34 Classic arrived yesterday

[Brooks P]

Fit and finish is just outstanding. Taking the rifle out of the plastic bag I discovered that the entire rifle and stock has a film of oil and the breech has an over-abundance of oil. Looking in through the slot for the cocking mechanism I can see that the spring looks to be completely dry.

My Daughter now wants FO sights on her powder burners, and I have to admit that outside they are impressive, not so much inside the garage.

I was a bit surprised at the effort that is required for cocking – the first time was a real bit . . . bear. We shot maybe 40 times and either I’m adjusting or the cocking is getting better. I don’t have any experience with modern AG’s, nor do I have any way to measure the force needed, but the trigger right out of box is smooth and very light and the first stage is very short. There is a supplemental page to the manual which describes the To6 trigger and how to adjust it. It states that the first stage is factory set To the minimum travel. First stage weight can be set between 300-380g (10.5-13.4oz) and trigger weight from 400-500g (14.1-17.6oz). I am assuming that since the same screw adjusts both first stage weight and trigger weight, there is no way to increase or decrease one without also changing the other. I don’t think the trigger is quite as smooth as my Custom Shop tuned Colt Python but it isn’t far off.

One disappointment, the rail for mounting a scope has been lengthened and the UTG Scope Mount Base made for the 34 does not fit properly. On previous 34’s the base mounted so that the base covered the screw – there is a cutout in the base for the screw – but now it sits a full inch in front of the screw. The only way I can get the scope mounted far enough back is to have both scope rings in front of the reticle housing, and I don’t think the scope is properly supported that way. Looks like I will be calling PA tomorrow to see what they have to offer as a solution.

I’ll also do my best to take some pictures and research how to post on this forum.

Time will tell how she shoots, but looks-wise she is a 10 – am I pleased with the 34 Classic – oh yeah.

[oldpink]

Congrats on the new model 34, and good luck finding a viable scope mounting solution.
It's enormously popular with people on GTA, so I bet you will find an answer, even if PA doesn't have one just yet.

[s10gto]

Congrats Brooks! Pic's would be great! I got one coming on backorder. Thanks for the review that trigger sound sweet!

[Brooks P]

I see a link on another thread to a review (video) of the Beeman RX2/RWS460 and in that video Paul Capellos uses the UTG Scope Mount Base. In order to get it to fit he filed down (off) the front step so that the mount would fit on the Beeman – I’m thinking I might be able to do the same. The step rests against the front of the rifle’s rail to stop rearward movement. I don’t think that is needed on the new rail. The pictures I have seen of RWS rails show two shallow holes for the stop pin that apparently tear out, but my 34 has four stop pin holes, two shallow and two that go completely through the rail.

There is a stop pin on the scope mount base but it is smaller in diameter than the holes in the rail. I don’t know if this is important or not.

[GatorGunner]

Brooks,

Are you sure the droop compensating mount you got is for the 34, 36,38 and 45, or is it for the 48, 52, 54 and 460.  This might be the problem if it's the wrong one.  I don't know for sure,  but thought I might suggest it as a solution when you call P.A. tomorrow.

Here is a link to the two different ones.  I know the pics look the same, but I have found it not uncommon for them to use the same pics for different items.

https://www.pyramydair.com/

By the way, my eyes are totally green with envy.  Mine is still on back order until the 10th  .

I know you will enjoy that gun.  Diana's are a great value and a cut above for the money you pay.

About that cocking effort, you will have sore muscles for a few days, but they will come around if you keep shooting.  It's just that they haven't been used in this particular motion before.  I remember the first few times I shot a compound bow.  I thought I was going to have to go see a Chiropractor the next day .

[Brooks P]

GatorGunner

No it is the DN034 model for the 34, 36, 38, and 45. Leapers claims they are identical except for the amount of compensation. The DN034 has 20.7 inches (at 30 yds) of compensation and the DN460 has 17.1 inches. There is also a DNTOWL with no compensation.

