The DIANA 34 EMS, Chap 2

[HectorMedina]

An analysis of the differences between the EMS and the "Old 34", plus some performance numbers for the two powerplants:

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-diana-34-ems-easy-modular-system-chap-2

Hope you enjoy!



HM

[Roadworthy]

Very well done as usual, Hector.  Thank you for spending the time with the explanations.  No, I'm still not sold on the EMS, I prefer the traditional 34.  I guess I'm a traditionalist.

[Denby95]

Interesting reading, I enjoyed reading it. However owning both a traditional 34 and the 34 LOA EMS, I also find I prefer the traditional 34.

[HectorMedina]

Thanks for reading, my friends.
I would GREATLY appreciate if you could expand on the reasons why.

Thanks again!




HM

[Denby95]

The first issue is the loose lead-in that if the gun is tilted back, the pellet falls out. It does this in .177 and in .22. My 34 classic does not do this. The overall shooting experience with the 34 classic seems to just shoot more accurately for me. Perhaps thats the large heavy spring guide in the 34 EMS that the classic does not have that makes the gun feel like theres more recoil? In short, the 34 classic just works, I put in a pellet, it stays, I shoot at a target and it hits the target. The 34 EMS has not been that same experience for me.

I will add one positive of the 34 EMS is that for the first synthetic stock I've ever owned, its actually very grippy and feels nice, plus no concerns about little dings like a wood stock.

[HectorMedina]

The first issue is the loose lead-in that if the gun is tilted back, the pellet falls out. It does this in .177 and in .22. My 34 classic does not do this. The overall shooting experience with the 34 classic seems to just shoot more accurately for me. Perhaps thats the large heavy spring guide in the 34 EMS that the classic does not have that makes the gun feel like theres more recoil? In short, the 34 classic just works, I put in a pellet, it stays, I shoot at a target and it hits the target. The 34 EMS has not been that same experience for me.

I will add one positive of the 34 EMS is that for the first synthetic stock I've ever owned, its actually very grippy and feels nice, plus no concerns about little dings like a wood stock.

THANKS, D!

BTW, DIANA / M&G is following this thread. So, if you are reading this and have any opinions, now is the time to voice them.

Thanks again!






HM

[Denby95]

I have 3 Diana airguns from a 2018 manufacturing date. A 460, 54 and a 34, all of them are in .22. They're great guns and the leade for the pellet is tight with any pellet I might choose to use. I also have that Lawrence of Arabia 34 EMS that started life in .177 and went to .22 thanks to your help.  Both the .177 and .22 barrel for the 34 EMS leade is loose, I've yet to find a pellet large enough to hold itself in. I'm not sure what changed in barrel manufacturing but I consider it to be essential that a gun be able to hold a pellet in its barrel with sufficient friction to not fall out, especially with a break barrel. None of my weihrauchs have ever had this issue, my TX200 does not, and I've owned several Webleys that didn't have this issue, only the 34 EMS.

Here's the LOA EMS I have. If I could sell it, I would, but unfortunately these guns seem to be undesirable and languish on the classified forums on Airgun nation even at around the 200 dollar range. So at least for now it sits in a closet.

[SwampHunter]

I don't have an ems, I simply prefer the tried and true classic 34. Even though my bore is loose enough that I have to keep it pointed down when closing or the pellet falls out it is reliable. I like proven platforms and generally dislike new products because I feel like new means cheaper in everything but the price. Too often companies introduce something as " new and improved " when it's just a cover for cheaper materials and construction.
.

[Roadworthy]

I did not realize Diana was following this thread, too.  I do not have an EMS nor am I likely to buy one.  I understand there have been several changes but would not qualify all of them as improvements.  I'll call the machined dovetails an improvement if they are longer than they are on my 1985 Diana 36.  The cocking action attachment sounds like an improvement over a pin with an e clip in the center.  I am not fond of two piece cocking levers as I do not like having the stock support the cocking linkage.  The easily interchangeable barrel is not a new feature, the old ones swapped easily.  I do see the latch as a probable improvement over the old ball and spring though I have Diana rifles over sixty years old still latching fine.  I did prefer the straight in design of the bracket for the front stock screws - it was easier to ensure the screws were going straight though the angled mount may be better.  I am not a fan of gas springs and prefer the older center latched piston and coil spring arrangement.  Using the same T06 model number for the trigger is confusing even after adding EMS to it.  It should have been a different number completely.  For that matter the 34 EMS should have had a different model number.  If you used the same plastic butt pad as the 34 Classic you would have done as well with the grooved wood butt of the old 34.  Use rubber like the 36 ans 38 or don't bother.  The plastic open sights really cheapen the gun.  The old 34 had far more substantial sights.  The biggest problem with newer Diana rifles (all of them I've seen lately) has been the breech too large for the pellet.  I have found this in .22 caliber as well as .177.  This is true in my 430L, 460, and 56.  I have heard if you mill the breech face all is well.  I don't see why I should trouble myself to fix a problem Diana builds into the rifles.  I probably have ten Diana rifles of various models.  Until Diana does something with their breech design I don't see another in my future.

