Diana Diana 48 stuck in time?

I believe Ray Apelles used a bullpup Diana side lever in FT competition very successfully.

I would love to see a commercially available version.

muradtexas said:

Ok, here's what I don't get. The entire compressed-gas airgun world has gone bullpup, it is so obviously the flavor of post-2010 airgun history. And for understandable reasons, many springers are not. But if there was a design that lends itself to bullpup configuration and shorter barrels, it's a side-lever springer, and there is no more iconic design than RWS/Diana 48.

So why is it that the gun is still the same clunky springer with terrible iron sights that it was decades ago? The action is a gem waiting to be discovered, and Diana just sells them as is like they don't have a unique opportunity to create a groundbreaking platform.

Has anyone tried putting that thing in a bullpup stock? What am I missing?

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I was thinking about similar things.. not had a bull pup myself but the Diana 54 air king is recoilless and of course heavier so it seems like it would be lighter with less stock and the action back near the shoulder.. don't seem like it would be a big deal for the trigger and safety to get linkage.
I had a Diana 48 in 22 back 30 years ago when they were RWS Diana 48 and used to be lifetime warranty just like the Beeman P1.. now I wonder if the quality is still there since they are only 2 year warranty?
seems like mine had a metal trigger and metal sights, haven't seen the new ones but I read the sights and trigger are plastic..
I was actually thinking about making a bull pup recently but I don't have time to do the stock..
Mark

DeanB said:

My 48s work just fine the way they are, I did chop the barrel on one .22 but I personally think bull pups suck. Awkward to carry around, feel awkward when shouldering etc. I do have one bull pup the Benj Akela and while its super accurate I still dont care for the stock.
Bull pups are pretty much a pcp thing and should stay that way. jmho

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having never shot a bull pup if agree..I was basically trying to think of a way to get the weight of a 54 air king down to a 48 I suppose there's got to be other ways to shave weight.. maybe synthetic stock to replace the beautiful wood one.. myself that's a downgrade..
Mark

Lewis said:

I believe Ray Apelles used a bullpup Diana side lever in FT competition very successfully.

I would love to see a commercially available version.



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looks like a 48/52/54 or possibly a 56? someone probably knows for sure but either way it is the same action..48 is the same as 54 but the 54 has a rail recoil reduction.. the 56 doesn't have open sights..
the one he is using must have something different as far as the shroud because I have not seen a silver one.. I like shiny so I was disappointed that the stainless version of the P1 is only the frame id want the whole thing silver
Mark

markhooper said:

looks like a 48/52/54 or possibly a 56? someone probably knows for sure but either way it is the same action..48 is the same as 54 but the 54 has a rail recoil reduction.. the 56 doesn't have open sights..
the one he is using must have something different as far as the shroud because I have not seen a silver one.. I like shiny so I was disappointed that the stainless version of the P1 is only the frame id want the whole thing silver
Mark

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I have shot in a match when Ray was using that rifle. It's a 54 but is so heavily modified it might be hard to call it that now. It has a solenoid trigger and battery system that cranks the weight up to about 20 lbs. with the scope IIRC. I think with the mods he did he had to abandon the recoilless action which went against what he was really hoping for (again IIRC).

Putting a 48/52 into a bullpup stock is not difficult, the linkage to the trigger is simple and the saftey is not effected.
I wouldn’t use a 54/56, too heavy (I have one of each).
The difficult part is going to be fitting the scope mounts, it would need to sit over loading port.

muradtexas said:

I think the rear sight assembly has screw holes that may be used.

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Those screw hole size would never hold up to the recoil. The scope mount would just fall off after just a couple of shots.

Every 48/52 that I ever shot was way over sprung. A proper tune is a necessity before considering any stock alterations.