If you have been following the development of the ZR mounts by Diana, I am sure you will have seen the VIMEO video that purports to be slow motion.
Well, it is and it isn't. It is a digitally created slow motion. As can be seen from the deformation of the turrets upon firing the rifle (a Diana 54 BTW).
We all know that turrets do not deform, they are too short. Barrels do flex, actions also do, even some scope bodies. But not turrets.
When Hannukkah came around, I subliminally dropped the hint that I needed a high speed camera to capture the action. So, lo and behold, through the generosity of my In-Laws, I now have a Casio Exilim 700.
It is pink. But I do not care. It shoots at 1000 frames per second and while the "movies" are grainy and dark and will definitely win no academy award, they do show EXACTLY what is happening because each frame takes 1 msec (1/1000'th of a second).
The camera also has the ability to take a "picture" of every frame, so that you can display as an image.
Here is a slideshow composed of the 13 msecs that it takes from the moment the sear breaks:
It is only then that the ZR Mount starts moving to its original place that is indexed with the conical lug at the front of the lower base.
It is important to note that even when the action is stopped and the mount starts moving backwards, you can still see a further movement of the action backwards. This is the extent of the piston re-bound in a CCA WFTF D54, it takes about 1/5 of the overall recoil distance. In a standard D54's this rebound takes about 1/2 of the overall recoil distance.
When using a full power D-54, the distance that the action moves reaches the rear end of the ZR Mount and pulls the scope, thereby negating part of its virtues. But it is still a big help, and as long as you mount a good scope, you will be lengthening the life of the scope by a good amount.
In full power, non-sled actions, the ZR Mount does a better job. And this covers 99% of all spring-piston airguns.
Overall, I think the ZR Mount is a valuable addition to the arsenal of solutions available to the airgunner. While it is not for everyone, it will provide a service to those that like to shoot powerful spring-piston airguns and it opens the options of possible scopes to be used to a wider range of brands and models that would otherwise not be considered.
Keep well and shoot straight!