Hi Chris, You are a smashing fella, and it was great to meet you at the NEC Shooting Show a couple of weekends ago. One of my intentions at the show surprisingly enough, was to try this Diana air rifle on the shooting range, which I was lucky enough to do. This Diana air rifle works on what's called a sliding sledge system, and Diana's aim is to take out the recoil part of shooting this spring gun. I think Air Arms once upon a time made an air rifle that worked on the same principle, though they ceased manufacturing some time ago. Without doubt this to me is a beautiful air rifle with machining, manufacture excellence. Like you, I thought it was a good fair wrench to cock the action. With great respect to Diana, I prefer an underlever cocking circle rather than pull a very strong lever to the side. I found the last twenty per cent of the pull really tough. Eventhough there's a sledge system here, there is still a fair belt when you pull the trigger. I especially liked the press down safety catch in the comparison to Air Arms rocker type safety catch. Even though the rifle is heavy, there is a great area underneath the fore end for a shoulder strap attachment. Take note of this, though. Care must be taken before shooting, not to lift the barrel end up. If the sledge slides back, then the whole concept of the sliding sledge system is lost. This is a fine air rifle with machining, manufacturing excellence, oozing quality. You'll need to be a strong person to use this unit for hunting, but with practice will be deadly accurate. An awareness of artillary hold and holding the air rifle the same way every time would be a must, I would have thought. A quality air rifle. Try before you buy!
Ian. It was a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you so much for your time, it was so nice to get to know about your shooting history and to catch up with you. Yes, several people have said similar things to your insight regarding these types of guns.... I was not aware of this technology! I still have much to learn.... Still, Rome wasn't built in a day. Take care!
@southwestshooters Hi Chris, Thank you for your message and compliments. I watched your footage and then commented straight away. I hadn't read some of the other messages. These guys know their stuff, no question, and very interesting reading their comments. It was only after I realised that I had been talking to the MD of Diana at the show. He encouraged me to go and have a shoot with the Air King Pro on the range. As I told you, I have health issues, concerns, uncertainties, though much to be grateful for. I have springers and I thought it silly to get another. If you remember, and I know you will, I quoted you an extract from an air rifling book by J D J Braithwaite, I think called The Airgunners Companion? In this book, Mr Braithwaite said Beware of the hunter with only one rifle. This means that if a hunter only has one rifle and uses the same one every time, he'll know exactly how to shoot it. Rather than having eight or ten and not really knowing how any of them shoot, lol. I adore each of my air rifles. They all shoot differently, and I own each one of them for a different reason. I've wanted them all my life. It would be silly to buy another. The Diana 54 Air King Pro is a fantastic air rifle. It's beautifully made and workmanship, engineering genius. It's heavy and tough to cock. One man's junk is another man's treasure! What does for someone, ain't no good for another. Anyone fancying one, buy one! You won't be disappointed. Take care!
Air arms Chris did the same system it was tx 200 sr I had one probably to expensive to keep producing should have kept it it was about 30 years ago the park 91 was better to pistons travelling head on that I loved but finding someone to work on one was impossible when Carl packed up at Barnsley gun shop. the diana sledge system is around 30 years old as well never had one but who knows. Try to get hold of a whiscome for testing they were the daddy but I could never afford one of those keep testing your doing great
@@redpillnibbler4423 hello the whiscome was designed and made by mr whiscome my memory is up to speed as I'm getting on a bit I think is name was john an incredible air rifle but never fired one very expensive but hand built
A weird we gun there but if it works. I have a park air gun rh91. Park only made a few air guns in the early 90s just before pcp became popular. But they had a double spring and were recoilless. If u get a chance try one. They are hard to come by but a great air gun. Thanks for the video real good presentation
very interesting gun indeed mate . great target gun i would say and if your into springers but find them hard to shoot but don’t want tge faf if a bottle and all the gear that goes with a pcp great choice 👍
Bench, heavy, difficult to cock, a scope killer, recoilless, quality, expensive, springe, and accurate. I have the Diana Airking Pro .177 in beech. My kids with Diana 34's from the 90's kept up fairly well with me. They had the irons, and I had the scope. No misses for me but those Diana 34's are impressive for a lot less money. Must digress, I did let the kids shoot the 54, yes, they liked it more than the 34's. I believe the biggest con is the cocking effort on the 54. It's the only sidelever I have tried and wonder if the angle is awkward compared to an underlever or break barrel?
I remember a Bowkett recoiless springer (about 35 years ago?) which utilised opposing spring pistons effectively cancelling out recoil.I don’t remember what happened to it,it didn’t seem to remain on the market for very long.Interesting though.
Nothing new here, feinwerkbau and diana have been making stuff like this for decades. Very nice rifle though, on my radar but id go for the regular 54 as the lam stock is an eyesore.
Great review thank you . For those that like springers ! this must be a must buy .... A fab looking n shooting rifle ... cheers Si
Hi Chris, You are a smashing fella, and it was great to meet you at the NEC Shooting Show a couple of weekends ago.
One of my intentions at the show surprisingly enough, was to try this Diana air rifle on the shooting range, which I was lucky enough to do.
This Diana air rifle works on what's called a sliding sledge system, and Diana's aim is to take out the recoil part of shooting this spring gun.
I think Air Arms once upon a time made an air rifle that worked on the same principle, though they ceased manufacturing some time ago.
Without doubt this to me is a beautiful air rifle with machining, manufacture excellence. Like you, I thought it was a good fair wrench to cock the action.
