Totally Mechanical

Well, we’ve exhausted all the superlatives of late, with Daystate’s steady stream of range-topping specialist air rifles, and it is, of course, their ground-breaking, electronically managed models that tend to hog the headlines. Tactical configurations, touchscreen control, mapped velocity etc. It’s all there for those that wish to fully indulge.

KISS

As a past customer of this premium brand, I’ve thought long and hard as to whether or not embracing the electronics was the way to go, and I have to say I’ve resisted thus far. I suppose my entrenched position as a traditionalist, and a fully paid-up member of the KISS club (Keep It Simple Stupid), has scared me off, fearing there’s more to go wrong with all the electronics. Time has indeed told though, and there’s no doubt Daystate’s talented team of engineers have cracked any reliability issues, with the latest range-topping models purring along nicely. An army of satisfied customers truly sold on the idea, that capacitors and solenoids have a place in an airgun, is a testament to that.

Safe option

Daystate isn’t stupid though, and keeping certain guns in the line-up, as purely mechanical, means there really is a model for everyone. On test here is one such specimen - the rather attractive Wolverine R, B-Type. Seen here in green laminate, and with that stunning configuration, this is a classy and highly distinctive sporting airgun that’s aimed primarily at the discerning hunter. With a host of onboard features as standard, this model is designed to elevate performance in the field, offering subtlety and sophistication in a gun straight from the box.

Lotta bottle

A fully shrouded Lothar Walther barrel sits up front, and this gets a threaded muzzle to take a silencer if deemed necessary. There’s a manual safety catch at the rear of the receiver, a match-style trigger with a fully adjustable mechanism and match blade, twin manometers safely positioned on the left side of the action, a Foster-style charging valve, the latest magazine system, and a subtle side-lever to work the mechanical action.

The ‘R’ in the name denotes a regulated action, and this means the now familiar Huma regulator is fitted, to meter velocity, and tighten up consistency. My test rifle tipped the scales at 8.1 lbs and came complete with the larger 500cc cylinder. If you opt for the smaller 400cc version, you can trim over a pound in weight, but let’s face it, 8 lbs odd is still highly manageable in the big scheme of things. The shot count is unsurprisingly enormous with the 500cc setup, and for that read 500 shots in .177 and an amazing 600 shots in .22 calibre.

The Wolverine R, B-Type is visually stunning, and whilst other options exist, including walnut, this laminate stock, with green and blue combined, is particularly appealing. It’s an ambidextrous design, yet concedes little in terms of handling, with that generous thumbhole, contoured and stippled grip, and twin thumb shelves that allow for the relaxed thumb-up position. A prominent cheekpiece and an adjustable concave pad elevate the handling, whilst that composite forend prevents any irritating contact with the cold cylinder up front. It all works well, giving the Wolverine a truly distinctive look, whilst ensuring handling isn’t compromised.

Preparation

Daystate has for some while now, marked up guns individually, to show the desired fill pressure, and my test gun came with a neat disc on the receiver, stating a recommended 230 bar. To charge the system, simply pull off the small magnetic cap that covers the valve on the underside of the action, and this reveals a standard Foster-style inlet. Trying to use a standard adaptor, given the small recess on the underside of the stock, would pose a problem, so Daystate supplies an elongated adaptor, that gives far more grip. This just snaps onto the valve, and the cylinder can be gently charged accordingly.

As mentioned, there are two manometers perfectly positioned on the left side of the action. The rear one permanently displays the HUMA regulator pressure, whilst the front one shows residual main cylinder pressure. Keeping tabs is easy then, which is reassuring.

The new, all-metal, gate-style of magazine is easy to fill, too. Pull down the hinged front, twist the drum clockwise, all the way around against spring pressure, and whilst preventing anything from falling through the back, drop a pellet headfirst into the bottom/central chamber. This holds the drum, and you can now drop pellets headfirst into all the remaining chambers. Close the gate, and it’s ready.

Up top, there’s a 2-part dovetail rail over the breech. However, the height of the magazine in situ is something to bear in mind when mounting glassware, so as not to foul the mag body. At this point, it’s worth mentioning that the Wolverine can be specified with the side-lever mounted on either side, but Daystate does stress that this needs to be set by the factory.

Final tweaks

Just before we get down to action, a couple of final tweaks can be made if deemed necessary. Firstly, if hunting is on the cards, then reducing the muzzle report to a squeak, may well make sense. As it stands, the last few inches of the barrel shroud actually act as an expansion chamber, so there are no harsh notes to speak of. However, the muzzle report is still significant, so screwing a silencer into place up front will dramatically reduce output. Daystate produces its own range of accessories and with one of their 0db Silencers included in the box for the test, it was joining me at the range for evaluation.

Regarding the match-style trigger, Daystate provides basic details covering the function of each screw in the unit, in the manual. However, the usual caveat remains - trigger adjustment is best left to those experienced in making the necessary fine adjustments, as it is possible to lose settings and make the gun unsafe. Just for the record, the second-stage weight and first-stage travel are adjustable. Also, the bade position itself can be adjusted forward or back on the carriage, and for angle and height around its pillar support. Pretty comprehensive then, and everything we would expect from such a premium airgun.

Field report

OK, range time. Pulling back the side-lever is a civilized operation, with initially zero resistance, until the last inch of movement. Minimal effort thereafter cocks the action. Next, slot the full magazine into position, and the usual Daystate system of a small magnet pulls the mag into position. Shut the lever and the first shot is ready. I mentioned earlier that this model gets a manual safety catch, but Daystate also mimics several firearms with their safety system that sees the gun fail to fire whilst the side-lever is pulled back and the breech is open. This is a great feature and eliminates firing the Wolverine accidentally and before the shot is safe and intended. Cycling the lever is easy and smooth, and for the duration of my extensive test period, proved utterly faultless.

Don’t forget that if you fancy firing in single-shot mode, then Daystate always supplies a single-shot tray, which will just snap into position in place of the magazine. Again, it will be held in place with magnets.

On test, my model actually shot fractionally better without the silencer, using the Rangemaster Sovereign pellets supplied, which could be harmonics, but more extensive pellet testing may well throw up different results. As stated, the shot count with this Wolverine R, B-Type, is huge, so I opted to test the first eight magazines worth (104 shots), to gauge how the HUMA regulator was functioning. With a total velocity spread of just 21 fps and an average power output of 11.3 ft/lbs, I’d say the results were fairly textbook. I love the feel and balance of this model, and with groups of a smidgeon over 0.25” c-t-c at 40 yards, using Sovereigns straight from the tin, this premium Daystate was well and truly making its point.

Verdict

So, there we have it. A classy, stylish, and highly capable piece of hardware that’s built to satisfy the most discerning of shooters. Top-notch PCP performance, the Daystate badge, and all delivered via a mechanical action.