Diana 350 TOO sensitive?

[daved]

I gotta tell ya, guys, this thing just about has me beat.  I can NOT get in any kind of groove with it.  It seems like the slightest variation in my hold and the POI changes by a couple of inches.  I'm about ready to admit defeat and see if I can swap if off for something a little more mild mannered.  BTW, I don't really think the problem is the rifle, I think it's me.  I can pick up my CFX and just start tearing up bulls, but the 350 just feels too much like work.

Short of taking the rifle apart, I've tried every variation of hold I can think of, with and without the scope.  As I posted earlier, there's quite a bit of spring torque, and that requires a pretty firm hold just to keep the rifle from jumping out of my hands.  So who knows how to dismantle one of these things?  I have a good diagram, it looks like the trigger group holds the mainspring in place.  I already know the safety lever slides out once the action is out of the stock, so that's where the spring compressor would have to bear.  Am I missing anything?  Or should I just leave it alone, and trade it off?  TIA for your help and suggestions.

Dave

[Gene_SC]

Don't give up yet Dave. Don't take it apart yet. Wait till it warms up outside and start working on concentration. You helped me out on the power setting on me scope and I really appreciate that. So after I found me sweet spots all over again by adjusting each and every springer I own. My accuracy improved 10 fole. I am sure there is someone who will notice your pain and agony that u are going through and will give you a helping hand like you did for me...

My Hunter 1250 is probably as powerful as your Diana if not a bit more:) Could not get a good group if I tried.. hehe. After evaluating the scope adjustment my shots have improved to the point that I can hit within a one inch circle at 50 yard consistantly. But it takes a bit of concentration and very very little hold.. Of course that is in a bench rest position. I would never be able to shoot that thing like Jeff does his. I picture him standing and holding that big broot up to his shoulder in the midst of trees and up to his knees in brush. Standing, loading and fireing away.. hehe

But seriously give it some more time and technique. Back off for a while and shoot ur new gun.. I know you will finally be able to stand and shoot the eyes outa flies  at 40 yards by this next summer..

Good Luck
Gene

[longislandhunter]

Dave, I agree with Gene,,,,, don't give up just yet.  I'd shoot something else for a while just to get the 350 out of your head.  Come back to it later and give it another go.  When I first started shooting my 1250 (it had the factory trigger then) I was having problems maintaining consistant accuracy with it and was getting frustrated.  I corrected the problem by following the advice I hear every year when I go to my departments firearms range to qualify with my 9mm.  ,,,, that being the speech they always give us about the "BASICS" of shooting,,,,, concentration, sight picture, breath control and most important of all..... trigger control.  In my case the trigger control factor was the key.  Once I forced myself to fully concentrate on trigger control the 1250 tuned in nicely.  I still hated the trigger, but I got it to work for me.  Of course now with the new GRTIII trigger in it I enjoy the gun so much more.  

But anyway,,,, the 350 is such a great gun, especially for hunting, I'd hate to see you let it get the best of you and see you get rid of it prematurely.  I know how much you'll enjoy shooting that gun if you can just work out the kinks.  I don't have a  problem with the trigger on my 350 but I have found that in order for me to shoot the gun accurately I must practice good trigger control, which of course takes concentration on my part. The 350 trigger doesn't require the intense concentration I had to use on the factory 1250 trigger, but I still have to mentally concentrate as I'm squeezing the 350 trigger.   If I get sloppy with my trigger control I can always tell instantly as the pellet will be an inch or 2 off center.  I'm not saying that trigger control is the factor with you and your gun, but for me it's a key factor in maintaining accuracy. Anyway, I hope you get it worked out and I'm sure you will

Jeff

I agree with these guys, don't give up on it, you can beat this thing. If you can, rig up an overtravel stop, it will help alot. When I shoot my 48's, I hold them very lightly, and my forehand is only a shelf for the gun to rest on, very light grip with the trigger hand, and just touching my shoulder with the but. A very good way to see and hear what your rifle is doing is to hold the rifle in both hands away from your body so that you're looking at the top of the rifle, only hold the gun and don't brace it against your body at all, just hold it, point it in a safe direction, and pull the trigger. You can observe the trigger by doing the same thing, just point the gun in a safe direction and fire. Every time I get a new gun I do these things, I find it helps teach me about what the gun is doing and how the trigger feels because you can concentrate on the characterisitics of them without having to concentrate on a target aswell.

As for the tourquing, if it doesn't improve after a few tins of pellets I would tune it myself or get someone else to do it. You wouldn't beleive the difference between a Diana 48 that has 3 or 4 thousand shots through it, and one out of the box or farly new that is untuned. HTH,

Mulby