I never shot a compound, but I had a Bear 45 lbs fiberglass take-down straight bow back in the Fifties; at the time I only weighed a little over 100 lbs.

[GatorGunner]

Do let us know what P.A. has to say.  I may be able to use the same fix before mine gets here.  Sure do appreciate your help and am grateful that you allow us to benefit from your misfortune.

Thanks, Larry

[dk1677]

Congrats! Keep us posted!

[Calmark]

Hi Brooks.  I'm glad to hear your long wait is over and your 34 arrived.  It sounds exactly like the one I got 6 weeks ago or so.  

I ordered a mount from PA that worked perfectly for the new, longer scope rail the classic comes with.  Here's a link for it.  

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/rws-lock-down-1-pc-mount-w-1-rings-11mm-dovetail-barrel-droop?a=2406

There's an identical one to this mount, but for 30mm rings instead of 1'' ones.  I found the mount to work perfectly and it has two deep stop pins to work with the new 34 scope rail.  Its stayed solid for 300 shots so far.  The only weakness I've found is that there is only 1 allen screw each side of each ring.  I wish now there were two to hold it a bit more secure.  Don't make the mistake I did and strip a few of them.  Loctite the screws right off to avoid that.  Overall, the mount worked perfectly and is solid.

You mentioned your gun's spring seemed pretty dry.  Mine was too and cocking mine always was somewhat rough and would usually make a squeal or "honking" sound.  Like I've read others report, the diana guns do come pretty dry inside.  I ordered a JM lube kit that arrived last week and last night I did a lube tune of the gun and did some polishing of a few parts like the cocking shoe and the piston.  I had about 800 shots through the gun before I did the lube tune, and I think it was long overdue.  I had seen the cocking slot show signs of wear, with metal shavings apparent.  That explained a lot of the cocking roughness.  Inside I found a TON of metal shavings on the piston and even the seal and they'd worn down the piston somewhat.  If I were you, I'd consider a lube tune as soon as you can manage it.  My gun went from pretty loud and rough to cock, to one that's really smooth now.  As an added bonus, the buzzy sound I had is gone, along with the twang.  I'm now definitely a believer in doing at least a simple lube tune to any gun I get in the future.  Its nice that with what lubes I was sent, I can probably do 20 more guns before it runs out.  

Enjoy the new gun.  I know I have.  

EDIT:

For anyone interested in where I got my lubes, here's the info:

I got the lube kit from Jim Maccari's site.  The link for it is here:

http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/page/page/251484.htm

I went with the package deal for 22$  The moly he supplies is very high quality and I think 60% graphite which is much higher than the usual you can find locally.  I used the heavy tar on the outside of the spring to cut down on the twang.  I didn't use the white tar which can be used externally on pivot points or whatever.  I used a little moly in the cocking slot, cocking shoe, and on the pivot pin and it worked quite well. 

If you are interested, here is another link to a guide to airgun tuning I used to inspire me and give me confidence.  The compressor he uses is also extremely simple to buy and use, though I found I had to work around the safety sticking out from the back of the gun, as I couldn't clamp right on it.  Here's the link.  Even though its for a R9, the same principles apply to the 34.  I even think the 34 is easier to work on than the Beeman.

http://www.airgunadvice.net/viewtopic.php?t=13786

Lots of luck with your new gun.  Its a nice one right out of the box, and for me it was a blast finally shooting a springer I had wanted since 1987 or so as a teenager.  The lube tuning definitely takes a good thing and makes a marked improvement, so its highly reccomended.  If you need any tips or help, just let me know.

-Mark

[tpw]

are you sure it needs the utg? mine has so droop at all and all i use is a leapers one piece mount with no probs and the holes do not shear the pin off. ive put 000s of pellets thru it with the same mount. try that setup before you spend the extra money. and a tune will get the most out of it. and how is the trigger?