guybinks
20-10-2008, 10:43 PM
I purchased a Daystate Huntsman Classic .22 from BAR (5yr warranty) and after about four weeks wait on delivery and then three weeks wait for me being able to pick it up, I finally managed to take ownership of the rifle on 15/10/2008.
I've had a couple of air rifles before (BSA Supersport and Gunpower Stealth), and I have the AA TX200HC and the AA S400C currently, and I'm a bit of a perfectionist...
I already knew that Daystate couldn't relocate the fore end stud, as there isn't enough meat on the stock (to allow a bipod to be fitted)
First impressions:
On closely examining the rifle, it was mint - and I do mean mint, and the stock graining is simply excellent.
Bless Mike at BAR, I was like a dog with two d**ks, if he'd thrown me a bone, I'd have fetched it I was that excited!
On getting home, I was impressed by the owners book - it wasn't a slip of paper, but a glossy book with a CD attached to the back cover. The rifle was in a plastic sleeve, as was the charging adaptor.
I was really impressed with the overall finish of the rifle, from the chequering, to the good application of gun grease, to the attention in that the QD studs were square in the stock.
I would have preferred to see hex bolts for the trigger guard - but that's personal preference.
Scope fitting and first charge:
I fitted a Hawke AirMax 4-12x44 with some decent quality scope rings, and I was very impressed with the the scope rail, and its depth and finish - the mounts fitted nice and neatly, something that I can't say is quite as good for the Air Arms S400C I have.
With the scope duly fitted, I connected the charging adaptor to the hose off the divers bottle. Whipping off the charging port dust cover, and slotting on the charging adaptor to the rifle is a doddle - its a little close to the barrel shroud, so I'll have to take care not to scratch the underside of the shroud.
I topped upto 200Bar from the divers bottle and went on the range for a zero.
Multishot Magazine and Zeroing:
I'd thumbed through the manual already, so I knew how to load the adaptor - but not how it worked - I soon realised it was like a coil spring type affair and it was quite easy to load.
I must say here that I've never used a multishot before.
Once or twice I seemed to lose a pellet, and on closer inspection I was putting 11 pellets in (number 10 went in, and then 11 forced 10 out!) doh - it was by this time dark - I had the 500W lamp on the range so I could see the targets.
However, I thought, if I can load the magazine in the dark, well its a piece of the proverbial.
The trigger is crisp, and you know when you've got the safety on - as its solid, and just where you want it - at the end of your thumb.
Seated - I put a shot down the range, and noted where it landed - about 3 inches low and 2 to the right.
I put another shot down - 'mare, I missed the target! I went down the range to look at the target, and in fact I had nibbled the first hole - and more or less gone through the first! :eek:
After about 10 shots, I was putting pellet on pellet - to say I was stunned is an understatement. :eek: :eek:
After about 2 magazines worth of pellets, I started to experience some problems loading - to cut a long story short, I wasn't pulling the bolt far enough back to cock the rifle.
I found the magazine a bit fiddly to load at first, and got a little frustrated.
However, after a couple more magazines I started to get used to the action.
Bedding in:
I've put about 400 pellets through it in about 5 days, I am now used to the action and the noise it makes when its cocked and loaded a pellet, and the all important different sound it makes when its fired shot 10 - you can just tell there is no pellet being loaded. And the red spot on teh mag is a dead giveaway!
The rifle is perfectly balanced, and its a joy to shoot, especially as it's light and responsive and its reasonably quiet.
I've oiled the stock with some boiled linseed oil, and its taken very well and looks very nice.
I took the rifle to the club on Sunday and made sure it was spot on at 20yards - I shot some competition cards with it - these cards were better than with my TX and the S400.
I've put a sling on it, and i put the rifle on the shoulder whilst reloading the magazine - unless I am at the club, and its then rested on the bench pointed down the range.
Shot Count:
It's early days, but I noticed the power curve on Sunday, but it was around the suggested 80 or so shots - but it was not nearly as pronounced as the S400.
Accuracy:
There's not a lot to say on accuracy, other than its simply stunningly accurate
Pellets:
So far I've only used Air Arms field .22 5.51 - and given the results, I don't see an awful lot of reason to change.
Field Test:
I'll be taking it into the field sometime soon, more than likely lamping - so I'll post an update in due course.
Hope that helps anyone out there - this is a very nice, very light rifle, and I'm glad I bought this over the HW100.
