Diana 52 Air Rifle

This is heavy, well-designed and powerful air rifle. It is accurate as well. I can easily punch the same hole at 25 meters. I have owned it for over 10 years.

It is heavy...over 10 pounds with the Leapers scope and mount. I would not want to lug it through the woods small game hunting. I have had issues where the cocking mechanism binds up. I RMA'd the first one for this. The replacement does the same thing. It must be a defect with the design.

With RWS .22 Superpoint or Superdome pellets, it will shoot clean through a squirrel. Be aware of your backstop. I switched to the RWS hollow points for this reason.

The Diana model 52 is heavy, beautiful steel and wood, unlike much of the plastic airguns sold today. The weight is similar to a military bolt action rifle, yes, it IS heavy, but I find it a benefit when shooting offhand. If you are used to lugging scoped deer rifles afield, the model 52's weight won't be an issue. If you are only used to shooting a plastic stocked BB gun, yes, you will find this heavy. The more you handle this weapon, the stronger you will become. Super accurate with open sights, amazingly so! After I locktight the screws and put a 1,000 rounds through it to break it in, I'll add a UTG mount and Bug buster scope. I love the rifle, it's a quality weapon, easier to cock than the 350 Magnum. The .22 pellets hit hard from this gun. I used it yesterday to take out an overly aggressive Rooster who's time had come. Perfect gun for a suburban neighborhood where one doesn't want to scare the neighbors, but wants an accurate and powerful target / pest control weapon.

If I had it to do over, I would have ordered the Vortek spring and had it installed by Pyramid Air. If you are going to spend $500 on a premium airgun, what's another $100 or after so? The Diana spring is fine as it is, but at some point in the future, I'll but the Vortek spring assembly and install it and keep the original Diana spring, etc. as spare parts. This rifle should last me the rest of my life.

My first Diana, a model 45 .177, was purchased 30 years ago. Diana's are Great guns, built better than many actual firearms are. I stupidly sold it, but I knew I would get a .22 Diana someday (3 decade delay due to a now ex-wife! LOL!), as the .22 pellets hit SO much harder than .177's and I often need to shoot varmints around the house and barn. German craftsmanship... tough to beat. My next big decision, a .22 Diana 34 or hunt for a vintage model 27...

Absolutely beautiful rifle and shoots just great as she looks. I have the .22 cal model and it's one of my most accurate rifles. Mine happens to prefer the Air Arms Diabolo pellets in 16g. Great for targets and an excellent hunting rifle. I highly recommend this rifle to anyone looking for a heirloom quality rifle that's not only a joy to shoot but can be passed down to future generations.

Nothing, love this rifle.

If your going to scope this rifle, get good mounts. I used the UTG droop compensation weaver adaptor to mount a Hawke Sidewinder 30. Very solid and has yet to slip. T06 trigger is excellent, I left mine at its stock settings.