Diana 280

[Motorhead]

Great looking and shooting rifle ... dang !!!
Views like a keeper in all respects 

[GarthThomas]

 I had it outside last weekend it was quite gusty and my groups were non existent so I wrote it off to .177s  poor performance in the wind. I put it away for a few days and I was feeling a little disenchanted with it, when I took it out again the next time I noticed one of the scope rings was almost off the rail, duh!. I took my 4x32 A/O Barska off another rifle, optically centered it and put it on a Tufforce one piece mount then screwed the set screw into one hole of the scope rail, it shouldn't slide now. Once I got it re-sighted its been very good and the more I practice the better it gets for me. I adjusted the T06 trigger a bit but there is not much adjustment left from the factory, I got it a little lighter and I am getting used to it now so not so many misfires, latest 10@12yds.

[chuckinohio]

  Watch the video contained in this post, and you may pick up a few tips or tricks on tuning your TO6 trigger to your liking-

  http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?691205-Little-how-to-video-how-I-adjust-the-Diana-T06-trigger

[robert w]

what she weigh? I like mid sized guns more and more. got a d54 and its a bench only gun. im too old to lug it round just to plink. I love my new d-24 for that reason light n accurate ,so far not pellet picky either

[GarthThomas]

I have seen that video on trigger adjusting but for now mine is fine, I was a little concerned about bending parts to make one of the adjustments especially if the metal is some kind of white metal.
The factory says it weighs 6.6lbs. my tape measure say its a hair under 43" tip to tip. The LOP is a hair under 14"
P.S. I picked up some Stoeger X feilds 8.64gr today and they are trying to unseat the JSBs as top dog, too close to tell so thats a good thing.

[chuckinohio]

  I didn't use that videos guidelines either, I just keep it marked as reference.
I used the standard 'rear screw all the way out, front screw all the way in, and adjust from there' to get a good release.

  Those Stoeger pellets are rebranded H&N pellets, that's why they seem to shoot so good. My TX200 loves the Stoeger Xfields!!

[cvasquez]

Garth, do you have a chrony? Id love to hear how its performing power wise.I never doubted how accurate it would be-

[uglymike]

Garth, in my humble opinion.......you need to spend some $$ on a GOOD scope for that 280. You'll never know what that 280 is capable of until you do. Kinda like putting a potato sack dress on a beauty queen!

[GarthThomas]

Chrony will be up and running this weekend, I am saving my pennies for a new scope and I am looking at a Bushnell Legend 5-15 x 40 AO/ Mil Dot. for 180 bucks, do you think it will stand up.

[stevemag]

AOA has 4 in stock, i didnt ask the price as they are in .177 and i want a .22

[GarthThomas]

Well my results with the chrony were a bit under what I was expecting, the best I could get was 720fps with Stoeger 8.64gr ftt which equals about 9.9fpe. When I had it apart I did notice a snug fit sliding the piston back in so it may just be a matter of break in to get hopefully closer to 12 fpe. I tried other pellets and all were lighter with no higher velocity so what that means I don't know, until I can get outside for some comfortable shooting at range I am pretty happy with how its doing for now.

[Hullslap]

Any more insights into the gun?  How loud is it and how much twang is there associated with firing the gun.  I.E. do you think it would work as an indoor gun?

[GarthThomas]

I can hear spring vibration but not a lot, it depends on which pellets I'm using. I have had the best results with Stoeger X-field 8.64grn (H&N ftt) or JSB exacts 8.4grn. these pellets get the best velocity and the smoothest shot cycle. This is designed as a 12fpe gun and right now mine is a little more sub than I like but I've mostly been using it at 12yds indoors, it's not too loud as far as I can tell. I saw on a post somewhere a review with a decible meter the comparison of several quality springers and the D34 was the quietest so since the power plant in a 280 is a de-stroked 34 it should be more on the quiet side yet. I am saving for a Vortek kit but it could take a while. This rifle was originally a sub 500fps Canadian version and at that time shot the exacts at 580-590fps and the Stoeger fts at 560-570fps, RWS super points were 460+ and Daisy hollow points were 480ish. I had purchased a 12lb spring and piston to get the latest results.

[Hullslap]

Thanks for your response, I just pulled the trigger on one this afternoon so it should get here late next week.  Seems like a pretty nice rifle for the money.  Its probably a little hotter rifle than I was looking for but I wanted something kind of nice too. 

[GarthThomas]

I think you will like it, I like mine. These are nice handling guns and mine is quite accurate, the trigger works well. I have been going back and forth with my B50 and I thought it had a good trigger but after shooting the TO6 I think I may have to do some work on the Bam.
Congrats and enjoy.

[GarthThomas]

I found another good pellet today and I won't have any trouble finding more when I run out.

[Hullslap]

The gun arrived today from AoA and was double boxed, upon opening I saw an inspection report on the rifle (blueing, stock condition, sights, test firing, etc.) as well as a chrony string that showed about 800 fps with Hobby pellets.  The rifle is very nice, its not heavy but 'dense' for its size as the stock is much smaller than my other air rifles.  I dont know if that is the wood used or the metal work.  There is very little twang and the shot cycle is pretty smooth and not real loud but its still a bit hot for a pure indoor shooter.  One thing I have noticed is that the cocking motion is pretty stiff, it was real stiff at first but after about 100 pellets its slowly getting better.  This is alot nicer than what I have been shooting up until now.  Nice to know about the Crossman Premiers as that is pretty much all I have on hand.

[makinchips]

now Im looking at one.........................