Diana How a stormrider should be

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Dr. Kralenstein

Dr. Kralenstein

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Apr 14, 2022
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The Laboratory, United States
Figured since I couldn't sell this for even 200 shipped, I would cut it down and make it how it should come from the factory.

The allure of the stormrider is that is compact and light. Problem is, it's still 41" with the factory moderator.

I took off 4.5" of barrel and bought a TKO for a crosman since they're 7/16" barrel and the diana has a 12mm barrel. I just bored the TKO out till it slipped snug over the freshly crowned barrel.

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It now sits at 36.5" OAL, and regulated down to 90 psi, it's getting almost 50 mouse fart shots at 10.5 fpe. Still capable of 24 fpe with the shortened barrel, but this will be a low power pester.

Any other stormrider/SPA 900 owners feel free to post up pics here if you'd like!
 
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Dr. Kralenstein said:
Figured since I couldn't sell this for even 200 shipped, I would cut it down and make it how it should come from the factory.

The allure of the stormrider is that is compact and light. Problem is, it's still 41" with the factory moderator.

I took off 4.5" of barrel and bought a TKO for a crosman since they're 7/16" barrel and the diana has a 12mm barrel. I just bored the TKO out till it slipped snug over the freshly crowned barrel.

View attachment 499671

It now sits at 36.5" OAL, and regulated down to 90 psi, it's getting almost 50 mouse fart shots at 10.5 fpe. Still capable of 24 fpe with the shortened barrel, but this will be a low power pester.

Any other stormrider/SPA 900 owners feel free to post up pics here if you'd like!
Click to expand...
did you mean 90 psi..or was that supposed to be 900 psi? just curious because I would think at 90 psi you would see a rainbow arc of the pellets dropping to the floor before a 10 m target 🤔
I'll totally believe you since I highly regard everything you post, just seems awful low psi to get 10 fpe.
Mark
 
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markhooper said:
did you mean 90 psi..or was that supposed to be 900 psi? just curious because I would think at 90 psi you would see a rainbow arc of the pellets dropping to the floor before a 10 m target 🤔
I'll totally believe you since I highly regard everything you post, just seems awful low psi to get 10 fpe.
Mark
Click to expand...
90 Bar perhaps?
 
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markhooper said:
did you mean 90 psi..or was that supposed to be 900 psi? just curious because I would think at 90 psi you would see a rainbow arc of the pellets dropping to the floor before a 10 m target 🤔
I'll totally believe you since I highly regard everything you post, just seems awful low psi to get 10 fpe.
Mark
Click to expand...
Whoops! I meant 90 BAR.
 
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Dr. Kralenstein said:
Not sure, but it has better accuracy now than it did with the factory full length and crown.
Click to expand...
you can push a pellet through and if choked it would obviously be tighter at the muzzle end. just was curious.. my notos, I didn't care,it was way too long for a pistol, kinda still is at 16" but better than 22" and well like you said, shoots better than factory..
I turned a nice crown on my lathe and then polished it in the lathe with a die grinder attachment in the tool holder with a fine stone..
Mark
 
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Dr. Kralenstein said:
Figured since I couldn't sell this for even 200 shipped, I would cut it down and make it how it should come from the factory.

The allure of the stormrider is that is compact and light. Problem is, it's still 41" with the factory moderator.

I took off 4.5" of barrel and bought a TKO for a crosman since they're 7/16" barrel and the diana has a 12mm barrel. I just bored the TKO out till it slipped snug over the freshly crowned barrel.

View attachment 499671

It now sits at 36.5" OAL, and regulated down to 90 psi, it's getting almost 50 mouse fart shots at 10.5 fpe. Still capable of 24 fpe with the shortened barrel, but this will be a low power pester.

Any other stormrider/SPA 900 owners feel free to post up pics here if you'd like!
Click to expand...
What size groups does it shoot now? Do you think it is the shorter barrel or the lower energy causing the beter accuracy?

I reduced my wife's PR900 from 26fpe to 20fpe by using a lighter spring only. I also made an extra barrel band. With 14gr pellets it is shooting better 25 meter groups now but it can still improve. With the factory silencer it is quiet enough.
 
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Caliber 22 said:
What size groups does it shoot now? Do you think it is the shorter barrel or the lower energy causing the beter accuracy?

I reduced my wife's PR900 from 26fpe to 20fpe by using a lighter spring only. I also made an extra barrel band. With 14gr pellets it is shooting better 25 meter groups now but it can still improve. With the factory silencer it is quiet enough.
Click to expand...
I think i had a bad crown and also added the extra barrel band.
 
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Rain said:
These Stormriders/pr900 aren't that easy to work on. Obviously not designed with tuners in mind. Ordered one for a friend and first planning to set the regulator to less pressure. Decided it was too much hassle and it was consistent enough for him but only 21 shots on a fill.
Click to expand...
There is hardly any meat on the barrel or valve to do any porting, and the hammer spring is far too long. In 22, they're almost a cliff shot string at the standard 3000 psi pressure.
 
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Rain said:
How much windings should be cut for a better shot string? That should be easy to do and saves a lot of wasted air.
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I haven't clipped the spring yet, but im sure a few coils off would help. The other issue is no power adjuster are available for them. Would have to make one to really get it right.

I will probably experiment with different springs before cutting this one down.
 
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Dr. Kralenstein said:
I will probably experiment with different springs before cutting this one down.
Click to expand...
I always keep the original parts and try to source or make replacement parts for modifications, then I can revert to the what worked before.

There is a aluminium spacer that also keep the spring straight. If you remove and store that it already reduce the speed and power a lot. No need to cut the spring.
 
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graycrait said:
@Dr. Kralenstein ,
Please post your findings as I was just about to degas my Stormrider and remove the Altaros regulator I have in it and change the reg setting.
Click to expand...
Haven't changed the reg, seems after I shot it some more it stopped leaking. I did notice my fill port was hissing a bit so I added some oil and it's okay for now.
 
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Got the buck rail tactical kit for the rifle. I had the side folder kit for another project that came and went, so I slapped that on there with a Shockwave slim buttstock.

1000010295.jpg
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Now I need to cut the barrel down another 2 inches so it's flush with the hand guard and front gauge. It's currently at 35". Will probably buy a smaller scope for it too now.

Super light weight and handy. Plus I won't have to be as gentle with it and will probably leave it out in the garage for quick grab pesting.
 
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83.jpg


Went down that route many many moons ago. Back then the max we were dealt was the 25.4 Knockouts. Had them running just up to the wall, so it sure can be done - yes even on the stock barrel length.
But truth be told, the Stormrider is a rather weak design all said and have sure moved on since.

11.jpg


That being said though after that Stormrider (n yet a few) i came to convert a "lowly" CP-2 to HPA. Sporting an approx 300cc tank and what not. On the "carbine barrel" the thing made 90J easy and truth be told i for one at least think Snowpeak should have put this one into production. An absolute 100% "truck gun" if ever.
Main issue with it, really, was that it´s downright to light. So when bench shooting the thing, albeit a pcp, the thing jumps around a bit to much for comfort.
 
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@Racing , As an old air gun Noob with a Stormrider what about its design as a PCP do you consider "weak" vs what other PCP design(s). I currently have an early 2-piece stock AA S200, FX Streamline and a Notos besides the Stormrider, with a Reximex RP inbound from PA shortly. Would you consider any of those a "strong" design and why? Just an old guy trying to learn something new here before the long nap:)
 
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