Diana 54 unknown screw
- Thread starter M38A1
- Start date
OK, I think this has been a great mental exercise for everyone and there's some good logic and fact behind this analysis....
I think we're all on board the subject screw is NOT a scope stop screw. Rather, it's a screw to plug a hole in the rail for a peep sight. And I think the pictures provided by FixedFlinger's D54 match what I'm looking at on my D54 and the unknown screw.
What I can't figure out is, where in the heck was this thing hiding and why did it all of a sudden appear after a shot? Man, there's zero clearance for that to have been in the hole with the scope base affixed. And my scope base is TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT on the rail. I'm wondering now as another member posted if it was sitting/wedged/affixed some place on the rifle and came off. But I really looked this thing over before my shots so I didn't see anything out of place at that time.
I'll go out and fire off a few to see what happens. I certainly don't think it's a critical operational part that came out.
Will report back later this evening on how the shooting went. Thx!
I think we're all on board the subject screw is NOT a scope stop screw. Rather, it's a screw to plug a hole in the rail for a peep sight. And I think the pictures provided by FixedFlinger's D54 match what I'm looking at on my D54 and the unknown screw.
What I can't figure out is, where in the heck was this thing hiding and why did it all of a sudden appear after a shot? Man, there's zero clearance for that to have been in the hole with the scope base affixed. And my scope base is TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT on the rail. I'm wondering now as another member posted if it was sitting/wedged/affixed some place on the rifle and came off. But I really looked this thing over before my shots so I didn't see anything out of place at that time.
I'll go out and fire off a few to see what happens. I certainly don't think it's a critical operational part that came out.
Will report back later this evening on how the shooting went. Thx!
Upvote 0
In your 3ed picture showing the scope mounted would he of screwed it in the remaining threads of the base hole on the right side just to keep it handy or like a storage spot? Then not noticing that it just fell out and there your guessing ? If it threaded in that id do somthing like that to keep the part with the gun .. ( the base screw holes just above the cocking lever)
Upvote 0
Most of the scope stop screw slippage on the Diana rails is due to using cone point set screws for scope stop screws.
If your mount has cone point set screws, grind the ends of them flat so that they seat fully on the bottom surface of the scope stop hole and you will eliminate the walking and gouging.
If your mount has cone point set screws, grind the ends of them flat so that they seat fully on the bottom surface of the scope stop hole and you will eliminate the walking and gouging.
Upvote 0
Look at the first pic in the above post to see what I was referring to.
Clearly a cone point set screw is to blame there.
Upvote 0
I just went over the gun and tried to find a place to put that peep sight cover screw. NoJoy. lol
But that was a GREAT idea!
Upvote 0
Well the good side is you do have the screw and its not lost. When if ever you wish you had it .. ya, nothing like the " where did that come from " then months from now youll wake up in the middle of the night and proclaim " oh thats where it was all that time"
Upvote 0
I have a 54 on order, so I can’t compare right now, but the placement makes me wonder: could this be a kind of “rail raiser shrew”?(you then have to loosen those in front a bit……)
Upvote 0
" a shooting 54 for $100 is a heck of a good deal" for $100 i might not have even ask if it worked , untill i paid and had it in hand . then ask .
Upvote 0
And that’s why I don’t use scope stop screws on my T05 guns. Chuck is correct that if you use one you need to file the end flat. What he posted about replacing the rail is the same info I gave you next door. I use the ZR mount on my 52, no recoil pin. Couple hundred shots since I put it on and it hasn’t moved.
Upvote 0
Cone or pointed stop
I guess i never had one like that ,but could easy see the damage that can cause by digging in , then all you can say is man this use to have a nice receiver ..lol.
I do think diana should of come up with somthing better + the shallow holes . Its not like there guns were easy on a scope to start with and then went with that rail..lol. then i guess it could be that washboard looking fwb thing.. that paramyd air link wnd the add on looks about safest secure .. i dont know.. then i guess the zero recoil mounts as well. Anyway more to the reason why i shoot sights springer scope chase got old fast ..
Upvote 0
You mean the Leapers base for the T05 guns? Dang near impossible to find. And had its own issues.
Upvote 0
That was a Just for example im sure there's others that can work out.. if you dont need droop correction or that screw clearance valley ( seeing his screw not in anyway.). I hate to think droop on a fixed barrel it s that problematic . Or the zero recoil mount andand hope it dont start to shift over time.. or new for that matter.. you know movment is movment..
Upvote 0
You probably already know this part about set screws
Cone point is the same as pointed where it pertains to set screws. Cone point is SAE speak for a pointed set screw. Flat ended set screws are dog points and cup set screws have a concave end. They really bite well, but leave marks where they seat..
I always used the Diana lockdown mounts and changed the set screws out for dog points, using the factory stop pin holes. I never had one walk or loosen up on 2 different 54s or a 460.
Setting the recoil sled tension up properly helps to mitigate the recoil forces generated in the 54 platform as well I believe, but that is not supported by fact, just a supposition.
Upvote 0
I’ve been told the drop was built in because they were meant to be shot with iron sights. Go figure. Now that so many use scopes they invent droop compensation mounts. Genius marketing! More options for the newer guns but the mounts made for the T06 trigger guns don’t fit the T05 guns the same way unfortunately. Looked at a lot of options and talked to some folks with a lot of Diana experience before going with the ZR mount. Mounted as Hector advised and no movement so far. One of my concerns was not buggering up the rail on a gun that would be really hard to replace. just check my screw torque occasionally and so far so good.