[Toxylon]

I think the biggest downfall of the EMS is the trigger, which is a side-latching piston trigger, because the design idea was to be able to switch powerplants easily. Outside of Hector, who tirelessly promotes new Diana features as they turn up, I haven't heard anyone praise the N-Tec type trigger.

The over-bored breeches must've been an interest killer. Loaded pellets flying out of breeches is something that even a 20-dollar gun shouldn't do. Even though correcting that fault as by Hector's instructions is simple, it is not easy, only easy to bugger, unless you pay high dollar for piloted specialty tools only barely available in many locales.

Many people like myself think the original D34 was a beauty, which the EMS arguably is not. That factors in, as well, given the 400 dollar price bracket.

[HectorMedina]

Thank you all for your opinions.
They are highly valued and will be taken into account.

Thanks again!



HM

[splitbeing]

If memory serves, the EMS has a lot more potential edges to damage the piston seal on when changing it.  In other words, maintenance is a little trickier (and more, careful deburring may be required).

[HectorMedina]

Thanks,

Noted.

I ALWAYS use a strip of shim, so I am not afflicted by that, but it is a good point.

THANKS again!



HM

[Jon63]

compound cocking lever and angled attachment screws seem like a good improvement, am on the fence about the other changes,

[HectorMedina]

compound cocking lever and angled attachment screws seem like a good improvement, am on the fence about the other changes,

Well, the first pre-production models are out and it seems we got neither of those.

:-(

But the Classic 34 IS back.

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM

[Ike the GSD]

"the Classic 34 IS back."  So they're making the old style model 34 again?

[HectorMedina]

"the Classic 34 IS back."  So they're making the old style model 34 again?

Yup!
With some slight changes:
scope rail is gone and the grooves are cut into the tube itself.
Front sight is the one that appeared in the last issue, and rear sight will be the flat based one
The stock will be very similar to the EMS classic stock.

Apart from that, everything is back to the "OLD style" D34

Keep well and shoot straight!






HM

[Ike the GSD]

"the Classic 34 IS back."  So they're making the old style model 34 again?

Yup!
With some slight changes:
scope rail is gone and the grooves are cut into the tube itself.
Front sight is the one that appeared in the last issue, and rear sight will be the flat based one
The stock will be very similar to the EMS classic stock.

Apart from that, everything is back to the "OLD style" D34

Keep well and shoot straight!






HM

That's cool Diana is bringing back the old style 34, but those sights need to go they're horrible. The old 34 rear sights were a work of art, the rear sight on my 350 fell apart and had general looseness to the sight blade and the base kept coming lose from firing. With the 34 I don't anticipate the rear sight coming lose to be as much of an issue, but the overall quality of the sight is inferior to the original rear sight. I assume the front sight is the plastic fiber optic version not the globe front sight with the removable inserts, if this is the case Diana needs to at least offer the globe front sight as an option. The grooved compression tube is an improvement, the rest of the changes were unnecessary in my opinion. Diana had an extremely popular, reasonably priced, powerful entry level rifle in the old model 34, all they really need to do is just start making them as they were with the exception of the new grooved compression tubes. One major concern of mine regarding Diana rifles is the current lack of parts availability, I placed a warranty order for a new piston and spring for my 350 months ago because the latch arm came lose from the piston body, the fella from blueline had to rob the parts from a return because he still hasn't reveived the parts shipment he was expecting to get in January, I should get the parts this week and hats off to the fella at Blueline for making that happen 👍 Maybe a walnut stock version and a .20 cal option? Thanks for the heads up Hector, it's nice to hear good news once in a while👍!

[Jon63]

Was hoping they would get the bugs worked out on the EMS version, gas piston guns are perfect for hunting squirrels, swap back to spring for targets and plinking.

[Jon63]

I have 3 Diana airguns from a 2018 manufacturing date. A 460, 54 and a 34, all of them are in .22. They're great guns and the leade for the pellet is tight with any pellet I might choose to use. I also have that Lawrence of Arabia 34 EMS that started life in .177 and went to .22 thanks to your help.  Both the .177 and .22 barrel for the 34 EMS leade is loose, I've yet to find a pellet large enough to hold itself in. I'm not sure what changed in barrel manufacturing but I consider it to be essential that a gun be able to hold a pellet in its barrel with sufficient friction to not fall out, especially with a break barrel. None of my weihrauchs have ever had this issue, my TX200 does not, and I've owned several Webleys that didn't have this issue, only the 34 EMS.

Here's the LOA EMS I have. If I could sell it, I would, but unfortunately these guns seem to be undesirable and languish on the classified forums on Airgun nation even at around the 200 dollar range. So at least for now it sits in a closet.

If there is no chamfer at entrance of leade you may be able to tighten mouth of leade by tapping on a ball bearing placed on top of leade.  Ball bearing needs to be a bit larger than leade. would try a .250 bearing first.