HO Vortek kit for Diana 34

[Ike the GSD]

The Vortek site says this kit will increase the .177 to 17 ft lbs is this a realistic expectation or is it going to just give me a smoother shot cycle, my rifle is 20 years old and it's pretty smooth as it is and if there is little power increase or perhaps none at all $80.00 seems like a waste of money. The reason I posted this is because of the post I read about the Diana T05 350 .177 rifles Pyramid Air has for sale possibly being assembled with Chinese barrels and it made me put the brakes on that idea. Plus the 34 is so much nicer to carry in the woods, I love my 350 .22, but it's a hog to lug around. I guess I don't feel a lack of power with the 34 right now, but it would be nice to see an improvement in trajectory and energy and if it's possible to do so and get power levels approaching the .177 350 for what the kit costs, it might be worth it in the future.  Thanks folks

[dave2288]

I didnt get that much power when i put their kit in a t01 34, i think it was around 13-14 fpe.  But idl how different the t05/6 34s are, if they have more preload from their trigger mechanisms or any of that

[Ike the GSD]

I didnt get that much power when i put their kit in a t01 34, i think it was around 13-14 fpe.  But idl how different the t05/6 34s are, if they have more preload from their trigger mechanisms or any of that

Thanks for the response Dave, I looked at the Straight Shooters review of the stock 34 and the stock 350 both in .177 shooting the 7.9 gr Premiers and it doesn't appear that there is enough long range difference to bother buying either the kit or the 350 rifle LOL The only advantage I can see is where the heavy 10+ grain pellets are used in the 350 and even then it only appears to add two foot pounds to the numbers they say the model 34 was producing at 50 yds??? . I must say I am somewhat suspicious of the numbers they were getting with both rifles, but it's all I have to go by. The 7.9 Premiers according to their numbers at 50 yards was 636fps for the 34 and 667fps for the 350?? That's okay I shouldn't spend the money right now anyway and the 34 is running just fine. Take care🙂

[Roadworthy]

My Diana 34 is twenty years old not.  When it was "only" sixteen I put in a kit from Air Rifle Headquarters.  Cocking was smoother but recoil seemed about the same.   Shot accuracy / consistency did not improve.  My piston seal was FAR too tight.  After I sized the seal consistency improved significantly.  I didn't check velocity change with a chronometer but using the coffee can method I saw a difference.  The old spring would put a pellet into the coffee can at twenty yards.  The new spring would put the pellet clear through the can never to be seen again.  I guess sixteen years of aging was enough to lose some spring power.

[jason miller]

My .177 model 34 made 15 FPE with just the Vortek OEM replacement spring. I doubt you’d ever see 17 FPE in a .177 caliber model 34- that’s probably about where you’d max out in .22 cal on the 34 platform.

[Ike the GSD]

My .177 model 34 made 15 FPE with just the Vortek OEM replacement spring. I doubt you’d ever see 17 FPE in a .177 caliber model 34- that’s probably about where you’d max out in .22 cal on the 34 platform.

The Vortek website says the HO kit for the .22 version using an RWS 14.2 pellet is 900+ fps I find it difficult to believe any of these numbers, that's why I posted this topic. I will give credit to Vortek for listing the actual pellet they used during their testing. My only concern is spending $80.00 only to end up right where I was before, the highest FPE the Straight Shooters review got for the 34 was 14 FPE using the 8.64 grain FTS, but the 8.64 FTT surpassed it in velocity and FPE past 10 yards. what doesn't make any sense is they both  started off at 844 fps and they weigh the same yet the FTS achieved 14 FPE and the FTT achieved 13 FPE, this is mathematically impossible.

[Yogi]

Wes,

Get the ARH spring for $18-20.  See if your current spring guides will fit.  See if you can either wrap them in heat shrink electrical tubing if to small and sand them if to big?
Otherwise send them to one of the nice people on GTA who have lathes and have them make you one.  Vortek springs are over rated IMHO.
IMHO, springer shoot best when in the 700-850 fps range.

