We all love German springers, but...

[Kragman1]

...how many of us are torn between Diana and Weihrauch?

I ask because I find myself increasingly leaning towards one over the other, and I don't know if it's just a subjective preference or if more exposure to both (I've bought one of each recently, neither purchase planned) has just shown me which manufacturer is "better".  To be sure, I really like both. 

I'm wondering if anyone out there has gone from being "a Diana guy" to Weihrauch, or from Weihrauch to Diana over time.  And if so, why?  Because if you have worked on many of both, and were influenced by what you found internally, I'd surely like to know that.


I'm just a driver, not a mechanic so, speaking for myself:

From the little D27 to the much bigger Diana's, I can appreciate the intention behind all of them and the good work that went into them. Especially the older ones like my D45. 
Great stuff and at good prices, although there are a few product compromises that I wish Diana had never made.  The plastic D460 sight design for example.  Or the plastic end caps on the compression tubes. 
On the plus side, they make good power for their weight, are satisfyingly accurate (or more) and most triggers are excellent.  Even the T05 can be very nice, and that's the one I consider to be the least desireable.  The barrel droop issue is somewhat offset by the performance of the scope rail - no chance to squeeze your comp tube out of round.  And of course, droop can be dealt with.

The Weihrauchs of course have no trigger issues, although the Diana T06 triggers equal them in my book.  Mine are all satisfyingly accurate (or more), so I see no advantage there.  The relative weights of different rifles seems to be a wash too, as are general performance levels until you get to the Magnums.  But the feel of quality for the Weihrauchs seems to be a solid step over the Diana's.  And no disappointing plastic bits to spoil things either.  I do wish the safeties were resettable.

The HW95s and 97s seem to be real standouts to me, but I have been lucky enough to shoot many Weihrauchs, and they all "do it" for me. 

I have developed a preference for one maker.
For me it's Weihrauch by a nose, after a hard race.

[Denby95]

I find many of their offerings do not overlap. Weihrauch has alot of the low power offerings, whereas Diana starts at the EMS 34 (comparable to HW95) for power. Diana then continues on to higher power offerings that HW does not get up to. If we're talking explicitly german made springers, Diana only has a few on the market these days; 34 EMS, 48, 54, 460. HW has a much larger range. Then again the only guns that are power level comparable are the 34 EMS and the HW95. HW has a nicer fit and finish than Diana.

So at this point in time, it's more about what power level of platform are you after and what fit and finish do you desire? HW gun prices have risen significantly in the past year or two while Diana has maintained the same prices also.

Just an edit to add that also Diana sells side levers, HW does not. Diana sells the 54's unique recoil-less platform. So I really don't see the two being competitors in a model to model comparison. In a larger view of purchasing power of individuals interested in a spring piston air gun, they of course are.

[Roadworthy]

I find Diana gives "more bang for the buck".  I buy for shooting not for pretty.  Each has mechanical features over the other and the 34 EMS has solved most of what I consider shortcomings of the original 34 however in many ways Diana should have used an entirely different model number as few parts interchange.  I personally feel their side levers are the best designed guns they've got.  I've read the newer Weihrauch guns are not as good as they once were but I feel Diana suffers from the same malady.  I'm not a fan of their plastic sights and the breech on newer Diana rifles is looser than one would desire as pellets must be firmly seated to prevent dropping out.  Even so I'll stick with Diana but would be happy to discuss mechanical differences with anyone interested.

[SpiralGroove]

Weihrauch = Elegant Accuracy .

Diana = Clunky Power .

[avator]

Just my opinion... Diana has not stayed true to what made them great.

[Robert 5mm]

I sold my three Diana's two .22 - M48 & 460 and one .177 K98.

I still have my HW/Beeman's R7, Hw50, R9, 2-R1 and wish I still had the P1. ( If anyone wishes to part with theirs ).

The Diana's were all very nice and strong shooters, I just decided to clear out the inventory and sold the three here on GTA.

[triggerfest]

Diana hands down for me.

Why ? I think it is the brand perception and the looks. Diana's look more slick to me, while Weihrauch looks more gross to me.

But also when it comes to the shotcycle out of the box, Diana wins to me. And I looove the T05 and T06 triggers.

Don't get me wrong. Weihrauchs are built to last forever too. But once you hear the spring buzz after the shot, it sounds soo cheap...

I have owned both and still have the Diana's.

[sekiar]

HW for me as I have 10 rifles and one pistol.  I had three Diana springers and gave away my like new 48 as, fore me cocking wasn't fun and the younger guy I gave it to loves it.   Diana are ok, I just like (love) the Hw line much better.  Charles

[SpiralGroove]

Diana's are great rifles, just not my ideal after handling a Weihrauch .

[splitbeing]

I find Diana gives "more bang for the buck".

 I personally feel their side levers are the best designed guns they've got.

x2

[Yogi]

My Diana 340 N-tec is everything+ that my Weihrauchs are.
But it cost 2X as much, but no tuning needed.  While my HW's are all expensively tuned.

