AIR RIFLE REVIEW: A CLASS OF ITS OWN

Created on 14th May 2009

MARK CAMOCCIO says the Diana Model 52 is airgun royalty in both looks and performance

THE TERM ‘quality adult airguns' clearly defines a sector of the market. It's an umbrella label which distinguishes between high-class, serious products and budget hardware. It also perfectly sums up my test rifle here - the Diana Model 52. If you're in the market for a sporting air rifle that's built to last and capable of half-decent accuracy then this big beauty demands consideration. Mayer & Grammelspacher, the German manufacturer behind the Diana brand, brought airgunners the legendary Original 45 back in the 1980s and so knows all about large-frame sporters.

Not for the faint-hearted, the 52 is a traditionally-made adults-only spring-powered rifle. I say adults-only because at 44" in length and weighing nearly 9lb the 52 is a real handful. The effort required to cock the action is also fairly significant so small-framed youngsters would certainly find it a struggle.

Features

Although this Diana boasts several stand-out features, it's mainly the action configuration that catches the eye. Side-lever cocking seems out of fashion these days but it's present on the 52 - and not without merit. Having the cocking arm fixed to the side of the action allows for a completely solid and therefore rigid forend. With no lever hanging beneath the barrel the rifle takes on a more streamlined profile. Less stress is imparted to the barrel with no lever to be retained and clipped at the muzzle.

The action is side-lever operated but the sliding breech is HW77/TX200 territory. Fixed-barrel accuracy is the goal, but there's a trade-off: sliding breech designs mean that once the lever has been pulled back (compressing the mainspring and engaging the trigger sears) fingers have to be put into harm's way to feed lead directly into the barrel. For peace of mind I would recommend holding the lever while chambering a pellet.

The action design incorporates an internal safety mechanism. It works via large teeth which lock the piston in position while the rifle is being cocked, to avoid fingers being caught in the action. This requires the depression of a side button/tab to lower the teeth and allow the cocking lever to be returned to the closed position.

Despite the reassuringly solid engineering in this area it's still best practice to grip any cocking lever when loading this type of airgun. That said, it's a little awkward to grip the lever in this case given its length, especially when loading a pellet with the right hand. I'm sure once familiarity sets in loading should become easier, but in my case years of safety programming takes some overriding.

An automatic safety catch is also fitted. This is very refined in operation, not to mention being manually re-settable. It is a welcome addition, sitting to the rear of the action. Finish to the 52 is extremely good, despite the subtle use of plastics here and there. A lustrous chemical blueing is applied to all the metalwork and is of Mayer & Grammelspacher's usual high standard.

Plastic is used for the trigger, trigger guard, safety catch, cylinder cap and foresight - all of which are very well-executed. The foresight in particular is a triumph of modern moulding and is both crisply formed and easy on the eye. The clever shaping even allows for the front sight blade to be height-adjusted by sliding it along the rail. With a large diameter bull barrel up front, the Model 52 has a robust feel and fine balance.
The two-stage trigger unit, on the other hand, is not something to get too excited about. What it is, though, is about par for the course for this type of gun. A plastic trigger blade probably doesn't do performance any favours and partly explains the ‘dead' feel I detected with the release. The final let-off is not overly heavy, though, and is better than a good many others.

Woodwork

The woodwork supplied was very fine indeed despite being fashioned from humble beech. With beautiful graining showing through a matte lacquer finish and deep-cut chequering adorning the pistol grip and forend, the timber is impressive. Good grip is assured out in the field and with the sleek, extended forend design handling is right up there too. Obviously the weight distribution is technically unbalanced, with a large lever and tensioning bar offset on the right-hand side of the action. In practice, though, this goes unnoticed - it certainly didn't cause me any problems.

The .22 action was fed a diet of Daystate FT pellets and Dynamit Nobel Superdomes. Over a 30yd distance a clear favourite soon emerged. The FTs managed reasonable groups just shy of ¾" but the Domes took the plaudits, with ½" clusters the norm. Chronograph readings were remarkably consistent with both pellet brands (5fps and 8fps variation respectively) over a 10-shot string. With average energy levels identical at 11ft/lb apiece, the 52 is clearly up to the job. In fact, it's better than that. Diana's status as a pedigree brand and this model's superb engineering and build quality mean it's a real investment. I'd suggest you try before you buy, though, as the weight and cocking method will not suit all.

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