Diana Which is a Better 10 Meter Air Rifle and Why do you think so Pls? Diana 75 or Walther LG55 Tyrolean stock

[vintageairguncollector@gm]

Hey Guys,

Please help me decide between these two great rifles. I cannot afford both. I am weighing the differences between Diana 75 and Walther LG55 with a Tyrolean stock.

Over the years I have used the Diana side cocking platform considerably, First I purchased a model 48. Then a recoiless 54 Air King (easy 1 hole accuracry) with 6x24 scope. Sold Air King 54 (mistake) . There is a gentleman offering Walther LG55 witha Tyrolean stock It is very lovely and very pricey. Another fine gentleman has Diana 75 for $ale, the co$t i$ le$$ then the Wather LG55? Any suggesstions, insights and/or personal experiences accummulated by usage are all welcome.

Thank you guys -- I know there are a few a very "accommplished" 10 Meter shooters. luring around here Again Thank you
Kindest Regards,

Randy

 

[Swissair]

Diana 75 is fully recoilless and far younger than the LG55 which isn't recoilless. With an LG55 you need to be careful with the piston seal, as the original synthetic washers crumble to dust. If the gun is then fired with no washer, the fixing screw for the seal gets hammered and finding a replacement is going to tax you. Otherewise the LG55 is probably easier to work on but you'll still need a spring compressor.

 

[kingfisher61]

IMO.....Giss gun. Recoiless. Plus totally cool!

 

[vintageairguncollector@gm]

Diana 75 is fully recoilless and far younger than the LG55 which isn't recoilless. With an LG55 you need to be careful with the piston seal, as the original synthetic washers crumble to dust. If the gun is then fired with no washer, the fixing screw for the seal gets hammered and finding a replacement is going to tax you. Otherewise the LG55 is probably easier to work on but you'll still need a spring compressor.

SwissAir, Great point about the cost to maintain, I am getting to the point there replacement parts are expensive for thr airgun and me too .


Thank you,

Randy

 

[olde grunt]

In my opinion the greatest 10m rifle ever made was the FWB 300 target rifles. The accuracy is stunning and the cost is relatively low in comparison. Just my two cents worth, i agree with an above comment taking into consideration parts available to repair should play a very large part in the decision

 

[vintageairguncollector@gm]

IMO.....Giss gun. Recoiless. Plus totally cool!

IMO I am really glad you shared your opinion, I do not have a Giss target rifle. Maybe I would miss that springer air rifle jumpy thing.
No, no doubt I won't miss the rifle moving while the pellet is still traveling down the barrel. Better call the Diana guy asap

 

[DualMagMike]

Not sure you could have come up with 2 more different rifles to compare. Tyrolean vs conventional, recoilless vs recoiling, break barrel vs sidelever. Also, the 75 came in several different stock & "sight" options so that's even more factors. Like most any rifle you'll have to decide which fits you better (if possible), some people do not like the fit of a Tyrolean stock and find it uncomfortable. As far as cost to repair goes, likely the 75 will be considerably more expensive and more difficult to find a qualified person to do it. Both are excellent but very different airguns.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

I own both, so here is my take.
Ease of shooting accurately- Diana 75
Ease of maintenance- Walther 55

The baseline accuracy between the two is a wash. They are both capable of shooting 10s assuming that both rifles are in good trim, and you do your part.

IF you decide to go with a Diana 75, it is imperative that you buy one that has been rebuilt competently. The GISS mechanism can be a chore to service, and if the rifle is fired while knackered you will be looking at replacing more than a fixing screw.
The Diana 75 is larger and heavier than the 55. The 75 stock is definitely target oriented while the 55 stock shows its sporter style roots.

Reference the post above by @DualMagMike, he knows stuff and he is not wrong.

 

[beerthief]

The Giss is difficult to work on (complicated ) The 55 is easy and simple . I do not work on guns , i send to people that do , Either gun would be great but given a choice i would buy the Giss recoilless . Tyrolean is only a wood stock not anything to do with the mechanics the 55 is a springer .
Yes i have both and shoot both .

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

Another consideration is your level of proficiency at 10M shooting.

The 75 is far more forgiving when fired, due to its recoilless nature. Your follow through, while still important, will be easier with the 75 VS the 55 due to the spring gun recoil of the 55.
While not violent and jumpy by any means, the Walther 55 still exhibits a measure of springer recoil and can upset your follow through if not accounted for .

