Diana XR200 PCP Air Rifle Review .22 Caliber

VALUE FOR MONEY

At an MSRP of $999.99, the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle is playing right into a crowded area. It’s the start of the “serious money” segment for PCP air rifles.

As a premium model from Diana’s German-made “Performance Line”, the XR200 is fitted with a Lothar Walther barrel, Altaros regulator and match-grade trigger. However it’s missing some capabilities expected in the US market, such as regulator and hammer spring adjustment and has a relatively low HPA air capacity.

This makes the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle rather a niche product for US shooters. But if you’re interested in shooting a quality airgun directly “out of the box” – without playing around with multiple settings – then it still could be a contender.

The HAM Team’s opinion is that many buyers who spend one thousand Dollars on an air rifle are likely also to look at guns in the $1,100 – $1,200 range too. In other words, price alone is not their primary purchasing criterion.

As you’ll read in this review, there’s a lot more to like about the XR200. It would be a stronger choice in .177 caliber as there would be – undoubtedly – many more shots per fill.

However – at up to $1,200 – there are some very established air rifles available from a number of high-end brands. They offer serious competition to the XR200 – at least from a US perspective, hence our value score in this review.

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The Diana XR200 PCP air rifle tested by HAM delivered a maximum of close to 1,100 FPS with 10.03 Grain H&N Field Target Trophy alloy pellets. However most potential buyers will be attracted not by a high Muzzle Velocity. They will want accuracy!

Fortunately the XR200 tested by HAM produced excellent accuracy with the majority of HAM test pellets, as you can see from the list here.

Having achieved the basic data, I then shot the XR200 with Daystate Howler slugs at 25 Yards. The results were excellent, as you can see below. Close to a one-hole group except for the one called flyer, it’s definitely good shooting for me!

Note that all the testing was undertaken with the XR200’s power adjuster set to its “max” position, as shown below.

Although the XR200 exceeded it’s manufacturer’s specifications with a maximum Muzzle Energy on test of 35.92 Ft/Lbs in .22 caliber, many US shooters would probably expect to see a higher power level from a new PCP air rifle platform in 2023.

However, that’s a tough call when the easy-to-fill, 2,900 PSI fill pressure is taken into account.

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

The Diana XR200 PCP air rifle tested by HAM had a superb trigger! It’s a two-stage unit with a very comfortably-shaped trigger blade that is fully-adjustable for pull weight and sear engagement.

With an average pull weight of just 0 Lbs 9.5 Oz – yes just 9.5 Ounces! – this is a delightful trigger to use, with a crisp, clear let-off. “People should really like this trigger”, HAM Tester Doug Rogers commented in his test notes.

In addition, the XR200 trigger has a dry-fire capability. This is a great way to practice trigger control and is a feature usually found only on precision (and highly-expensive) target rifles. Yet it’s here in a “mainstream” PCP.

That’s definitely a unique benefit for the Diana XR200.

The manufacturer indicates that an “Olympic” trigger will be available as a future up-grade. That has to be really, really good to be a significant improvement on the trigger fitted to this XR200!

The manual safety is well-positioned and easy to operate. It works decisively. It’s also easily moved to the other side of the gun – Diana tells you how in the “conversion” owner’s manual. That makes it ideal for left-handed shooters and anyone else who would simply prefer the safety on the left side of the gun.

The cocking lever comes from the factory set for right-handed operation. However, it also can be swapped to the other side. Diana’s excellent manual explains how to do it.

The cocking lever itself is smooth and easy to use. Again, Doug Rogers’ comment is very positive. “There was not even one hard-to-load pellet when pushing the cocking lever forward to load the pellet through the magazine during my testing,” he wrote. “That is very rare!”

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

The Diana XR200 PCP air rifle tested by HAM easily exceeded the manufacturer’s claims for both Muzzle Velocity and Muzzle Energy.

Diana claims a maximum of 950 FPS with (presumably) lead pellets in .22 caliber. The HAM test gun achieved 1,014 FPS with 11.75 Grain RWS Hobby lead pellets.

In fact, it exceeded the manufacturer’s claims even with 14.66 Grain H&N Field Target Trophy pellets. They shot at an average of 961 FPS. That’s above the claim, even with a mid-weight pellet.

Likewise the manufacturer’s Muzzle Energy claim was demolished by the test gun. Diana claims up to 31 Ft/Lbs in .22 caliber. The HAM tests achieved a maximum of 35.92 Ft/Lbs, shooting 35.92 Grain Redesigned JSB Jumbo Monsters. That’s no less than 16% above the claim.

CONSISTENCY

The Diana XR200 PCP air rifle tested by HAM gave outstanding consistency!

As discussed above, the gun gave excellent accuracy with many pellets. It’s clearly not pellet picky. In addition, it shot very well with the Daystate Howler slugs. Many shooters will be happy about that!

Secondly, the trigger pull weight varied by only about 1 Oz across the HAM tests. That’s completely undetectable in use and, effectively, a completely consistent trigger pull! It’s among the best results we’ve ever measured…

Then the average Standard Deviation (the mathematical expression of shot-to-shot variability in FPS across a string) across the range of HAM test pellets was just 2.60 FPS. That’s an incredibly low figure, again among the best we’ve ever measured.

But there is a catch with that FPS consistency, as we can see in our “shootdown graph” below. The Diana XR200 PCP air rifle demonstrated outstanding FPS consistency for the first 24 shots. But after that, the regulator set-point was reached and the velocity began to fall – consistently!

Given our standard measurement of consistency as being an Extreme Spread of 40 FPS, the XR200 tested by HAM delivered only 30 consistent shots. This is a sadly low figure and, again, a result of the attractively low fill pressure of 2,900 PSI.

It’s tough to have everything in life…

The moral here is that the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle delivers outstanding consistency. However, it requires frequent topping-up with HPA to deliver that consistency. That’s accounted-for in the Shootability section of this review, below.

NOISE LEVEL

The XR200 is fitted with a fully shrouded barrel. That certainly looks like carbon fiber!

However, the result was not quiet!

We’d rate the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle as not backyard-friendly in .22 caliber. That’s a shame, particularly as there’s no threading around the muzzle end of the barrel to accommodate an airgun-only silencer, where legal.

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

As with any other quality airgun, you’ll need to mount a riflescope on the Diana XR200 air rifle. We decided to install a Sightron S-TAC 3-16×42 scope as this promised to be a good balance of size, weight and optical quality.

As with many other PCPs, it’s a good idea to fit a magazine in place first before mounting the scope. (You’ll need to discharge one round safely to do this as the sidelever will not close on an empty mag chamber).

This precaution will make clear that you’ll need high rings in order to provide clearance between the scope and magazine. I installed the HAM Team’s favorite UTG P.O.I rings from Leapers.

Yes, there’s actually plenty of clearance there between mag and scope, although the photo below does not show it!!!

Field Target – and perhaps other – shooters will be unhappy that the magazine loads from (and projects beyond) the left side of the breech. This means that the XR200 cannot be used with riflescopes having a “big wheel” parallax-correction capability.

Another design decision that goes against the current consensus is the provision of traditional 11mm scope rails.

But – even though trendy – Picatinny rails are not actually required to restrain the recoil of PCPs of this power for scope mounting. So the Diana doesn’t have one.

Although the XR200’s breech is not long, the HAM Team had no issues mounting the scope in a comfortable position for our use.

SHOOTABILITY

A good feature of the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle is that it is surprisingly light – the “bare” weight without scope etc is just 6 Lbs 2 Oz. That, the slimline stock and 42.9-Inch overall length make for good, comfortable offhand shooting.

The need for high scope rings to clear the magazine seemed to be a disadvantage at first. However, don’t worry, the adjustable cheekpiece can be set high to achieve a good cheek weld – even for the long-necked among us like me!

Then, of course, there’s THAT GAUGE! The main pressure gauge is located at the front of the HPA tube. It faces back toward the shooter and is ideally-positioned for checking that you actually have as much air onboard as you think – or hope!

That gauge is certainly visible when the gun is shouldered. However, it’s a little small for accurate reading at that distance – for our eyes, at least. It can be rotated to the other side (when not under pressure) for left-handed shooters. That’s another aspect of the XR200’s strong ambidextrous capabilities.