-Y

[HectorMedina]

The Vortek site says this kit will increase the .177 to 17 ft lbs is this a realistic expectation or is it going to just give me a smoother shot cycle, my rifle is 20 years old and it's pretty smooth as it is and if there is little power increase or perhaps none at all $80.00 seems like a waste of money. The reason I posted this is because of the post I read about the Diana T05 350 .177 rifles Pyramid Air has for sale possibly being assembled with Chinese barrels and it made me put the brakes on that idea. Plus the 34 is so much nicer to carry in the woods, I love my 350 .22, but it's a hog to lug around. I guess I don't feel a lack of power with the 34 right now, but it would be nice to see an improvement in trajectory and energy and if it's possible to do so and get power levels approaching the .177 350 for what the kit costs, it might be worth it in the future.  Thanks folks

Wes;

In real life, the ONLY way of getting high power out of a 34 sized platform in small calibers is converting it to an NTec unit. And even if you COULD reach higher powers, pellets are intrinsically more accurate at MV's not higher than 875-890 fps.

A real life example is here (and it is a 0.20" cal carbine to start with):

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/converting-a-spring-powered-d34-into-an-n-tec-rifle

And, as the article concludes, UNLESS you are absolutely in love with your barrel, you are better off getting a "native" NTec gun, either in the DIANA or the Mauser (AM03) versions.

Finally, DIANA used Chinese barrels ONLY during 2004-2005 and ONLY in D34's, MOSTLY of the Pro-Compact model. So, look at the manufacture date and then decide. It's been a LOOOONG time since that happened, and everyone that got a Chinese barrel could exchange it for a German barrel just for the asking, no charge, no shipping cost. I changed about a dozen of them, and, to put it plainly, I found that some of the "takeouts" were VERY good and well made.
BUT, shooting is 85% mental, so do whatever gives you peace of mind.

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM

[Ike the GSD]

The Vortek site says this kit will increase the .177 to 17 ft lbs is this a realistic expectation or is it going to just give me a smoother shot cycle, my rifle is 20 years old and it's pretty smooth as it is and if there is little power increase or perhaps none at all $80.00 seems like a waste of money. The reason I posted this is because of the post I read about the Diana T05 350 .177 rifles Pyramid Air has for sale possibly being assembled with Chinese barrels and it made me put the brakes on that idea. Plus the 34 is so much nicer to carry in the woods, I love my 350 .22, but it's a hog to lug around. I guess I don't feel a lack of power with the 34 right now, but it would be nice to see an improvement in trajectory and energy and if it's possible to do so and get power levels approaching the .177 350 for what the kit costs, it might be worth it in the future.  Thanks folks

Wes;

In real life, the ONLY way of getting high power out of a 34 sized platform in small calibers is converting it to an NTec unit. And even if you COULD reach higher powers, pellets are intrinsically more accurate at MV's not higher than 875-890 fps.

A real life example is here (and it is a 0.20" cal carbine to start with):

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/converting-a-spring-powered-d34-into-an-n-tec-rifle

And, as the article concludes, UNLESS you are absolutely in love with your barrel, you are better off getting a "native" NTec gun, either in the DIANA or the Mauser (AM03) versions.

Finally, DIANA used Chinese barrels ONLY during 2004-2005 and ONLY in D34's, MOSTLY of the Pro-Compact model. So, look at the manufacture date and then decide. It's been a LOOOONG time since that happened, and everyone that got a Chinese barrel could exchange it for a German barrel just for the asking, no charge, no shipping cost. I changed about a dozen of them, and, to put it plainly, I found that some of the "takeouts" were VERY good and well made.
BUT, shooting is 85% mental, so do whatever gives you peace of mind.

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM

It seems like every time I get excited about stuff like hot rodding my 34 and years ago putting a 460 in my 1978 F250 reality comes crashing down on me by someone perhaps more experienced in such things than I am/was. When I wanted to put the 460 in my truck my dad looked at me and said " I don't understand why you always have to have something that burns rubber" In the case of my 34 you're essentially telling me the same thing my dad did 30 years ago only in a different way LOL I did end up putting the 460 in my truck and I loved that engine and it did burn rubber even with 33" tires, but it was completely impractical. I'm going to leave my 34 alone until something breaks and be happy with it, thank you for your honest advice 😜

[HectorMedina]

It seems like every time I get excited about stuff like hot rodding my 34 and years ago putting a 460 in my 1978 F250 reality comes crashing down on me by someone perhaps more experienced in such things than I am/was. When I wanted to put the 460 in my truck my dad looked at me and said " I don't understand why you always have to have something that burns rubber" In the case of my 34 you're essentially telling me the same thing my dad did 30 years ago only in a different way LOL I did end up putting the 460 in my truck and I loved that engine and it did burn rubber even with 33" tires, but it was completely impractical. I'm going to leave my 34 alone until something breaks and be happy with it, thank you for your honest advice 😜

Our pleasure, Wes!

