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Diana mod 54 airking pro for FT

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zmpedras

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Oct 26, 2023
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Hello guys, i was looking to buy an air rifle to enter in the Spring category, apart from the popular TX200 and few others like HW97 ,walther LGV...something got my attention...the Diana airking pro 54...with that semi recoiless system.
I saw the world championship sheet and not even 1 of this rifles is in the category...and I'm wondering why...if it have kinda like PCP accuracy....the problem must be from the system itself?
Can it break scopes? Or maybe is bc it move backwards and the eye can't be close enough to the scope in the moment we pull the trigger?
What's the real reason this gun is not been used for HFT or FT?
Thanks
 
If I had one I would use it, the problem with the 54 is it’s too powerful. Most people like a springer that shoots between 10 and 15 ftlbs. That 54 will be making 20+ ftlbs depending on the pellet you pick. They are also not as popular with shooters as I think a lot of people overlook the 54 for the hw97 and TX200, I know I did. I purchased 5 TX200’s and a HW77 before I got a Diana 48. I just figured the extra cost or the TX, and HW would result in a better gun. However I was wrong, my 48 is just as good as the TX and HW. I do not actually own a 54 but I will definitely be buying one once someplace gets them back in stock. But that’s another problem because Diana is discontinuing some of their rifles to include the model 48, hopefully the 54 does not go next. I enjoy the side lever action, anyway

And with the 54 being as much money as the TX and HW I don’t think it will hang on 😪

If I ran Diana I would have brought back the 52 with a laminated stock and offered it in .177, .20, .22, and .25 and dropped the 48 and the 54.
 
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If you find a 54 with "PCP accuracy", buy two and send one to me. Air Arms used to make a semi-recoilless TX200, but even the accuracy of the TX platform combined with a semi-recoilless action couldn't overcome the fiddleyness of the sled system. The 54 sled is less fiddly, but the gun is generally considered to be less accurate than a TX and it takes some work to get it to shoot consistently at FT power levels.
If you want a recoilless springer for FT, go fill some paperwork out at the bank and get a Whiscombe. Otherwise, it's cheaper and easier to get a well tuned TX200 or HW97 and learn to shoot with a little bit of thump.
 
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zmpedras said:
Hello guys, i was looking to buy an air rifle to enter in the Spring category, apart from the popular TX200 and few others like HW97 ,walther LGV...something got my attention...the Diana airking pro 54...with that semi recoiless system.
I saw the world championship sheet and not even 1 of this rifles is in the category...and I'm wondering why...if it have kinda like PCP accuracy....the problem must be from the system itself?
Can it break scopes? Or maybe is bc it move backwards and the eye can't be close enough to the scope in the moment we pull the trigger?
What's the real reason this gun is not been used for HFT or FT?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Hector Medina shot the 2024 worlds, and he used a D54. He has been using a D54 for a long time (except 2023). The gun he uses is modified to meet the 12fpe WFTF power limit and a few other modifications of his own. The D54 is known to eat scopes, but that can be mitigated with zero recoil scope mounts. Hector also reworks the zero recoil scope mounts to be a more reliable system. If you are interested in shooting a D54 for field target, you should contact Hector and see if he can get you setup with a gun that has the necessary features to make it a viable option for FT.

You can contact Hector here: https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/contact-us.html
 
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Ok, I have a 54 in .22 that is very accurate. I bought it used and at 20 meters it was a 2 inch gun. I had John Thomas of Pa tune it. That made it a 1 inch gun.Then I heard that Hector Medenez made a tuner. Ha, I was one of the first PB short range guys to use tuners, love them. Hector made me a tuner and now it's 1/4 inch gun at 20 meters for a good 5 shot group. Just looks like s black hole. I am a 2 oz, break like an icicle, trigger guy. My 54 is not that trigger but it's not terrible. Now that I am use to it I am ok with it. I also have a very accurate TX with a very good trigger. If I could only have 1 of the two guns it would be a tough choice. When I buy a 54 in .177, its on my list, I will contact Nitrocrushr on this forum and see If I can talk him into one of his Super Tune tune ups. I would be fine with a 54 if I tried Field Target.
 
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Motorhead said:
Personally witnessed several folks these past 12+ years who were known VERY EXPERIENCED field target shooters attempt using said rifle .... No one did that well and stuck using them for the FT game as planned.
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Similar here in AZ. Only know of one guy who gave it a good effort with a Diana sled springer. He's a very skilled shooter and typically does very well. For the couple of years I saw him campaigning the Diana sled gun, seems it was broken and back at Hectors place for repairs more often than it was functional. He's been using a TX200 more recently, and doing well with it.
 
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2014 and 2015, I was shooting a Diana 54 in AAFTA Hunter Division and Open Division. I won a few GP matches, including the National Match in Open, and a couple of overall GP Championships in Hunter and Open.

It was setup to shoot JSB 10.3gr at a little over 900fps. So 19 or 20fpe. Didn’t have the absolute precision of a 12fpe TX200, but it could hang with PCPs, especially on tough, windy courses.
 
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Scotchmo said:
I also remember Jeff Carmello shooting his full power Diana 54 about the same time that I was.

He also won quite a few matches. He was the 2015 AAFTA Hunter Piston GP Champion and the 2016 USARB (piston 50yd benchrest) National Champion.
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Thinking the last time I saw Jeff was at the 2015 Cal State Championship at the CASA facility. Always remember his color striped barrel shroud, see that it's Jeff !!
 
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I've often used red-heads as an analogy when describing sproinger quirks, foibles and idiosyncrasies, and trying to deal with same. Surely complicating the mechanics of airguns that undergo a violent chain of mechanical events right in front of your face every time you trip the trigger couldn't be any more catastrophic than attempting to seduce a psychotic red-head... :unsure:

With amphetamines! :oops:

Don't ask how I know.

.
 
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We will see...just need a range to sight in
IMG_4623.jpeg
2017 az 3 JW Shooting.jpg
 
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