Daystate Red Wolf Serie Rosso

As business models go, you must hand it to them, and it’s now the established Daystate way of doing things. A steady release of special edition models, with limited production runs, running alongside a line-up of standard production guns, helps create a clamour for the brand, and there’s no doubt that it’s added gloss and cache along the way. I’ve seen several projects come and go from them, as collectors worldwide hoovered up the latest offering for their display cabinets. But I have to say; this time have outdone themselves, with one of the most striking creations to hit the airgun market for some time!

How many?

For the Red Wolf Serie Rosso, on test here, (this is #001) is truly a stunning piece of design work, with its eye-popping woodwork and cutting-edge features list. It is indeed a Special Edition model, and just 200 will be manufactured for worldwide distribution. Each will be supplied in the red padded hard case shown here, which carries that stylish Red Wolf logo, and the Daystate name. The Serie Rosso also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Daystate’s MD, Gianbattista Sabatti, 10- shot magazine, battery pack charger, and filling adaptor.

The stock features an adjustable cheekpiece and buttpad and being based around the brand new Red Wolf action, there’s also that slickly designed wrap-around side lever. But the list goes on. Upgraded MCT electronic power delivery, adjustable power levels, a two-stage electronic trigger, and an LCD information display, are all here. It also features elegant engraving on each side of the breech block, whilst a carbon fibre barrel shroud, and buddy bottle complete the mouth-watering specification.

Seeing red

Through the course of my time with this special rifle, I found myself just staring at that woodwork, long and hard. For it surely is a thing of supreme beauty; to the point where, if you heard Pininfarina had been involved at some stage, you wouldn’t be surprised. We have Italian stock maker Minelli to thank here, and the combination of red and grey laminate is inspired. A thick, durable, 2-pack style varnish seals the deal, and it all looks fabulous. The woodwork is ambidextrous, yet with the clever option of being able to reverse the side lever for left handers, means all are fully catered for.

Fitting a scope is easy, given the extensive run of dovetail rails. The fully adjustable cheekpiece’s movement is via the chunky Allen bolt on the side of the butt, whilst subtle lateral correction can be achieved once the cheek panel has been removed. Small screws just need slackening and it can be gently shifted on its rack- then replaced. As for the buttpad, slacken the rear bolt, and up/ down movement is instantaneous. Fancy it off-set, cast to left, or right? Then this is possible to, and needs the butt removing to allow access to the small bolt beneath.

The power can be adjusted between low and high; accomplished via the usual Daystate programming process, carried out worryingly via the trigger. Full instructions are provided in the manual however, as to how to toggle through and change the settings, but if this was my own rifle, I would leave it set to high and have done with it!

Charging is via the Foster connection underneath the forend. The neat magnetic cap pulls off and the male valve is revealed. One niggle here; as the recess in the laminate to allow the fingers to complete the job, is a little too shallow, so the operation can be irritatingly fiddly. I do have fat fingers, but I can’t be the only one! Daystate now fix a small disc onto the breech block of their guns to confirm the fill pressure figure, and this does vary slightly. My model was stamped 210-bar, but the range for this model is normally 210-230-bar.

Filling the 10-shot magazine is next. Pull back the side lever to cock the action and remove the mag from the left side. Rotate the drum and fill every chamber in turn and put it back in the gun, close the action, and the first round is chambered.

We have the technology

Being electronic, the safety catch is an ON/OFF switch. Daystate’s MCT system ‘Mapped Compensated Technology’, originally developed for the Pulsar program, sees electronic management of the firing cycle. A digital microprocessor and solenoid-powered air valve monitor and control velocity, by compensating for the change in the residual air supply. Increased shots per charge and reduced action movement are the claimed result. Shot count is huge, due in no small part to the sizeable 480cc carbon fibre bottle up front. 450-shots in .177 calibre and 500 in .22 means, effectively, a recharge doesn’t have to be thought about until the pellet tin is empty.

Daystate are one of the few manufacturers to persevere with electronic triggers, and whilst I can’t help considering it something else that can go wrong, there’s no doubting the ability. Fully adjustable for second stage contact and let-off, first stage weight, and travel, it is a delight to use- being both precise and predictable. The battery power pack is supplied, for that rare occasion when the Li-PO battery, stored in the grip, needs recharging, and a warning for this is shown in the LCD display. With thousands of shots between charging, it’s nothing to worry about. Showing the residual air pressure in the LCD is a useful feature, and the action can also be programmed to bleep when the magazine is empty. All clever stuff, and there’s more such features in the manual for those that want them.

Range report

Leave aside those pure aesthetics and concentrate on the practicality of the configuration. Shoulder the Serie Rosso, and all those subtle components and adjustable elements come together beautifully. We’re also reminded in an instant, that it is a serious and functional tool. I have large hands, but that scalloped pistol grip with stippling fits like a glove, with the thumb-up shelf falling into place perfectly. Likewise, the extended forend panel.

With the full magazine in place, cycling that perfectly weighted side lever is all that’s required, for smooth, slick shot delivery, fast or slow. But this is no gun for fast fire action. More so, a slow, deliberate, purposeful approach, in keeping with the overall air of sophistication. There’s a unique feel to these electronic actions, and whilst there is a tiny bit of movement as the shot goes off, it’s all very muted. There is however a significant muzzle report, despite the sizeable shroud; so, the inclusion of a ½-inch UNF thread, ready to receive a secondary silencer, is perfect.

And so, to the stats. Over my chronograph and using Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets straight from the tin, I tested the Serie Rosso for 200-shots, which showed a total spread of 21fps – impressive! Accuracywise, I did find it a little pellet fussy, and here Daystate’s own ‘Rangemaster Li’s came out tops, with ¼-inch groups at 35-yards, and sub-1/2-inch at 45, the latter in a slight breeze. Top class performance then, as we would expect of course from this premium offering.

Conclusion

After close inspection, build quality can also be confirmed as exceptional. It should be of course, given the asking price. For yes, we’re talking £2499 for this Special Edition Serie Rosso, which is a significant outlay in anyone’s book. But such is the demand, that small run of 200 models is already booked by dealers and collectors worldwide. So, what if you miss out on one of these beautiful creations? Well, the new Red Wolf production model offers a similar action in a black laminate or walnut stock of an identical configuration; so, all is not lost!

I must admit that this test has been an absolute pleasure. Arguably Daystate’s finest rifle to date, and a truly stunning piece of airgun performance, art and technologically, guaranteed to turn heads. The only problem is that Daystate will want it back any day soon.