Changing caliber of a "Lawrence of Arabia" DIANA 34 EMS

[HectorMedina]

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/changing-caliber-of-a-lawrence-of-arabia-diana-34-ems-c

Hope you enjoy!





HM

[Denby95]

Excellent work Hector! Great to see all the customization opportunities the EMS can afford. I've been very curious what the special barrel change tool looked like. Cool to see it.

Is loctite needed/recommended during the install of the new barrel or is torquing it to a specific newton/meter measurement enough?

[Roadworthy]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up, Hector.  It's not something I see myself doing but it was good to see more of the internals of the EMS.

[HectorMedina]

Excellent work Hector! Great to see all the customization opportunities the EMS can afford. I've been very curious what the special barrel change tool looked like. Cool to see it.

Is loctite needed/recommended during the install of the new barrel or is torquing it to a specific newton/meter measurement enough?

No need to loc-tite.
Thing is torqued down to 50 in-lbs

Actually the pin is as important as the castle socket.

;-)

Thanks for reading!






HM

[HectorMedina]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up, Hector.  It's not something I see myself doing but it was good to see more of the internals of the EMS.

Glad you liked it.
Thanks for reading!




HM

[IanC]

I appreciate seeing this process. I had watched a video from shot show a while back about the EMS and thought what a neat idea being able to change so many things on an air rifle. I thought it would have been a much simpler process that would not have required actually removing the breech block from the chamber though. This seems like a lot more work than if I wanted to swap barrels on my regular 34 Classic.
Thanks anyways.

[Toxylon]

I agree that it's quite a bit more involved than taking the barrel off and switching to another on a D34, which can be done just like that.

[jccams]

I agree that it's quite a bit more involved than taking the barrel off and switching to another on a D34, which can be done just like that.

I agree 100%, while the concept of a modular platform is a great idea for those that want to customize their gun it needs to be much simpler than what is required for the EMS platform (at least the barrel swap).  I suspect this may have had something to do with Diana's decision not to make the parts available.

[HectorMedina]

Thanks for taking the time to read, my friends!

As usual it is a multi-factorial issue:

The ORIGINAL design of the barrel was MUCH more complex, which would have made it easy for the shooters to change barrels.
Locating pins, conical seats, indexing flats. All items/features that need to be machined and installed into the barrel. All items that are costly.
And this is a common occurrence. The difference between a Mauser 98 and a 66 was huge in its time. But it was the advancement of technology, and the path to get to the Blasers of today.

BECAUSE of this cost issue, the decision then was to simplify the object, even if that meant "complifying" the install.

In any case, even with a professional installation, the cost is not outrageous because the cost is, mostly the time it takes to setup everything and then do the swap; and in the case of this gun, renders it "unique". There are no other LoA's out there in 0.22 cal. LOL!

To ME, the MOST important aspect is that it allowed the barrel to receive proper attention to both ends and the bore BEFORE installing.

So, whether you want to spend $180 for the barrel/block assembly in a different caliber, or the $150 that the swap costs, that's up to you.

Again, thanks for reading, keep well and shoot straight!





HM

[Denby95]

I agree that it's quite a bit more involved than taking the barrel off and switching to another on a D34, which can be done just like that.

I agree 100%, while the concept of a modular platform is a great idea for those that want to customize their gun it needs to be much simpler than what is required for the EMS platform (at least the barrel swap).  I suspect this may have had something to do with Diana's decision not to make the parts available.

Parts availability really is the problem I see. At this time, I know of no one other than Hector who can acquire any of the EMS components. Whether thats sites, gas rams, stocks, barrels etc. Blueline does not carry them and they are the importer for the US now.

Even if the EMS design is good, its to no effect if I can't get the parts to customize or change the gun how I'd like.

I saw Pyramidair has some new gun customizer with 3 different guns, like 2 pistols and some PCP air rifle that lets you parkerized the gun in different colours and other customizations. I feel like this is what the idea behind the EMS was meant to be. You'd customize before or after purchase exactly what you wanted, but it just has not materialized on the supplier and retail side. Or like the Crosman Custom shop.

[HectorMedina]

I agree that it's quite a bit more involved than taking the barrel off and switching to another on a D34, which can be done just like that.

I agree 100%, while the concept of a modular platform is a great idea for those that want to customize their gun it needs to be much simpler than what is required for the EMS platform (at least the barrel swap).  I suspect this may have had something to do with Diana's decision not to make the parts available.

Parts availability really is the problem I see. At this time, I know of no one other than Hector who can acquire any of the EMS components. Whether thats sites, gas rams, stocks, barrels etc. Blueline does not carry them and they are the importer for the US now.

Even if the EMS design is good, its to no effect if I can't get the parts to customize or change the gun how I'd like.

I saw Pyramidair has some new gun customizer with 3 different guns, like 2 pistols and some PCP air rifle that lets you parkerized the gun in different colours and other customizations. I feel like this is what the idea behind the EMS was meant to be. You'd customize before or after purchase exactly what you wanted, but it just has not materialized on the supplier and retail side. Or like the Crosman Custom shop.

Yes you are right.
I see BLG starting to take the airgun business more seriously. So, HOPEFULLY, at least some of the parts will be available in the future. The barrel swap thing was decided by DIANA, so BLG is off the hook on that one; the rest, I hope it is a question of time.




HM

[Denby95]

I wanted to update this thread with some pictures and a personal thank you to Hector. I'm a bit late, things have been busy between work and a in-progress master's degree.

I did 3 groupings of 5 shots at 10 yards at rest with H&N FTT in 5.50 and 5.53, and H&N Hunter Extreme Barracuda. The gun is definitely more capable than I am and could probably have 1 holed with both of the FTT pellets. The Barracuda were quite loose, but both the 5.50 and 5.53 FTT fit well with a slight resistance.

This is currently the gun otherwise shooting as it came out of the box besides Hector's work, and a scope. I'll have to shorten the 1st stage of the trigger as it's quite long, and perhaps open up the receiver and make sure everything is looking good there from the factory.

Thank you again Hector for making that caliber swap happen!

[HectorMedina]

I wanted to update this thread with some pictures and a personal thank you to Hector. I'm a bit late, things have been busy between work and a in-progress master's degree.

I did 3 groupings of 5 shots at 10 yards at rest with H&N FTT in 5.50 and 5.53, and H&N Hunter Extreme Barracuda. The gun is definitely more capable than I am and could probably have 1 holed with both of the FTT pellets. The Barracuda were quite loose, but both the 5.50 and 5.53 FTT fit well with a slight resistance.

This is currently the gun otherwise shooting as it came out of the box besides Hector's work, and a scope. I'll have to shorten the 1st stage of the trigger as it's quite long, and perhaps open up the receiver and make sure everything is looking good there from the factory.

Thank you again Hector for making that caliber swap happen!

My pleasure, my friend!





HM

[triggerfest]

ugh... I really, really like the looks of this airgun !!

But nice job Hector, you can take me as a benchmark, because I am not technical at all, born with two left hands and even I would feel comfortable with following your guidance and swap that barrel LOL

Btw... the machine work / finish of the metal parts is really looking top notch - nice work from Diana ! (as always)