 

[MDriskill]

If your goal is to make the highest scores in an actual competition, or shoot the tightest groups at home, the recoilless fixed-barrel D75 would be best. They came with a variety of stocks and ways to adjust balance, but note it's a large and heavy rifle no matter how you slice it. It has a fantastic trigger and even the simpler versions have an adjustable buttplate to help fit it to your frame.

If a more versatile, lighter gun is your thing, the LG 55 is a delightful little rifle, and the Tyro stock a rare and collectible beauty. Most came with a removable barrel sleeve weight. The extra weight at the front dampens recoil and steadies the muzzle for target shooting, and the gun is a delightful light sporter without it.

As well noted above - with BOTH guns, inquire carefully about internal condition before you buy.

 

[specie]

Not to change the subject too much, but if you get the LG55 and need to replace the piston seal, consider modifying the piston head to accept a Vortek seal. The replacement seal from JG and Knibbs is some sort of orange plastic material, needs to be sizeded, and as Swissair mentions the piston stud and seal retainer screw if damaged can be difficult to work with/repair/weird thread pitch. As all the others have noted, both are very nice airguns.

 

[Lewis]

I can't weigh in since I've never owned the 55. I do love the 75's though.

PLEASE let us know what you end up with and share your experience.

 

[KWK]

Not to change the subject too much, but if you get the LG55 and need to replace the piston seal, consider modifying the piston head to accept a Vortek seal. The replacement seal from JG and Knibbs is some sort of orange plastic material, needs to be sizeded, and as Swissair mentions the piston stud and seal retainer screw if damaged can be difficult to work with/repair/weird thread pitch. As all the others have noted, both are very nice airguns.

Is this because the screw is staked after it is installed? Is there a punch mark on the side of the piston? I repaired one like that before for another member. I think several vintage makes did that

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

Is this because the screw is staked after it is installed? Is there a punch mark on the side of the piston? I repaired one like that before for another member. I think several vintage makes did that

I believe that it is more due to the threaded stud being a bizarre metric thread pitch that is next to impossible to find tooling for. At least I think that is the case.

 

[specie]

I believe that it is more due to the threaded stud being a bizarre metric thread pitch that is next to impossible to find tooling for. I THINK.

...and also the JG/Knibbs seal is expensive, the retainer nut expensive if cracked...it's just a cornball obsolete system...the gun deserves better?

 

[KWK]

Ok, the piston latch rod protrudes through on the crown side and is threaded with a nut to hold the seal on. I think BSA used that first in about 1930 on the saw handle stock underlevers. (not very many made during the '30's) It's fine until the seal goes bad or the gun gets repeated dry firing and it gets all bashed up from smashing into the end of the cylinder. My solution is chuck the piston in a lathe and face the latch rod flush. Then drill and tap for a leather seal retaining screw. Or for an adapter for a urethane seal.
When a stud gets hammered the thread pitch gets smushed and now it's basically a finer thread that can't really be restored to the original pitch.

 

[marflow 777]

a Diana 75 with new seals should last 20 years so it is complicated once
it is a heavy rifle but a dream to shoot parts can be found when needed or rat holed away and most will find the trigger to be aq wow moment
the Walther 55 i have never owned but parts are a bit harder to find but can be found in Germany and i would guess a fresh rebuilt one would last as long as the Diana
https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/WALTHER:.:7.html?filter_id=310

https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/DIANA:.:2.html?filter_id=247

 

[JohnTaylor]

a Diana 75 with new seals should last 20 years so it is complicated once
it is a heavy rifle but a dream to shoot parts can be found when needed or rat holed away and most will find the trigger to be aq wow moment
the Walther 55 i have never owned but parts are a bit harder to find but can be found in Germany and i would guess a fresh rebuilt one would last as long as the Diana
https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/WALTHER:.:7.html?filter_id=310

https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de/shop/DIANA:.:2.html?filter_id=247

My new in 84 D75 was resealed a month ago ….Mr Slade at Airgunwerks . 40 yrs seems like a long service life to me. John

 

[Nitrocrushr]

I love my Diana 75. 44 years old and just got it back from David Slade. Seals and buffer replaced, cleaned up and relubed. Still has the factory springs in it. Single digit extreme spread and almost 6.7fpe. Trigger is a measured 1.8oz pull. Although my eyes really struggle to see clearly through the diopter sights, it is one tiny hole on target.

Awesome, well made rifles.

Steve