Author Topic: DIANA Stormrider (Read 14409 times))

Bicycleman · « **on:** January 23, 2018, 03:59:07 PM »

For the past four seasons, I have hunted with pellet rifles - single shot .22 calibers. I long ago lost count of the squirrels I might have had a chance to kill except for the slow loading of the single shot rifles. I have been wanting a multi-shot for about 3.5 seasons. Well, yesterday my Stormrider .22 arrived from Pyramyd Air.
I did the usual barrel cleaning **, topping off the pressure to 3000 psi, and mounted the scope. Yes, the rifle came with some air in the tank - about 900 psi.
This morning, I went to the woods and sighted in the rifle/scope and then went hunting. While sighting in, I noticed the trigger is smoother than the one on the Maximus I have been hunting with. The magazines/clips are easy enough to load and fit and work nicely. With a little practice, I will become more comfortable with this rifle. And being so light, it is a joy to carry thro;ugh the woods.
I did take a couple shots at a squirrel - missed the first shot [but the squirrel didn't run]. Loaded a second pellet without taking my eyes off the squirrel. I hit with the second shot. Note to self: The scope needs some fine tuning.
**I used fishing line to drag a cleaning patch through the barrel. But this time, I had a length of line about three times as long as the barrel. I pushed one end down the barrel from the muzzle until it came out near the bolt. I pulled out enough line so that the middle was at the bolt. I made a loop at the center point of the line for the cleaning patch. I then added the Goo Gone to the patch and scrubbed it back and forth through the barrel while pulling each end of the fishing line alternately. Try it - it works really fine.
I would like to see chronograph numbers on this rifle - it seems to really have some pop!

CraigH · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2018, 05:42:53 PM »

Congratulations on the Stormrider!

I too have used fishing line - 50 lb test monofilament for cleaning from the breech. I have final found a .17/.20 cleaning loop to use on a .17 caliber Gunslick one-piece cleaning rod (for use in .22 caliber air rifles).

Bicycleman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2018, 08:01:44 PM »

I was in the woods today again trying to sight in the Stormrider. I am going to have to dedicate some serious time to this rifle. It is giving me a bit of difficulty. More later.
I do like the trigger!

Missed-Em · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2018, 10:33:08 AM »

I'm playing with my Stormrider as well. Found it doesn't like CPHP and shoots 16 grain AA much better. Think it will be a good hunter once it's broke in.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:09:13 AM »

Where I am living now, there is NO shooting in the back yard. So, any sighting-in means a short drive. But it is do-able. I can sit in the garage and shoot pellets into cardboard though. Probably, that would be something I will do to get more pellets down the barrel and get it seasoned. I have some bent JSBs and CPHP that would be ideal for that.
Thanks for the idea.
Also, the next time I go to sight-in, I plan to try some 18.13 gr JSBs. This rifle is shooting a little harder than the Maximus I was using; so the Stromrider might like the heavier pellets.
More later . . . .

Wayne52 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:17:35 AM »

Mike my Varmint (PR900W same as yours) loves the JSB18.13's very accurate!

Bicycleman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2018, 03:32:21 PM »

Hi Wayne.
This the third PCP I bought new. The Discovery was first - very accurate out of the box. The second one was the Maximus - also very accurate out of the box but needed re-sighting occasionally [don't know why.] Now the Stormrider - and it is giving me a little ride on the rough road of accuracy. 18.13 gr next - and I hope my Stormrider is like your Varmint - accuracy wise.
I will let you know when I have done some shooting. Rainy today!

Sfttailrdr46 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2018, 04:01:11 PM »

I am surprised you are having accuracy problems all three of my SPA guns are very decent accuracy wise and the Varmint .177 is actually stacking pellets at ten yards and dime size groups at 25 yards in my backyard. Good luck with the sorting it out.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2018, 04:14:28 PM »

Don, I think I am too much in a hurry to get to hunting instead of investing a few more minutes in some serious target shooting. I will just have to devote the time and bring the hand pump along so I can hunt afterwards.
It didn't make a difference yesterday, because I didn't see any squirrels. Two Deer, yes; but not squirrels.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:56:19 PM »

Quote from: Bicycleman on February 01, 2018, 04:14:28 PM

Don, I think I am too much in a hurry to get to hunting instead of investing a few more minutes in some serious target shooting. I will just have to devote the time and bring the hand pump along so I can hunt afterwards.
It didn't make a difference yesterday, because I didn't see any squirrels. Two Deer, yes; but not squirrels.

Mike I did about the same thing with mine, basically I found that it like the JSB18.13's the best, then I just started using it for hunting, I did do a lot of chrony testing with it prior to this though and yes that can be a little pricey too but it was worth it, plus the fact it also helped for breakin.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2018, 10:10:35 AM »

Chrony testing - If you don't mind, what is your rifle's FPS?
Mine feels like it has more UMPH than the Maximus I have.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2018, 10:26:05 AM »

This was the last Chrony string that I did with mine

I'm pretty sure this was a 200bar fill too.

pneuby · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2018, 10:27:25 AM »

In your opinion, with the stock LDC, would this rifle be quieter in .177, or .22 ?

Wayne52 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2018, 10:30:51 AM »

Quote from: pneuby on February 02, 2018, 10:27:25 AM

In your opinion, with the stock LDC, would this rifle be quieter in .177, or .22 ?

I've now got a nice LDC on mine from rocker1(David) it really quieted it down great.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2018, 09:22:31 PM »

Today, the skies were deep blue and the wind was almost calm. Hummm, good time to finish sighting in the Stormrider with 18.13 gr JSB pellets.
I started at about 12 paces from the target (a box.) Three shots gave me a pattern. Adjustment time!
A couple more shots, and another minor adjustment.
Two more shots told me I was on target. A final two shots confirmed that the Stormrider does NOT like 15.89 gr JSBs but really stacks the 18.13 gr JSBs.

<--- smiles of satisfactions.
Note: I still tap the top of the turret after each adjustment. It works for me!

Mole2017 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2018, 10:57:07 PM »

Quote from: Bicycleman on January 23, 2018, 03:59:07 PM

...
**I used fishing line to drag a cleaning patch through the barrel. But this time, I had a length of line about three times as long as the barrel. I pushed one end down the barrel from the muzzle until it came out near the bolt. I pulled out enough line so that the middle was at the bolt. I made a loop at the center point of the line for the cleaning patch. I then added the Goo Gone to the patch and scrubbed it back and forth through the barrel while pulling each end of the fishing line alternately. Try it - it works really fine.
...

+1 on this cleaning technique. I use a piece of Spectra fishing line. It's especially useful on my CFX with the rotary breach like it is.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2018, 10:43:06 AM »

David, when I got through with the cleaning, I was confident the barrel was clean.
On Pellets: I have had bad pellets that didn't shoot well in my rifles. There were Daisy pellets and some Gamos that were very inexpensive. So, I didn't mind giving them away to friends who used them to season new barrels. I even wrote a report on the Gamos; and the free tin I received from Gamo was just the same. But the JSB 15.89 gr that the Diana doesn't like is the pellet my Maximus shoot best and deadliest. Go figure?
EDIT: Just remembered: I tightened screws on the Stormrider before going out sight-in Monday. I don't have any idea if that was a factor in the shotgunning of the other pellets because all of the screws were snug to tight. None required more than 1/4 turn to become tight. I should have thought to check the screws before shooting the first pellet. My Bad!

birdmove · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:20:06 AM »

I am not a fan of the Crosman hollow points. One of my air rifles will shoot 1/4" and just under that with RWS Basics. Same gun with the Crosmans, like 2-3 inches, and spraying all over the place. These are .177's.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2018, 09:14:54 AM »

Jon, I have shot the Crosman Premier Hollow Points in the Discovery .22 and the Maximus .22. They both liked those pellets. Those pellets are to be considered when selecting a favorite pellet. The usually shoot well out of Benjamin/Crosman guns and they are cheap and available at Walmart. They punch a nice hole in Squirrels too.
I have not tried that particular pellet in the Stormrider yet.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2018, 09:29:46 AM »

One of the main reasons I bought my Varmint was because the price had dropped considerably and being an SPA gun the norm was a good gun for hunting. Right after I bought it I tested the sniper magnums in it mainly because someone had mentioned they'd like to know how they were in this gun and I happened to have some. At first they shot terrible but after a break in the gun now shoots them very well as it does other pellets. The use of my Varmint slowed way down after I bought my SPA M16 (love this gun) and now that's my go to gun these days. The first critter I ever shot with my Varmint was a ground hog at 45 yards so it definitely fit the bill in the hunting category !!!

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DIANA Stormrider

Author Topic: DIANA Stormrider (Read 14409 times))