Pictures:
Bear with me and I will post some up soon
Regrets?
My only regret is that I never bought a Daystate before now! :rolleyes:
I've had a couple of air rifles before (BSA Supersport and Gunpower Stealth), and I have the AA TX200HC and the AA S400C currently, and I'm a bit of a perfectionist...
I already knew that Daystate couldn't relocate the fore end stud, as there isn't enough meat on the stock (to allow a bipod to be fitted)
First impressions:
On closely examining the rifle, it was mint - and I do mean mint, and the stock graining is simply excellent.
Bless Mike at BAR, I was like a dog with two d**ks, if he'd thrown me a bone, I'd have fetched it I was that excited!
On getting home, I was impressed by the owners book - it wasn't a slip of paper, but a glossy book with a CD attached to the back cover. The rifle was in a plastic sleeve, as was the charging adaptor.
I was really impressed with the overall finish of the rifle, from the chequering, to the good application of gun grease, to the attention in that the QD studs were square in the stock.
I would have preferred to see hex bolts for the trigger guard - but that's personal preference.
Scope fitting and first charge:
I fitted a Hawke AirMax 4-12x44 with some decent quality scope rings, and I was very impressed with the the scope rail, and its depth and finish - the mounts fitted nice and neatly, something that I can't say is quite as good for the Air Arms S400C I have.
With the scope duly fitted, I connected the charging adaptor to the hose off the divers bottle. Whipping off the charging port dust cover, and slotting on the charging adaptor to the rifle is a doddle - its a little close to the barrel shroud, so I'll have to take care not to scratch the underside of the shroud.
I topped upto 200Bar from the divers bottle and went on the range for a zero.
Multishot Magazine and Zeroing:
I'd thumbed through the manual already, so I knew how to load the adaptor - but not how it worked - I soon realised it was like a coil spring type affair and it was quite easy to load.
I must say here that I've never used a multishot before.
Once or twice I seemed to lose a pellet, and on closer inspection I was putting 11 pellets in (number 10 went in, and then 11 forced 10 out!) doh - it was by this time dark - I had the 500W lamp on the range so I could see the targets.
However, I thought, if I can load the magazine in the dark, well its a piece of the proverbial.
The trigger is crisp, and you know when you've got the safety on - as its solid, and just where you want it - at the end of your thumb.
Seated - I put a shot down the range, and noted where it landed - about 3 inches low and 2 to the right.
I put another shot down - 'mare, I missed the target! I went down the range to look at the target, and in fact I had nibbled the first hole - and more or less gone through the first! :eek:
After about 10 shots, I was putting pellet on pellet - to say I was stunned is an understatement. :eek: :eek:
After about 2 magazines worth of pellets, I started to experience some problems loading - to cut a long story short, I wasn't pulling the bolt far enough back to cock the rifle.
I found the magazine a bit fiddly to load at first, and got a little frustrated.
However, after a couple more magazines I started to get used to the action.
Bedding in:
I've put about 400 pellets through it in about 5 days, I am now used to the action and the noise it makes when its cocked and loaded a pellet, and the all important different sound it makes when its fired shot 10 - you can just tell there is no pellet being loaded. And the red spot on teh mag is a dead giveaway!
The rifle is perfectly balanced, and its a joy to shoot, especially as it's light and responsive and its reasonably quiet.
I've oiled the stock with some boiled linseed oil, and its taken very well and looks very nice.
I took the rifle to the club on Sunday and made sure it was spot on at 20yards - I shot some competition cards with it - these cards were better than with my TX and the S400.
I've put a sling on it, and i put the rifle on the shoulder whilst reloading the magazine - unless I am at the club, and its then rested on the bench pointed down the range.
Shot Count:
It's early days, but I noticed the power curve on Sunday, but it was around the suggested 80 or so shots - but it was not nearly as pronounced as the S400.
Accuracy:
There's not a lot to say on accuracy, other than its simply stunningly accurate
Pellets:
So far I've only used Air Arms field .22 5.51 - and given the results, I don't see an awful lot of reason to change.
Field Test:
I'll be taking it into the field sometime soon, more than likely lamping - so I'll post an update in due course.
Hope that helps anyone out there - this is a very nice, very light rifle, and I'm glad I bought this over the HW100.
Pictures:
Bear with me and I will post some up soon
Regrets?
My only regret is that I never bought a Daystate before now! :rolleyes: