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Diana 820

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:42 am
by BGC
I have got the opportunity to buy a factory selected RWS/Diana 820 from the early 90's. Very low milage, only used for 2 seasons. Does anyone have any experience from this action? Just curious to hear if you would consider it a good buy or not. Price is aprox 1500 $.

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:49 am
by ADC59
BGC:
I'm not sure where you are but Diana 820's are very rare in the US. I have never seen one but have seen a few pictures. I believe Jack Foster with Accuracy International imported a few in the late 1980's to mid 1990's. They have been out of production for at least a decade, I think.

There were two styles, a standard rifle that resembled the Diana 100 air rifle and a free rifle. So, is it a standard or free rifle?

I think they were highly regarded in Germany, especially the barrels. But to own in the US now is kind of an iffy proposition because they are an orphan. What would a shooter do if they broke a firing pin? Hard to know where you would get spare parts.

You can get a pretty nice Anschutz M18xx or M19xx for $1,500. The Anschutz is probably a better bet because of the good factory support in the US.
Good Luck
Alan Carey

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:00 am
by BGC
Thanks Alan. It is the free rifle. I live in Europe, so perhaps I can fins spare parts if necessary. Actually, they are pretty rare here too. I already shoot Anschütz, but this Diana really caught my attention, since Christian Klees used one in Atlanta 1996...

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:30 pm
by ADC59
Living in Europe would definitely brighten the spare parts picture. "The Ways of the Rifle" has a picture of Klees at Atlanta on page 57, although it is hard to tell what he is shooting. Mostly in this book Klees is shown with a KK200. Also the ammunition tests shown on page 189 are shot through a Diana barrel.

So disregard my previous message. The solution is to keep your Anschutz and buy the Diana 820! Who can own only one target rifle?

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:35 pm
by WarWagon
Anyone have a picture of one? I've never seen one.

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:08 am
by Guest
I would also like to see a pic. I had a Dianna 100 match air rifle and it was really nice. A spring in the trigger group of the 100 would slide over a screw, and it would fire then the bolt was closed. RWS said that was a common flaw with the 100. I had it fixed, and it never happened again, but then I sold it.

Pictures

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:18 pm
by BGC
I havn't yet seen the rifle I'm talking about, so I'm not sure how it looks. These are the only pics I've found on the Internet, it's a "Diana .22 LR FREE RIFLE", for sale in England. Price US$1,536.
ADC59 - Do you know if this is the Diana 820?

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:22 pm
by ADC59
BGC
I've never handled a Diana 820, but this beauty is not an Anschutz, Walther, or Feinwerkbau so it must be a Diana?

Seems like a good supposition. The rear sight shown is definitely a Diana rear sight and the proof target is marked 820.

I have seen a picture of a Diana 820 standard rifle and it looks like a Diana 100 air rifle, similar to how a FWB 2600 standard rifle looks like a FWB 600 air rifle.

I have owned a Diana 100 air rifle and I will say the walnut on this rifle is very similar looking to my old Diana 100. Very straight grain walnut, similar finish.
Thanks
Alan Carey

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:57 am
by danandria
I have one of these rifles, they were built by Kreiger Germany.
One cant ascertain the value as there are no comparisons they are very rare.
They are also very accurate even by Anschutz Super Match standards.

Re: Diana 820

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:47 pm
by Tim S
danandria wrote:I have one of these rifles, they were built by Kreiger Germany.
I think it's Krico (Kriegeskorte). Kreiger is an American barrel maker.

Anyway you may be a little late to help, as this thread is nearly 10 years old.