This Diana Outlaw Gen 2 review does not follow the normal, standardized Hard Air Magazine format. There’s two reasons for this:
Firstly, as the product name indicates, the Outlaw Gen 2 is closely based on the original Outlaw (photo below). When we reviewed the original model in 2018, it earned a HAM Gold Award with a score of 87% on test. Both our test guns have been in .22 caliber, so they are easy to compare.
Technically, there’s very few changes between the two generations of Outlaw. One is the inclusion of a regulator pressure gauge in the Gen 2 model. This replaces the de-gassing screw of the original.
It’s located in the underside of the buttstock, just ahead of the trigger guard.
The other is the new-style magazine with ratchet control of the spool when loading. It makes loading much easier. We like it!
Both of these changes (and all the others) would definitely increase the Outlaw’s test score, compared to the original “Gen 1” version.
The second reason for the different review format is that – as we conducted our background research – we found a number of surprises. Those surprises caused us to explore a different, unique approach…
Diana Outlaw Gen 2 Review – Tuning Capability
The Diana Outlaw has never been marketed as a “tunable” air rifle. The value proposition has been that it is a quality product for those who want to take their airgun out of the box and shoot it without tinkering.
However, it IS possible to tune the Outlaw. There is an adjustable regulator and the hammer spring tension is adjustable too. It’s just that these adjustments are not externally-accessible. The gun requires the wood buttstock to be removed to access them.
Plus – in the case of the regulator, the gun needs to be de-gassed and the High Pressure Air tube removed. At that stage, it’s out with the snap-ring pliers in order to disassemble the HPA tube and access the regulator.
Sure, this can be done with the appropriate knowledge and enthusiasm. However, it’s rather a pain. So we left the regulator alone…
However, adjusting the hammer spring tension is much easier and many owners would feel confident doing this. The hammer spring tension adjustment screw is readily accessible after the stock has been removed.
It’s arrowed in the photograph above. Rotating is easy using an Allen wrench. You’ll see that I made a mark with a Sharpie on the screw to identify changes in rotation.
So we concentrated on the behavior of the Outlaw Gen 2 with different hammer spring tension settings.
This is where the surprises emerged…
Diana Outlaw Gen 2 Review – Tuning Results And Consistency Summary
Going back to our original Outlaw review, we found best accuracy and power were obtained when shooting H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 Grain pellets. So it was a fair assessment that would also be the case for the Gen 2 gun. We proceeded on that basis…
The chart below gives a high level overview of our test findings. As you can see, we have plotted the average Muzzle Energies when shooting the same Baracuda Match pellets in a number of configurations. These are:
– “Gen 1” and Gen 2 guns in factory condition.
– The Gen 2 gun with hammer spring adjustment screw turned 1/2 turn clockwise, 1 full turn clockwise and 1 full turn counter-clockwise from the factory setting.
The first thing that shocked us when analyzing this data was the incredible similarity of the Muzzle Velocity achieved by the two guns in factory condition.
The Gen 2 gun was manufactured 6 years after the original gun tested by HAM. Yet the Muzzle Velocity with Barracuda Match pellets (measured on the same Chronograph by the same shooter in the same location) differed by just 1 FPS. WOW!!!!!!!
That indicates outstanding consistency of manufacturing, assembly and testing of the guns at the factory. You just can’t get much more consistent than that!
But there was another HUGE surprise in the data. As is clear, the Muzzle Energy increased by close to 10% when the hammer spring tension was REDUCED by one turn from the factory setting. This is completely the reverse of what we would expect!
But this was not without a price. Comparing the Muzzle Velocities for the first 30 shots (before the regulator set point of 150 bar was reached), we see that the increased Muzzle Energy was accompanied by a doubling of the Standard Deviation (the mathematical calculation of shot-to-shot consistency).
The various Standard Deviations are indicated by the blue dotted line in the chart below.
However, it has to be said that a Standard Deviation of 7.47 FPS across 30 shots is still very good!
But note what happened when the hammer spring tension was increased. The Standard Deviation fell – that is improved – to just around 2 FPS. Across 30 shots!
That’s another outstanding consistency figure to appear in this Diana Outlaw Gen 2 review.
Diana Outlaw Gen 2 Review – Tuning Results And Consistency Detail
Now let’s take a detailed look at the data which created the results shown above…
For this, we have shown the test data in graphical form. The Muzzle Energies are represented by the red bars with their precise values read-off from the right hand “Y” (vertical) axis.
The black circles with connecting lines represent the FPS for each shot, with the values indicated by the left side “Y” axis.
First we have the Gen 2 gun in “as received”, factory condition. As you can see, this produced 34 consistent shots from a fill of High Pressure Air, with an average of 31.21 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy for the first 30 shots. This was – as we know – almost identical to that of the original “Gen 1” gun.
At a Standard Deviation of just 3.78 FPS across the first 30 shots, consistency was excellent, providing confirmation of a well-functioning regulator.
Note also that the Muzzle Velocity line is pretty-well horizontal. That means that the hammer spring tension has been very well balanced at the factory. Excellent!
Now let’s look at the results with the hammer spring tension screw turned-in 1/2 a turn. The even-flatter Muzzle Velocity plot indicates the improved Standard Deviation. Plus – as we know – the Muzzle Energy per shot has increased by about 1 Ft/Lb.
Sure, that’s not a big increase, but with the improved FPS consistency and a drop of only 2 consistent shots (we’re down to about 32 now), it’s probably a very worthwhile trade-off.
By rotating the hammer spring tension screw another half turn, it was clear that we had gone too far. Although the Standard Deviation was even (slightly) more consistent, the average Muzzle Energy across 30 shots dropped a little and we lost another shot (down to 31) before the regulator set-point was reached.
Now for the big surprise! With the hammer spring tension REDUCED by one turn from the factory setting, we made a significant gain in Muzzle Energy, while still retaining 27 consistent shots before the regulator set point was reached.
This is shown by the next chart.
Again, this is absolutely NOT what was expected! HAM Tester Doug Wall and myself debated why it should be over and over. We expected less power and more shots.
After much discussion, we still don’t have a real explanation. But that was what actually happened. It’s a small reminder that there’s always something for us all to learn about airguns!
At any event, we liked the increased power (of course) and so that’s how we shot the gun for an accuracy test.
Diana Outlaw Gen 2 Review – Accuracy
For our accuracy test, we mounted a Leapers UTG 3-12 x 44 SWAT riflescope to the Gen 2 Outlaw. A very decent scope; at around $220, it’s typical of the type of optic that will be fitted to the Outlaw by its owners.
Here’s the 25 Yard, 10-shot test target shot by HAM Tester Doug Wall…
Using just 12 x magnification – the scope’s maximum – Doug produced this excellent group. In our opinion, that’s extremely satisfactory accuracy and indicates the potential of the Outlaw in capable hands.
Great shooting, Doug!
Diana Outlaw Gen 2 Review – Summary And Conclusions
We like the Outlaw platform even more now than when we first reviewed it. The Gen 2 upgrades are worthwhile and well-implemented.
Plus, the Gen 2 Outlaw shoots well. The consistency of Muzzle Velocity is very good indeed.
And yes, the standard factory tune works very well when shooting those Baracuda Match pellets. The Diana Outlaw still delivers on its promise of being a capable shooter straight out of the box.
In addition, it can be fine-tuned for even better shot-to-shot consistency, or more power (take your choice) by simple adjustments to the hammer spring tension screw. But – as always – a chronograph is mandatory to measure the results of what you are doing.
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Diana Outlaw Gen2 PCP Air Rifle 0.22
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