Daystate Red Ranger Air Rifle

Daystate’s positioning of themselves as a niche player in the airgun market, has seen an impressive, ongoing product development programme, resulting in some truly eye-popping models. Highly specialized, top class offerings don’t come cheap of course, but the company’s philosophy has earned them an army of loyal, brand conscious fans, willing to pay premium prices for high quality, well thought out designs.

Rebel With a Cause

Whilst electronic ingenuity has understandably stolen the headlines of late, Daystate’s mechanical models are still a popular alternative, offering performance derived from a somewhat more traditional source. The standard Air Ranger heads up this range, and under the spotlight here, is a very eye-catching version indeed - the Red Ranger.

Just 100 of these special rifles will be produced in a ‘Limited Edition’ production run and will be supplied in a calibre of the customers choosing, including .20 or .25, if they so wish, along with a certificate of authentication.

What lies behind the whole venture is a tie up between Daystate and the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group; a registered charity involved in the frontline battle to save our indigenous red squirrel population. The group are based in Cumbria and work with a number of organizations to monitor and record red squirrel numbers, whilst implementing pest control methods against the rather more aggressive invader – the grey squirrel. The destructive nature of the grey, coupled with their fast spreading numbers, has resulted in an organized front being needed to tackle the problem head-on. The Penrith group play an invaluable role in this operation, with some serious conservation work, which hasn’t escaped the attention of Daystate’s top man, Tony Belas.

Each Certificate of Authentication will be signed by Jerry Moss, a Red Squirrel Conservation Ranger for Whinfell Forest, who works in tandem with the Penrith & District group. Meetings between Jerry and Tony Belas set the ball rolling, and the idea for the tie-up began to take shape. Jerry uses air-rifles in the course of his work, so the union seems wholly appropriate. For each and every Red Ranger sold, Daystate will contribute a percentage of profits to the charity, which is a nice touch and reason enough to give this stunning rifle the once over.

Take a closer look at the mouth watering specification however, and the charity issue becomes just a nice bonus.

Stunning

This special edition follows the same layout as the ‘standard’ Air Ranger, with a buddy bottle up front, fully shrouded barrel, ten shot magazine, and rather sumptuous walnut furniture. What gives it such a unique feel however, comes with the finer detail.

The exquisitely designed woodwork is fashioned by Minelli in Italy, and with red stained Turkish Walnut used, the ultra high gloss, finished article is a fine example indeed of this company’s work. Of course that beautifully rich red lustre of the woodwork ties in with the squirrel connection, adding a unique feel to this tasty limited edition. The usual side flutes (to be found on the standard Air Ranger) are treated to well executed stippling, whilst the grip area sports ‘RR’ in relief, within more stippled panels. The end result is highly impressive.

The totally ambidextrous configuration is a triumph, with twin generous thumb shelves affording a luxurious feel to the grip; along with perfectly raised cheek-pieces either side.

Daystate’s ultra concave rubber ventilated butt pad is one of the best on the market for sheer shoulder hugging performance, and with the Red Ranger on aim, it’s a reassuring feature. Detail is everywhere with this special Ranger, and my only reservation concerns the minor detail of the red squirrel badge adorning the base of the grip - surely a detail too far, and maybe a little garish for such a pedigree offering.

Consider that perfectly shaped, set-back trigger blade, and it becomes clear that this Red Ranger isn’t all about looks. Indeed there’s a fully functioning thoroughbred beneath that five-star veneer; and Daystate fans will no doubt be queuing at their local dealership at the very prospect.

Show of Strength

Form meets function where that rather refined breech block is concerned. Being fashioned from Titanium alloy adds a real touch of class, not to mention added strength and precision where it matters. Precise engraving, with a red squirrel motif one side, and ‘Red Ranger Limited Edition’, the other, really sets off this rifle too, with no one left in any doubt as to its elevated status.

Buddy bottle systems often suffer from forcing the shooter to grip cold steel when using the bottle itself as part of the fore-end. No such reservations here though, since Daystate thoughtfully include a brown leather bottle cover as part of the specification - being both warm to the touch and easy on the eye.

Another major shortcoming of many ‘buddy bottle’ style rifles concerns the issue of charging the system. Daystate remedied this situation from the outset with their standard Air Ranger, so bottle removal is totally unnecessary. Instead, just pull off the metal cap from the inlet valve on the underside of the action, and connect up the air supply. Fill to the tune of 210bar, and this Red Ranger is good to go for around 400 shots in .177 or 500 shots in .22 calibre.

Past experience tells me Daystate have nothing to prove where consistency is concerned, and with the patented Harper Slingshot hammer and valve system on board, keeping air delivery on song, great performance should be a given.

I monitored 100 shots which all registered within 15fps, and that was using Daystate FT pellets straight from the tin, with an average energy of 11.6ft/lbs - text book stuff.

‘Standard’ Fittings

The very latest MK5 version of Daysate’s own Reflex silencer came with the Red Ranger, and this tames the muzzle report down to very acceptable levels. What makes this silencer so remarkable is the clever design which sees the barrel thread to the silencer around half way down the tube, resulting in an increase in the overall length of a minimal three inches. Compact handling is therefore maintained, along with the Red Rangers aesthetic appeal.

Standard Daystate fittings include the full-length barrel shroud, ending in a threaded section at the muzzle, blanked off with a knurled cap when no silencer is fitted. The chunky cocking bolt is classic Daystate, along with the rocker safety catch, all adding to the genuinely prestigious feel of this beautifully presented classic.

Multi-shot Performance

Of course Daystate’s 10-shot magazine is supplied, and this reliable design has been with us for some time. As usual, the magazine can be swapped for the neat single shot tray, but if hunting duties are on the cards (a worrying experience trying not to damage that beautiful stock finish), then ten shots held in a rotary mag is clearly the preferred option.

Once the magazine is primed and inserted into its slot in the action, the bolt is pulled back to cock the hammer and set the trigger. At the same time the next pellet is indexed, ready to go. In practice, the bolt needs a confident pull to complete the operation, but soon becomes second nature.

Overall, the beautifully scalloped deep thumb-shelves, perfectly shaped, set-back trigger, and shoulder hugging butt pad, all combine to great effect. Handling is just sublime from this pedigree beauty, ensuring satisfaction from prospective owners who dare to take the Red Ranger form its presentation cabinet!

It’s a rare Daystate indeed that fails to deliver in the performance stakes, and for the record, I recorded groups of around a quarter inch at 35yds.

PR Success

In short, what we have here is a Limited Edition classic which sits perfectly with Daystate’s niche product ethos, whilst doing a splendid PR job for the red squirrel and possibly to the benefit of us all.

PRICES: £1550