Keep shooting and keep posting.

And if you really want a powerful springer, then get a 460 (a DIANA 460, that is . . . LOL!    ;-)  )

Keep well and shoot straight!




HM

[Ike the GSD]

It seems like every time I get excited about stuff like hot rodding my 34 and years ago putting a 460 in my 1978 F250 reality comes crashing down on me by someone perhaps more experienced in such things than I am/was. When I wanted to put the 460 in my truck my dad looked at me and said " I don't understand why you always have to have something that burns rubber" In the case of my 34 you're essentially telling me the same thing my dad did 30 years ago only in a different way LOL I did end up putting the 460 in my truck and I loved that engine and it did burn rubber even with 33" tires, but it was completely impractical. I'm going to leave my 34 alone until something breaks and be happy with it, thank you for your honest advice 😜

Our pleasure, Wes!

Keep shooting and keep posting.

And if you really want a powerful springer, then get a 460 (a DIANA 460, that is . . . LOL!    ;-)  )

Keep well and shoot straight!




HM

You couldn't resist could you LOL!!!

[LAalex]

Don’t think 17 lb/ft is realistic .  I have been running a vortek in my 48 for about 4 years and the difference in the shot cycle vs stock is night and day.  No twang or torque just “thump” and the shot is away.  Didn’t make it any more powerful though

[Mrblonde40]

The Vortek kit does dramatically improve shot cycle on my HW95, allowing better follow through, and therefore increasing how accurately I can shoot.  Velocity with light pellets was very small.  With heavier pellets, >9 grains, it provided a pretty decent increase.

[HectorMedina]

You couldn't resist could you LOL!!!

Wellllllll,.,.,.,. you have to admit that you set yourself up, LOL!

;-)

Keep well and shoot straight!



HM

[Yogi]

Wes,

I sounds like you should listen to your Dad!

-Y

[Ike the GSD]

It seems like every time I get excited about stuff like hot rodding my 34 and years ago putting a 460 in my 1978 F250 reality comes crashing down on me by someone perhaps more experienced in such things than I am/was. When I wanted to put the 460 in my truck my dad looked at me and said " I don't understand why you always have to have something that burns rubber" In the case of my 34 you're essentially telling me the same thing my dad did 30 years ago only in a different way LOL I did end up putting the 460 in my truck and I loved that engine and it did burn rubber even with 33" tires, but it was completely impractical. I'm going to leave my 34 alone until something breaks and be happy with it, thank you for your honest advice 😜

Our pleasure, Wes!

Keep shooting and keep posting.

And if you really want a powerful springer, then get a 460 (a DIANA 460, that is . . . LOL!    ;-)  )

Keep well and shoot straight!




HM

I forgot to mention I already have a Diana 350 and my Dad knows it, so if I went out and bought a Diana 460 it would in all likelihood put the proverbial frosting on the cake LOL!!! My Dad doesn't know much about air rifles, but he's gonna associate those model numbers the same way he did my engine choices LOL!

[Mossonarock]

I put a vortek pg3 ho kit in my .177 D38 that was made in 1988. the original spring had developed several kinks in it; so it needed replaced. The gun does shoot smoother now, not surprising since the original spring was kinked. I've never calculated the fpe but it can shoot alloy pellets supersonically. So, I avoid shooting those pellets. I do feel that the gun is overpowered for a .177. So, I do think about snipping a coil or going for a lower-powered vortek kit. The gun is quieter now with the pg3 kit but its still a loud gun.

[Ike the GSD]

I put a vortek pg3 ho kit in my .177 D38 that was made in 1988. the original spring had developed several kinks in it; so it needed replaced. The gun does shoot smoother now, not surprising since the original spring was kinked. I've never calculated the fpe but it can shoot alloy pellets supersonically. So, I avoid shooting those pellets. I do feel that the gun is overpowered for a .177. So, I do think about snipping a coil or going for a lower-powered vortek kit. The gun is quieter now with the pg3 kit but its still a loud gun.

I'm not worried about the loudness, the rifle is orders of magnitude quieter than my Discovery, but if you feel there was a significant performance increase I may still try one once the current spring begins to fail. I use this rifle for small game hunting I want to be able to use 8.4 up to the 10.5-10.65 grain pellets. Even now with nothing modified my rifle does not like lighter pellets, the Crosman Premier 7.4 grain pellets are extremely inconsistent as are the Daisy pellets in the smaller round tin.