Daystate .22 Airwolf "40fpe" version

[Scott in CO]

I'm thrilled to have finally received my Airwolf from Daystate. The stock is a gorgeous piece of walnut, and the ambidextrous design is brilliant, IMO. My gun has the 500cc bottle, and while its no surprise that its heavy, it feels to be well balanced. I particularly like the shape of the grip as well as the groove coming forward from the trigger area. Compared to many other shrouded FAC rifles, the airwolf is excceptioanlly quiet -especially when considering the power it is producing. The daystate shroud does its job quite well. The trigger is everything you'd expect from a Daystate electronic gun: crisp, responsive, and happy to be adjusted to what feels to me like just a few ounces. The label on the box says "Airwolf 40fpe" and at max power I see 900fps with a 21g pellet (37.78fpe), and 1000fps with a 16g pellet (35.5fpe). Be it 40 or 37 or 35fpe, it makes no difference to me since all I'm interested in is shooting my favorite 16g JSB pellets at 30fpe. My airwolf provides the option of electronicly adjusting the power down through 15 stages. It just so happens that at the lowest power level, I arrived at my desired 930fps with the 16g JSB's. I notice there's a bit less muzzle flip, I enjoy more shots per fill, and get the best accuracy down at 30fpe. While shooting 5 shot groups at 50yds, I qot the impression that I am the weak link in the system and the airwolf is capable of much tighter groups than I am. I've been shooting this gun endlessly, and as my technique improves, I'm gradually seeing my groups tighten.
A pic of eight 5 shot groups at 50ys can be seen here:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/428283.jpg
Targets are 1" rings and the US dime, there for scale, measures about 17mm in diameter. I'm quite pleased, and I'm confident the wolf is capable of better, if only I had the skill...
With a 200 bar fill and the 30fpe power setting here's my chrony string:
Mag #1: 909,913,914,916,error,913,908,906,913
Mag #2: 920,921,error,error,926,924,924,927,927,922
Mag #3: 928,926,932,935,933934,936,934,924,939
Mag #4: 940,937,939,936,940,935,940,938,936,938
Mag #5: 946,943,944,945,938,945,945,944,944,error (Gauge read ~160 bar)
Mag #6: 940,error,942,946,945,942,942,941,941,939
Mag #7: 948,946,943,948,943,942,942,941,941,939
Mag #8: 937,940,939,939,937,933,937,935,934,935
Mag #9: 933,933,932,932,931,926,927,923,925,925
Mag #10: 924,926,920,916,915,918,916,916,913,914 (Gauge read ~140 bar)

For 100 shots: H:948 L:906 ES:42
For 90 shots: H:948 L:914 ES:34
For 80 shots: H:948 L:920 ES:28

Others seem to confirm that 70 shots can be had from the max power setting with a 21g pellet (at ~900fps or ~37fpe) with a 30fps spread...

All in all, I'm quite pleased with my purchase. The top selling points for me (other than the obvious accuracy and fantastic shot count) are the beautiful walnut ambi stock, the fact that I can have a left handed bolt, simple switch between single shot and the 10 shot magazine, the quick fill, fantastic trigger, reasonable over-all length (40.5"), and the fact that it is very quiet.... I'd absolutely recommend it as an excellent FAC choice, and for my needs, I find it to be a step up from the two FAC rapids I've previously owned...
A pic of my new airwolf with a bushnell 8-32 scope mounted can be seen here:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/428114.jpg

Regards,

Scott in CO

[dpm]

Nice one Scott, i think that has made my mind up, i have got to have one.

Cheers, Dave.

[Shed tuner]

Fill to 190, shoot 75 shots, +-12 fps, job done

[Scott in CO]

You've got it right Buddyboy,

Since that chrony test, I've settled on 80 shots with a 190bar fill, and I've been staying within a 25fps extreme spread. Got my shot counter programmed for "80" and everything.... "Job Done" indeed

Regards,

Scott in CO

[Shed tuner]

I seriously considering getting either an Airwolf or an Air ranger on FAC myself, shooting as you have elected JSBs at the low 900s... Just can't decide which to get, need to wait for RapidNick to get his and have a play first

[Scott in CO]

BuddyBoy,

Hopefully you'll get a chance to shoot them both and then decide, but I say unless you're dead set against the electronics, the wolf is clearly at an advantage over the ranger from what I've seen (having also previously owned a 35fpe air ranger). The electronic firing system and trigger are much nicer than the mechanical version. If you're already looking to spend such a large amount of money, why not go all the way? What is drawing you towards the air ranger?

Regards,

Scott in CO

[Rapidnick]

I seriously considering getting either an Airwolf or an Air ranger on FAC myself, shooting as you have elected JSBs at the low 900s... Just can't decide which to get, need to wait for RapidNick to get his and have a play first

You'll have to wait a while Jon! I certainly have considered one but have decided not to buy 'new' so----who knows? I'm also getting on really well with my Rapid 2 at the moment so there isn't really that much mental pressure.