With great respect to Diana, I prefer an underlever cocking circle rather than pull a very strong lever to the side. I found the last twenty per cent of the pull really tough.
Eventhough there's a sledge system here, there is still a fair belt when you pull the trigger. I especially liked the press down safety catch in the comparison to Air Arms rocker type safety catch.
Even though the rifle is heavy, there is a great area underneath the fore end for a shoulder strap attachment.
Take note of this, though. Care must be taken before shooting, not to lift the barrel end up. If the sledge slides back, then the whole concept of the sliding sledge system is lost.
This is a fine air rifle with machining, manufacturing excellence, oozing quality.
You'll need to be a strong person to use this unit for hunting, but with practice will be deadly accurate. An awareness of artillary hold and holding the air rifle the same way every time would be a must, I would have thought.
A quality air rifle. Try before you buy!
Ian. It was a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you so much for your time, it was so nice to get to know about your shooting history and to catch up with you. Yes, several people have said similar things to your insight regarding these types of guns.... I was not aware of this technology! I still have much to learn.... Still, Rome wasn't built in a day. Take care!
@southwestshooters Hi Chris, Thank you for your message and compliments.
I watched your footage and then commented straight away.
I hadn't read some of the other messages. These guys know their stuff, no question, and very interesting reading their comments.
It was only after I realised that I had been talking to the MD of Diana at the show. He encouraged me to go and have a shoot with the Air King Pro on the range.
As I told you, I have health issues, concerns, uncertainties, though much to be grateful for. I have springers and I thought it silly to get another.
If you remember, and I know you will, I quoted you an extract from an air rifling book by J D J Braithwaite, I think called The Airgunners Companion?
In this book, Mr Braithwaite said
Beware of the hunter with only one rifle. This means that if a hunter only has one rifle and uses the same one every time, he'll know exactly how to shoot it. Rather than having eight or ten and not really knowing how any of them shoot, lol.
I adore each of my air rifles. They all shoot differently, and I own each one of them for a different reason. I've wanted them all my life.
It would be silly to buy another.
The Diana 54 Air King Pro is a fantastic air rifle. It's beautifully made and workmanship, engineering genius.
It's heavy and tough to cock. One man's junk is another man's treasure! What does for someone, ain't no good for another. Anyone fancying one, buy one!
You won't be disappointed.
Take care!
Air arms Chris did the same system it was tx 200 sr I had one probably to expensive to keep producing should have kept it it was about 30 years ago the park 91 was better to pistons travelling head on that I loved but finding someone to work on one was impossible when Carl packed up at Barnsley gun shop. the diana sledge system is around 30 years old as well never had one but who knows. Try to get hold of a whiscome for testing they were the daddy but I could never afford one of those keep testing your doing great
I had never heard of a whiscome until i read your comment. It certainly looks like an interesting gun. It would be great to see one tested.
Was that designed by John Bowkett?
@@redpillnibbler4423 hello the whiscome was designed and made by mr whiscome my memory is up to speed as I'm getting on a bit I think is name was john an incredible air rifle but never fired one very expensive but hand built
Awesome rifle. Just purchased a HW30S with Hawk scope. You really got me wanting a springer. 🎯👍
Air Arms made a TX200 SR with the same sliding action but was under lever cocking
What happened to it I wonder? Sounds like a great rifle.
That's a nice looking springer. I have had my eye on this one. Great review as usual.
Seems a good idea....self shock absorbing....Nice video thanks.
Its scope absorbing 😂 its the worst scope killer in the world
Great looking gun and great shooting Christopher 👍🏻
Amazing gun really its so good I love it very accurate
A weird we gun there but if it works. I have a park air gun rh91. Park only made a few air guns in the early 90s just before pcp became popular. But they had a double spring and were recoilless. If u get a chance try one. They are hard to come by but a great air gun. Thanks for the video real good presentation
very interesting gun indeed mate . great target gun i would say and if your into springers but find them hard to shoot but don’t want tge faf if a bottle and all the gear that goes with a pcp great choice 👍
Thanks for showing.
Bench, heavy, difficult to cock, a scope killer, recoilless, quality, expensive, springe, and accurate. I have the Diana Airking Pro .177 in beech. My kids with Diana 34's from the 90's kept up fairly well with me. They had the irons, and I had the scope. No misses for me but those Diana 34's are impressive for a lot less money. Must digress, I did let the kids shoot the 54, yes, they liked it more than the 34's. I believe the biggest con is the cocking effort on the 54. It's the only sidelever I have tried and wonder if the angle is awkward compared to an underlever or break barrel?
That needs a guard to ensure no sliced finger tips!
Try an Original Model 75, if you can find one, two pistons opposing each other. Admittedly it’s 10M match rifle, but very accurate.
I remember a Bowkett recoiless springer (about 35 years ago?) which utilised opposing spring pistons effectively cancelling out recoil.I don’t remember what happened to it,it didn’t seem to remain on the market for very long.Interesting though.
I think bowkets where made to order
@@garryhewett9629
Can’t remember,too long ago.
I would not accept a plastic trigger guard. Thanks for pointing that out. Anyone know if the TX200 has metal or plastic trigger guard?
gerof me you little ship?
Spa/smk have a side lever rifle springer, under 200 pounds
Aar did this 22 weeks ago.
Nothing new here, feinwerkbau and diana have been making stuff like this for decades. Very nice rifle though, on my radar but id go for the regular 54 as the lam stock is an eyesore.
Mate, a way to improve your production value is to not stretch the inset out of proportion. That screams amateur!
Lefted target another place shoot grouping no value.