A new Diana Stormrider Sport is coming soon. There’s three versions and I predict that one will become the ideal winter basement gun for those of us living in the frozen North!
Of course, the Stormrider platform itself has been a long-lasting part of the PCP air rifle scene in the USA. It’s become an ideal introductory model, converting a large number of airgun shooters to the benefits of PCPs.
Hard Air Magazine has reviewed the Stormrider in the past, it’s a Gold Award winner for its combination of quality, performance and value.
So what’s new about the Stormrider Sport?
Well, the Stormrider has always been one of the few PCP air rifles supplied with open sights. But now open-sight enthusiasts will be delighted to see that the Sport includes front and rear tunnel peep sights. These offer the potential for considerably-enhanced accuracy without the use of optical sighting equipment.
The rear sight is click-adjustable for elevation and windage corrections. Up-front, the built-in silencer of other Stormriders is removed and replaced by a barrel weight and tunnel sight accepting interchangeable elements.
The Stormrider Sport is – of course – based on the Gen 2 version of the platform, so it includes a built-in regulator. There’s a 9-shot magazine and single shot tray bundled with the product, too.
Stormrider Sport Versions
The Sport is to be available in both .177 and .22 caliber versions, at the same power levels as the existing model. That’s a Muzzle Energy of up to about 20 Ft/Lbs in the smaller caliber and 26 Ft/Lbs in the larger.
But it’s the third version that’s the most interesting to me…
This version combines .177 caliber with low power – just 5.5 Ft/Lbs. It’s effectively the German home market gun as that’s the national power limit (7.5 Joules) for airguns.
What? Low power is good?
Yes, I believe that – in this case – the low power model will be the ideal winter basement gun for those who need to retreat inside during inclement weather for some quality trigger time. This is the model I find most exciting!
Twenty plus Ft/Lbs can actually be a big disadvantage for this type of use. It’s waaay too much power for use in the 10-Yard ranges we have in our basements or garages. Plus – as the gun is unsilenced – the full power models will require ear defenders for indoor use and will undoubtedly disturb other occupants of the (until then) happy home…
Plus, that 5.5 Ft/Lb Muzzle Energy is going to result in about a Zillion consistent shots per fill of High Pressure Air. And good-quality .177 caliber wadcutter pellets are readily-available and inexpensive.
And how about the Stormrider Sport paired with an Air Venturi Bell Target? That’s just a suggestion for hours of indoor winter fun.
Now I don’t know the US selling price for the Sport will be. But it’s pretty-well guaranteed that it will be rather higher than the current models (quality peep sights never have been cheap).
However, I’m guessing that the price will be attractive and definitely much, much below that of alternative peep-sighted winter basement air rifles. (Think Crosman Challenger at $1K).
HAM hopes to bring you a review of the ideal basement air rifle soon…
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