gun but it only got close to that with Hobby pellets:

Super H Point 14.2
574. kinda snug
578. kinda snug
570. kinda snug
10.39 ft/lbs

5.53 FTT's 14.66
558. Overly snug
551. Too snug
560. Overly snug
10.06 ft/lbs

RWS Hobby 11.9
656. Good fit
658. Good fit
657. Good fit
11.40 ft/lbs


I have read that Diana wanted a rifle to compete in Field Target with the HW97, etc and that this was what they developed. I have no idea if that's true, but it is a fine rifle and I could see where it could compete, if in .177. I prefer mine in .22, as I am an enthusiast, not a competitor.

It is both humble and classy, and it feels like it was made with pride.
I think that it really shines as a "Gentlemans rifle". Definitely a top choice for Sunday shooting with friends and family, or some mellow squirrel hunting. Target shooting too, certainly.
If your plinking turns serious and and a little fun trash talking leads to rulers & measured groups (and more trash talking ), you won't need to worry about this rifle, that's for sure. It's a shooter.

Downside?
It is weightier than it looks but it isn't especially heavy. It just settles down nicely during shooting. I would carry it cradled across my middle with the barrel nearly level, "Grandpa Style", and it wouldn't bother me to spend a morning or afternoon walking the woods with it. If you feel the need to carry it with one hand on the wrist and one on the forearm, GI Joe style, you'll get fatigued IMO. I would, anyway.
The loading arrangement is very convenient and very safe. Like most things in life it is a tradeoff though, and in this case the power level is affected by the extra long transfer port. Also, there are two breech seals, of square cross section, and the one visible when you open the breech can simply pop out and become lost. Not a common item, Hector Medina was able to get me sorted out when mine arrived without one.
It has excellent field sights but scope selection is limited to short scopes only or you'll block the loading gate. Which is why mine is sporting a 3-12x44 Veyron (SFP version), which I bought specifically for this rifle.
Oh, and this one has a little barrel droop (though I question using that term on any fixed barrel rifle).

I paid a lot of money for it, and I feel that it was money well spent.
I look forward to enjoying this one for a long time to come.

 

[Dogowski]

OK, as promised....

The first group, the lower group in the center of the target came from a room temperature rifle and an ice cold shooter
It's mis-marked as H&N Sport (just switch the labels with the Meisterkugeln marked group above it). Five Meisterkugeln in a nice, round chuster.
Not bad, but not what I'm used to.
Fired a few more shots, moving down to the left, then down again with Hobby pellets.
The rifle liked them (as I remembered) but I was sighted in low and I was hitting the edge of the trap, so I moved on.
The last group (only 3 shots) was with RWS Super H Points, and clearly my rifle has a preference for them. I added a close up with a pellet alongside for reference.

View attachment 11528
View attachment 11530
Nice! Why can't they all be like this...?

This rifle has a beautiful cocking stroke and firing cycle. It is all-day easy to cock as well as smooth. The trigger tested between 1.94 and 2.18 lbs (3 pulls while shooting over the chrony) but feels lighter. Very clean and crisp. Not a 300s trigger of course, but very nice.
From speaking with the prior owner, I believe it has never been adjusted, and the rifle never tuned. It feels like a tuned gun as is. I will not be messing with it.

I took a few shots over a chronograph, just for curiosity. I figured it was a 12 lb gun but it only got close to that with Hobby pellets:

Super H Point 14.2
574. kinda snug
578. kinda snug
570. kinda snug
10.39 ft/lbs

5.53 FTT's 14.66
558. Overly snug
551. Too snug
560. Overly snug
10.06 ft/lbs

RWS Hobby 11.9
656. Good fit
658. Good fit
657. Good fit
11.40 ft/lbs


I have read that Diana wanted a rifle to compete in Field Target with the HW97, etc and that this was what they developed. I have no idea if that's true, but it is a fine rifle and I could see where it could compete, if in .177. I prefer mine in .22, as I am an enthusiast, not a competitor.

It is both humble and classy, and it feels like it was made with pride.
I think that it really shines as a "Gentlemans rifle". Definitely a top choice for Sunday shooting with friends and family, or some mellow squirrel hunting. Target shooting too, certainly.
If your plinking turns serious and and a little fun trash talking leads to rulers & measured groups (and more trash talking ), you won't need to worry about this rifle, that's for sure. It's a shooter.

Downside?
It is weightier than it looks but it isn't especially heavy. It just settles down nicely during shooting. I would carry it cradled across my middle with the barrel nearly level, "Grandpa Style", and it wouldn't bother me to spend a morning or afternoon walking the woods with it. If you feel the need to carry it with one hand on the wrist and one on the forearm, GI Joe style, you'll get fatigued IMO. I would, anyway.
The loading arrangement is very convenient and very safe. Like most things in life it is a tradeoff though, and in this case the power level is affected by the extra long transfer port. Also, there are two breech seals, of square cross section, and the one visible when you open the breech can simply pop out and become lost. Not a common item, Hector Medina was able to get me sorted out when mine arrived without one.
It has excellent field sights but scope selection is limited to short scopes only or you'll block the loading gate. Which is why mine is sporting a 3-12x44 Veyron (SFP version), which I bought specifically for this rifle.

I paid a lot of money for it, and I feel that it was money well spent. I look forward to enjoying this one for a long time to come.

That's a fine rifle man. It's a good shooter as well. Nice groups my friend!

 

[Kragman1]

Thanks Dogowski!

FYI, I coulda/shoulda put a pellet next to the Hobby group (3 shots) as well. It's almost the same size as the Super H Point group. Once the first shot clipped the steel trap (which causes lead fragments to make a mess of the paper targets) I didn't try so hard to shoot a good group, just finished it quickly so I could move on. The D46 may like them even better than it likes the SHP's.

I don't remember what it likes for domed pellets. Hopefully I can get my hands on some 5.51 H&N FTT's soon. I want to test that head size in my BSA Meteor as well.
But I don't want to buy just one tin of pellets from PA.
You know how that goes....

 

[Fishing 43]

What a beautiful time capsule and both the owner and rifle are fine shooters.

 

[Farmplinker2]

Something that needs a comeback....

 

[Kragman1]

I'd like to see many of the old guns reintroduced. I don't think that they'd really feel the same though. Modern manufacturing is super, but the old guns keep that hand made feel for a long time.

This Diana 50b underlever is losing its finish, etc but still feels (and shoots!) great: