PP800R a tinkerer's dream

What is it?

The Snowpeak/Artemis PP800R is also known as the Diana Bandit, but the PP800R comes with a factory regulator. It can be purchased from various vendors, including Airgun Archery Fun in Canada.

For US$180, one can get a multi-shot regulated PCP pistol with a wooden stock. It does sound too good to be true!

As delivered

I opted for the version with a 3D-printed pistol grip, tri-rail foregrip, and a folding should stock. However, the action is still the same as a regular PP800R.

As delivered, the regulator was tuned quite high for a .177 air pistol. I got about 7 consistent shots running the tiny air tube from 200 bars down to 120 bars, then muzzle velocity dropped rather quickly. JSB 10.34gr pellets left the muzzle at about 640 fps. The factory moderator worked to lessen the deafening muzzle blast to a barely tolerable level. All that said, the accuracy was pretty good even with a 3-pound trigger pull!

Mods

Unlike some expensive airguns, the PP800R is easy to take apart. It is time to work on it!

The Trigger

The trigger diagram is actually in the package, and it is a fairly simple design. It can be taken apart just by pushing two pins out, and the two pieces can be worked on individually.

The sear can be smoothened and polished easily using a rotary tool, rubber polishing bits, and a felt polishing bit. The surface where the two grub screws from the trigger contact was also easy to smoothen and polish to a mirror finish.

The factory spring to push/engage the sear is a little too strong, I removed one coil.