Upvote 0
Update #1 - You. Guys. Rock.
I had some time to take the D54 out today and shoot a little bit since my apprehension level was reduced significantly due to the responses that this unknown screw wasn't part of the trigger group and most probably an external screw filling a threaded void to mount a rear peep sight. So..... I took it out and setup a short 9 yard or so muzzle to target distance and sent some lead.
I just wanted to get a feel for what this beast was like. Using a large shooting bag as a platform, I had two pellet choices to use. Both tins were from about 1980 and included a HOBBY of unknown weight and a Benjamin HC also of unknown weight. I figured with the scope setup and an approximate 10m distance, this would be a good first outing for me.
Starting with the HOBBY pellet in the top left target, I squeezed off five shots. The first three I was quite pleased with and then two walked into near the same hole away from the first three. Hmmm. OK. At that close distance I certainly didn't feel I pulled them at all, but the target is what the target is.
Second round was using the Benjamin HC (High Compression as the label says). Man did they hit a different spot on the target but I wasn't so much concerned about that as I was just seeing what type of grouping I could get. Second shot walked up. Third shot walked up. Fourth shot walked up. I know I'm rusty, but this wasn't adding up in my head. After that fourth shot I thought the scope was closer to my eyeball and sure enough, the rear scope mount was 75% off the scope rail base! You guys weren't kidding when you said these D54's were tough beasts.
So I went ahead and slid the scope backwards and off the scope rail to continue shooting with the open sights.
Third round was the same Benjamin HC pellets but with the open sights factory to the rifle. I was kind of pleased with those although not near as 'tight' as the scoped HOBBY pellets.
The fourth and final round was the HOBBY pellets and still with the open sights.
Couple of observations.
1) This thing is a beast! Man it spits those .177 pills out quickly.
2) I had a blast with the first round and into the second inspite of not knowing why the spread kept opening up
3) I need to get a better mounting system because this could be a hoot at longer distances and the scope
When I was done shooting and since I had the scope base off the gun, I pulled out the unknown screw which was the basis of this thread. Sure enough, that's exactly where everyone said it should go! Threads were the same and the looks were the same. I can't express enough thanks for everyone who helped solve this part of the puzzle! (i still have zero idea where the screw was hiding the whole time. it certainly wasn't under the scope base)
Next up will be a different base to hold the scope in addition to getting the cocking lever to stay closed.
Thank you all thus far!
I had some time to take the D54 out today and shoot a little bit since my apprehension level was reduced significantly due to the responses that this unknown screw wasn't part of the trigger group and most probably an external screw filling a threaded void to mount a rear peep sight. So..... I took it out and setup a short 9 yard or so muzzle to target distance and sent some lead.
I just wanted to get a feel for what this beast was like. Using a large shooting bag as a platform, I had two pellet choices to use. Both tins were from about 1980 and included a HOBBY of unknown weight and a Benjamin HC also of unknown weight. I figured with the scope setup and an approximate 10m distance, this would be a good first outing for me.
Starting with the HOBBY pellet in the top left target, I squeezed off five shots. The first three I was quite pleased with and then two walked into near the same hole away from the first three. Hmmm. OK. At that close distance I certainly didn't feel I pulled them at all, but the target is what the target is.
Second round was using the Benjamin HC (High Compression as the label says). Man did they hit a different spot on the target but I wasn't so much concerned about that as I was just seeing what type of grouping I could get. Second shot walked up. Third shot walked up. Fourth shot walked up. I know I'm rusty, but this wasn't adding up in my head. After that fourth shot I thought the scope was closer to my eyeball and sure enough, the rear scope mount was 75% off the scope rail base! You guys weren't kidding when you said these D54's were tough beasts.
So I went ahead and slid the scope backwards and off the scope rail to continue shooting with the open sights.
Third round was the same Benjamin HC pellets but with the open sights factory to the rifle. I was kind of pleased with those although not near as 'tight' as the scoped HOBBY pellets.
The fourth and final round was the HOBBY pellets and still with the open sights.
Couple of observations.
1) This thing is a beast! Man it spits those .177 pills out quickly.
2) I had a blast with the first round and into the second inspite of not knowing why the spread kept opening up
3) I need to get a better mounting system because this could be a hoot at longer distances and the scope
When I was done shooting and since I had the scope base off the gun, I pulled out the unknown screw which was the basis of this thread. Sure enough, that's exactly where everyone said it should go! Threads were the same and the looks were the same. I can't express enough thanks for everyone who helped solve this part of the puzzle! (i still have zero idea where the screw was hiding the whole time. it certainly wasn't under the scope base)
Next up will be a different base to hold the scope in addition to getting the cocking lever to stay closed.
Thank you all thus far!
Upvote 0
Glad it’s shooting well. Do yourself a favor on a couple things. One, get some good heavy .177 pellets. H & N Barracuda Match 10.65 gr or H & N Field Target Trophy 8.64 gr would be a good starting point. Will save wear and tear on power plant and be more accurate. Believe Hector said similar next door. If you’re replacing the mount I suggest going ahead and getting the ZR mount. Built in droop compensation and save your scope. Might touch base with Hector about getting one of his Accurized mounts.
Upvote 0