Definitive Guide to Diana Outlaw Gen 2

Diana Airguns, which was founded in Germany, has had a reputation of great quality and affordable products. They are well known for their spring guns but they also are responsible for some great PCPs like the Diana Outlaw Gen 2 which is what we're focusing on in this guide.

Aesthetics

It is available in .177 and .22 calibers for pesting or small game hunting. The beautiful checkered wooden stock is only the beginning of Diana's reputation. If you'd prefer to keep it at the bench to ensure it stays beautiful, we're not going to complain. With its shrouded and moderated barrel, it is certainly backyard friendly.

The total length is 42" and the total weight is 6.7 lbs. Under 7 lbs! Achieving the ability to be a great air rifle for the woods or the bench. The stock has a removable shim to adjust the length of pull for smaller framed shooters and the perfect contours to fit the human body comfortably.

Purpose and Intentions

With hunters in mind, Diana has installed a rear swivel stud as well as MLOK slots on the forearm to sling the rifle, giving the option to scout or move handsfree. If you're planning to shoot at the bench or possibly even prone, the MLOK slots make it easy to mount a bipod for stability wherever you are.

Housed in the stock is the action and the 210cc air cylinder that has a max fill pressure of 3,625 PSI (250 bar). The easytoread fill pressure gauge is at the end of the air cylinder (past the fill port). The regulator pressure gauge is located on the forearm of the air rifle and factory setting for the .177 is 140 bar (about 2,000 PSI).

A great feature of this rifle is one that most airgunners love and that is the sidelever action located on the right side of the airgun. The manual safety is on the right side of the adjustable twostage Diana improved trigger. The trigger pull weight out of the box is just under two pounds---not too light and not too heavy.

The moderated 18" barrel includes a barrel band for stability and is housed in a carbon fiber sleeve which produces a great finish, but also a quieter shooting experience not just for the shooter but the neighbors too.

Finally, above the action and the barrel, the Diana Outlaw offers a split Picatinny optics rail for your preferred optic. Be sure you utilize the appropriate mounts leaving clearance for the 11round magazine in .22 or the 13round magazine in .177. Low to medium rings may hinder the insertion and extraction of the magazine.

Setup & Operation

Safety first---be sure the manual triggerblock safety is engaged before proceeding. Do not insert a loaded magazine or any pellets using the shot tray until you are ready to take your first shots. The Diana Outlaw Gen 2 does not come equipped with open sights and requires a scope for an accurate shooting experience. Ensure you're using the proper mounts (confirming the proper clearance for the magazine), then mount your desired optic onto the rail.

Once you've confirmed the safety is engaged and the breech is clear, attach the included fill probe to your air source and pull the protective sleeve forward over the manometer to expose the fill port. Next insert the fill probe into the port and fill to the max pressure of 3,625 PSI, bleed the valve, and remove the probe.

Now you can load the magazine. With the locking mechanism face up, insert the pellet headfirst, rotate the magazine and repeat until full, repeat with the second magazine. Pull the side lever to the rear position, insert the magazine into the breech and return the cocking lever to the forward position. Take aim at your target, disengage the safety, and squeeze the trigger.

Performance & Accuracy

It's great to have a product that looks good and has great features, but what about the performance and accuracy? If it doesn't perform well, it's not going to serve the purpose it's intended for and in this case it's pesting, hunting, or plinking. Let's get into the details of why it would or wouldn't be great for any or all of them.

We took some shots and adjusted the elevation and windage turrets to accomplish a point of impact near the target. To zero it perfectly is pointless until you know what pellets will shoot the best. These groups are just for testing purposes---let's see if it has an ammo preference.

You can expect approximately fifty shots per fill and the accomplishment of consistent accuracy until the last shot. We tested the .177 with three types of pellets at 25 yards. We tested three types of pellets from different manufacturers, with three different weights to give us an idea of the Outlaw's pellet preference. From lightest to heaviest let's take a look at the velocity, energy, and accuracy it produces with each one. Here are the results.

JSB Exact Express Diabolo 7.87 grain results at 25 yards:

• High: 1,049 FPS / 19.06 FPE
• Low: 1,042 FPS / 18.8 FPE
• Average: 1,046 FPS / 18.94 FPE

JTS Dead Center 8.7 grain results at 25 yards:

• High: 1,012 FPS / 19.78 FPE
• Low: 1,008 FPS / 19.63 FPE
• Average: 1,009 FPS / 19.68 FPE

H&N Sport Baracuda Light 9.57 grain results at 25 yards:

• High: 994 FPS / 21.06 FPE
• Low: 987 FPS / 20.76 FPE
• Average: 989 FPS / 20.85 FPE

After testing each type of pellet at 25 yards, it seems the Outlaw appreciates a heavier pellet. The JSB 7.87 grain pellets didn't produce a very tight group at all---only two of the holes were somewhat close to touching (~2" group). As the ammo got heavier the groups tightened up. The JTS Dead Center (8.7 grain) shot much better, producing less than a halfinch group. The favorite of the three was the H&N Sport Baracuda Light (9.57 grain): almost onehole except for one flyer. Now we know the Diana Outlaw prefers heavier pellets, we can either settle with those and dial it in, or test other pellets of a similar weight.

The pellet options are endless---if you're planning to plink, test domed pellets for the best results. If you'll be pesting or hunting, test hunting pellets like JSB Hades (10.34 grains) or H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme (9.57 grains).

Summing Up

The Diana Outlaw Gen 2 comes from a manufacturer with a great reputation for producing great quality and great performing airguns. The Outlaw is a PCP that can serve many purposes---from plinking or pesting to smallgame hunting. Once you get it set up for the purpose you intend, you can expect to experience success.

As a regulated air rifle there's no need to chase sweet spots and lose out on shot count. The regulator keeps velocity and accuracy consistent as long as pressure stays above the regulator set point. Everyone loves consistency!

Comfort is key---if an air rifle is uncomfortable to shoot, it won't go to the range often. Diana had that in mind with the Outlaw. Its gorgeous wooden stock with the right contours and buttstock adjustments fits the shooter well.

If given a choice, most airgunners will choose the sidelever cocking handle over bolt action any day. The improved trigger is adjustable, but asis it's a pleasant squeeze straight out of the box, producing a pull weight of under 2 lb.

When an air rifle produces the accuracy and power this one does---accompanied by these features at an affordable price---it's an airgun to consider for either yourself or as a gift. Whether in .177 or .22 caliber, this platform gives the airgunner another opportunity to enjoy the sport.