HAM certainly commends Diana for an innovative solution to the “front gauge” issue, too. They are not asking us to “look down the barrel” as is the case with an end-mounted pressure gauge. That always worries us…

The magazine well holds more surprises. Firstly the magazines are held in place by magnets. Unique? No. But still unusual.

If you prefer to not use magazine feed, forget single shot trays! Another of the Diana XR200 unique features is the “Twin Shot Tray”. Yip, it’s a two-shot tray. Push across to engage the second shot. It works just fine, although you can’t just drop a pellet (or slug) into place before pushing the cocking lever forward…

Although the XR200 has a power adjuster on the side of the breech, there is no method for adjusting either the regulator set pressure, nor is the hammer spring tension adjustable. Both of these are rapidly becoming expected features for new PCP air rifles.

While the “out of the box” shooter will not care (much) about their omission, this makes the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle not a first choice for the tinkerers and tuners out there.

The HAM testers noticed an unusual tendency for this Diana XR200 PCP air rifle to “jump” slightly when fired. This “vertical recoil” is most unusual on any PCP air rifle we have tested. However, it didn’t seem to cause any vertical stringing on the test targets.

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

On to appearance. Personal opinion is that the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle is a fine-looking airgun. From photographs, the wood-stocked model could be even more attractive.

Yes, other synthetic stocks have stippling (or molded checkering) to provide grip in inclement conditions. But I can’t think of another mainstream PCP that has real rubber grip pads let into the synthetic stock at the forend and around the pistol grip.

This is well done and – apart from being practical – the rubber grips make a good-looking contrast with the OD (Olive Drab) stock color.

Although Diana does not supply a Picatinny rail for scope mounting, there’s one fitted to the underside of the stock for mounting a bipod. You can see a Leapers UTG TBNR bipod attached to this gun in the photograph above.

Overall this is an attractive, well-finished air rifle. The Diana XR200 looks good and gives a definite impression of quality manufacturing in the finish of all parts.

BUYING AND OWNING

At the time of writing this review, the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle is not available for sale in the USA. But it will be very soon!

The warranty is to be 2 years, with support provided by the local, in-country dealer or distributor.

Diana has given the XR200 probably the best set of owner’s manuals of any air rifle at any price! They are beautifully-produced, with clear, simple text and copious, appropriate illustrations. And they’re multi-lingual. Full marks to Diana for investing the time and effort in this. It’s a sign of the detailed thinking that went into the gun.

But the real importance of these manuals is how they illustrate the thinking behind the air rifle. There’s no less than three manuals included with the Diana XR200 PCP air rifle. One covers general operation, another maintenance and the third conversions – to other configurations, that is.

The “Maintenance” and “Conversion” manuals not only encourage the owner to venture inside his or her air rifle. More than that, they provide part numbers and even the precise tools required to undertake the task!

They explain how to undertake tasks ranging from pressure gauge replacement to changing the valve stem. You’ll find out how to change barrels (and calibers, if required).

Want to swap the cocking lever from right to left? Covered. Ditto for the manual safety lever. Want to change a complete trigger assembly to the “Olympic” version. Yup, it’s there, too. That’s streets ahead of the documentation that’s supplied with many other airguns.

The XR200 is supplied with a rotary magazine (12-shot capacity for .22 caliber) and a “two shot tray”. You can see the high-strength retaining magnets on the undersides of both in the photograph below.

Then there’s the magazine spacer. That’s the other item you can see above.

XR200 mags in all calibers below .30 have the same thickness. But the 30 cal magazines are wider. To enable a single breech block to accommodate any caliber, the mag well is made to accept the wide .30 caliber mag. The spacer is installed when using the smaller caliber magazines (and twin shot trays).

This was a feature that the HAM Team did not much care for. True, the magazine spacer stayed in place during use – we had thought that it might fall out.

However, it doesn’t match the outline of the breech and looks like an afterthought. We would have preferred to see an alternative solution here, such as magazines of the same depth for all calibers, or a special .30 caliber-only breech.

Due to the HAM review gun being a pre-production model, it was not fitted with a “plug” to seal the side of the breech opposite to the cocking lever assembly.

However, such a rubber plug is being fitted to production guns and it’s shown in this photograph of a wood-stocked gun shown below. (Thanks Diana).

TEST TARGETS

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