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

[Shed tuner]

No idea really, just seems less to go wrong ! Then again I had a MK3 sport (12 FPE .177) which was flawless, and boringly accurate

[ross H]

No idea really, just seems less to go wrong ! Then again I had a MK3 sport (12 FPE .177) which was flawless, and boringly accurate

yer almost as accurate as you and your tx

[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.

[ross H]

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.

well i think that is very selfish poor john had his heart on trying yours, you should be ashamed

[dbc-65]

top write up scott. electronic the way forward me thinks.
Buddy Boy i have my air ranger 177 mint up for sale. (going to have me a Wolf)
Cheers
Dave

[Russ6357]

Scott - nice review mate.

So you have owned a couple of FAC Rapids, an Air Ranger and now an Air Wolf - that's quite of lot of air-firepower mate

I no longer have an FAC Rapid but if memory serves I used to get around 70 shots at 30 ftlbs with good accuracy - I would have thought that a 500CC bottle would have got more like 120 shots - or am I loosing my marbles (again....sigh.... blue pill - blue pill stat!).

Once I move house I am going to treat myself to either a MK3 (I know less power/shots but such a pretty gun) or an Air-Wolf.

[Scott in CO]

Howdy Russ,

Yeah, I know what you mean about the 400 vs 500cc's of air. Things don't seem to compute... But you've got to consider your rapid (and my old rapid) had 21" barrels, vs. the 17" barrel on the wolf, right? That evens things out a bit. My old rapid was set at 34fpe and I got 50 shots that would stay within a 25fps extreme spread. I've heard of 100 shots from 400cc's at 30fpe with the rapid, but have not seen the spreads. -And there is hope for the wolf, since David Snook is reporting 130 shots at 30fpe with his shot compensation. -And he's says he's working on a hand-held programmer so we can program our own compensation. Lets cross our fingers and hope that programmer makes it to production!!!
Good luck with your next gun purchase! If you're going .177, I'd recommend the MK3 with the regulator -70 shots per fill at 860fps with 10.3's and a 10-15fps extreme spread. Check out this 50 shot group from 35yds with the MK3 ft:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/422495.jpg
THE most consistent/accurate thing I've ever seen... Absolutely brilliant platform for FAC .177, IMO. If you're going .22 then I have to vote for the wolf. Shot count on the Mk3 at 30fpe may be troubling if you want a nice tight spread...

regards,

Scott in CO

[Russ6357]

Probably go with .22 to be honest.

Not sure about bird-shooting with high-power .177. Fine for bunny head shots but smaller bird chest shots seem to be more reliable in .22 at FAC levels.

[Patrick B]

For any of you guys who are intrested,i shot 100 rounds with my Fac Airwolf in 40 fpe through the chrono and this is what came out my CED chrono
shot=m/s started with full 500cc reservoir 250 bar after 100 shots 150 bar left

1=259 11=263 21=267 31=273 41=273 51=278 61=280 71=279 81=276 91=273
2=258 12=263 22=266 32=274 42=275 52=278 62=280 72=277 82=275 92=272
3=258 13=264 23=269 33=272 43=274 53=278 63=278 73=278 83=276 93=271
4=260 14=265 24=267 34=273 44=275 54=277 64=278 74=275 84=275 94=269
5=261 15=264 25=265 35=273 45=274 55=279 65=279 75=276 85=273 95=270
6=260 16=266 26=270 36=274 46=276 56=279 66=279 76=276 86=273 96=269
7=261 17=266 27=270 37=274 47=275 57=278 67=278 77=275 87=273 97=269
8=261 18=266 28=269 38=274 48=277 58=277 68=279 78=274 88=272 98=269
9=261 19=265 29=271 39=275 49=277 59=278 69=276 79=275 89=271 99=269
10=260 20=265 30=273 40=277 50=277 60=276 70=274 80=274 90=273 100=266

I am pleased with my Airwolf ,i shoot 100 meters at my gunclub(indoor) with it and with my Leupold on it it shoots 5 shots in a 4 cm area.
I use H&N barracudas