-Y

[Kragman1]

The presence of their excellent side cocking rifles does muddy the waters a bit.  I haven't had much trigger time with my 48 and 54, but I like both very much.  The 54, shooting 8.64 FTT'S at 25 yards, was seriously accurate during some informal shooting, and I had bought it as a broken/repair needed project gun.  The 48 seems like a gem too.
Hopefully, cocking them won't feel goofy to me for much longer... 😁

[Kragman1]

I've been very curious about those 340's for a long time Yogi.  I'd trade my 350 NTEC for one I think, to someone looking for more power.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I had a 48 & a 52 (1” longer stock).
Both T01
The triggers made me sell them.

[Kragman1]

I like my T01 triggers plenty!

Rekords they are not, but I do like them.
I'm told that they can be made to shine, but mine are all in factory format.

[Yogi]

I've been very curious about those 340's for a long time Yogi.  I'd trade my 350 NTEC for one I think, to someone looking for more power.

FWIW-I think the Diana 340 N-tec Compact Lexus(walnut hogsback stock), is one of the very nicest looking airguns.  All the proportions are right and it just fits.
Why more companies do not make hogsback stocks if beyond me.

-Yogi

[Kragman1]

They are good looking, that's for sure.

[Toxylon]

Having lived for years without a Weihrauch in my expanding stash, I recently got one. It felt right to have one, since it's an iconic make with the strongest presence in the American and UK springer scene, which comprise the vast majority of springer online activity (the only springer community I take part in). That's not a global reality, however, and it has more to do with the retail environment and biased promotion than any inherent differences in quality between the last two standing German sportster springer makes.

In my local market, I can buy Diana springers from several dozen different vendors, but Weihrauchs only from three. On the used market, there are twice as many Dianas available as there are Weihrauchs. Dianas have always been more popular here. I don't feel deprived, as I'm more at home with the Dianas than the Weihrauchs.

Getting into quality spring guns after years and years with Gamos, my first was a HW, with much anticipation, based on recommendations gleaned off GTA, AGN etc. It was pretty much a disaster, from the cracks in the stock to the terrible shot cycle, to the inaccuracy, to the super-annoying safety, and topped with the fact that the gun with open sights was impossible to shoot with open sights. I felt cheated out of a substantial sum of money.

I'm a performance kinda guy. I doesn't comfort me one bit that a gun is made out of all metal parts, if the performance isn't there. And if the performance is there, I'm perfectly fine with sundry non-metal parts. If they did break on me, I would have a different view. But they don't. I also don't agree that Weihrauchs are better made than the competition. They have too many iffy surprises in them for that to be the case.

Weihrauchs just barely approach the manufacturer's output claim with the lightest available wadcutter pellets. Dianas actually shoot what the manufacturer claims, with high performance, high-BC hunting / FT pellets. There's the cheating vs. honest feeling again.

All in all, Weihrauch caters to the guys wanting a lightweight, low-to-mid-power gun topped with optics for easy, leisurely shooting experience. Diana caters more to the guys who want to test their limits with aggressive, high-performance guns that reach out with authority. It's not like there's a counterpart for the 350 Mag, 460 Mag, D48 or the D54 in the Weihrauch roster. (yeah yeah, 80 & 90 kinda sorta).

Both HW's and Dianas have pretty terrible shot cycles when new. My experience is, a HW that's shot 1 000 pellets still has a terrible shot cycle, whereas a Diana after 1 000 shots has smoothed out remarkably. To this day, I find it a ridiculous concession that after shelling 400 - 600 bucks for a German gun, you need to factor in a set of replacement innards bought overseas, to actually make the gun work well.

Weihrauch triggers are excellent as is. Diana triggers need adjusting bordering on voodoo to make them close to the Rekord. But they perform just fine. I would take a T01 or a T05 over the T06, though (and Gaylord agrees with me).

Weihrauchs have excellent barrels, provided they are not .22 cals, or the most useful caliber. Again, to me, the best bet to get an accurate barrel (I have little use for .177 cals) is to buy a Diana.

All that being said, I love Walthers the most, and would happily trade a bunch of Dianas and Weihrauchs for them. They got 'em right.

[Cslinger]

I own several Diana’s and LOTS of Weihrauch and it’s not even close. HW has far better QC, parts quality, fit, finish and feel. 

The Diana’s are accurate and powerful but several tiers below HW overall in my opinion. While folks will opine that HW guns “need” a tune all my Diana’s truly needed some kind of part fix, issue addressed out of the box before they were completely or safely shootable. (Anti bear traps not working, sights broken, missing parts, so much lube in the tube you felt it slosh/move/gum on cocking). The HW’s all worked and worked well out of the box except for one HW95 from way back that had a damaged piston seal.

So while I have sorted and do like my current Diana’s I won’t buy another. Now with most things in life I am a single data point so my experiences certainly cannot be taken in a vacuum.

[853_okg]

    This debate will go on forever, they both have good and bad. Mostly it's a personal preference to our needs/abilities.

    The only real issue between the two I feel I'd likee to bring up is Weihrauch in my opinion hasn't compromised on quality. They're guns are virtually the same as they were years ago minus a few improvements.

    Diana, which I still appreciate and consider a standard for quality, has switched a few of they're parts for plastic to most likely cut costs. It's completely understandable but I still hate seeing it.

      I must commend Weihrauch for holding out. I just hope they don't go out of business from higher production cost. That sentiment also goes for Diana and Air Arms as well. I think pcps are probably the biggest threat to springers. Obviously they'll still produce them just not as many which gives us less options.
Just my opinion.