Testing the Daystate AirWolf MCT

Reality Check!
The editor has a word with himself and rejoins the real world

y job is an odd one at times. Ive spent the last month shooting possibly the worlds most technically advanced sporter, and trying as hard as I can to avoid its most technical advancements. I succeeded, too, sort of, and Im glad I made the effort. Ill now explain why I went to all the trouble of shooting the new Daystate Air Wolf MCT as though it were any other top sporter. Ive tested Daystates electronicallycontrolled pre-charged pneumatic rifles since the first model, the MK3, was launched way back in December 2002. At the time, that MK3 had me shaking my head at the sheer technicality of it, and I immediately began to concentrate far too much on the wonders unveiled by the guns electronics. This diversion had me treating the actual shooting functions which are the entire point of having any rifle as something of a side issue. As subsequent

Daystate models offered more, and more wonderful, electronic features, I continued to be far too wrapped up in the latest techno-doings and continued to downplay the rifles roles as shooting machines. From the many conversations Ive had about these guns, I was certainly not alone in putting too much emphasis on the electronics, and not enough on the gun. This is entirely wrong, and I mean to put it entirely right. My plan, like its source, was simple. I would leave the Air Wolfs nine-stage setup options exactly as the factory intended, and just shoot the granny out of the test gun

until I knew it inside-out as a sporting rifle. Basically, I needed to test it as I would any other rifle, with a practical exploration of the electronic features after the real evaluation was completed. As you young folk say sounds like a plan. The test rifle was in .22 calibre, and like all of its kind, it comes complete with a 10shot magazine, a single-shot pellet tray, a snap-on air-charging adaptor, an electrical charger to re-charge the rifles internal batteries, a pair of keys to switch the action on and off, and a manual in the form of a CD. Having plugged the rifle into the mains for a couple of hours to charge its on-board
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Its more than a supergun - its one of the finest sporters on the planet.

Autoload or singleshot, the choice is yours.

Grip with confidence, and style.

batteries (which still feels odd, it has to be said) my first proper job was to fill it with air, and I went for the recommended 232-bar charge, which enters via the click-on adaptor. That charge will provide over 500, perfectly regulated shots at over 11 ft.lbs., or well over 400 from the .177 version, provided you take your time and actually charge the Air Wolf properly. That means trickling in the charge over ten seconds or so, rather than giving it a hefty squirt. Fast charging means heat and that means expansion, which means your PCP isnt getting its full charge once everything cools down. A push-fit inlet valve cover gave protection from dirt, the elements and general muck, and an unhurried ten seconds later I was a loading choice away from starting shooting. Heres where it gets a bit complicated, and its also where I learned a bit about how seemingly simple things are actually amazingly hi-tech. In this case, its the loading of our airguns, and pellet magazines in particular. Ive been using autoload pellet magazines since the early 1990s, and Ive done so ever since without thinking about it that much. I prefer to get on with my shooting and let the clever people sort out things like magazines and electronic actionsand everything else, really. Yet, we should be aware of the sheer precision demanded by those taken-for-granted pellet magazines. For instance, if the alignment of the pellet-carrying chamber and the bore is out by more than a few thou, all manner of accuracies can take place as the pellets find themselves clipped on loading. As far as pure accuracy is concerned, its heartening to learn that the standard issue thumb remains the finest pellet loading gizmo ever invented, and I used that

particular device extensively throughout this test. But theres more

MIND THE GAP

A LOAD MORE TO IT

Next, something Ive never even considered, namely the effect on the rifles torsional strength of installing a huge gap in the action block where the magazine fits. Think about it; the action block houses the barrel and the scope mounting rail, and any movement from either could cause inconsistent accuracy, or lack of it, if that movement isnt perfectly equal for both. Now, think about this need for total solidity against the need to chop out a large lump of action to house the mag. Finally, factor the fact that our pre-charged pneumatic rifles need to remain immaculately on-line during countless charges and discharges of high-pressure air, plus they need to take the rough and occasional tumble of life as a sporter, and youll see how removing a great chunk from the action isnt exactly ideal when youre trying to ensure perfect solidity. The manufacturers manage it, though, and they do so in a variety of ways. Daystate build in a steel bar to reclaim any lost rigidity, other designs go for a solid scope rail to bridge the gap, and no doubt everyone else has designedin their own solutions to this requirement Id never previously considered. As I say, theres more to this autoload lark than meets the untrained eye.

LOADING THE MAG

s The human digit still rule g. when it comes to loadin Security is key with the Daystate AirWolf MCT.

Airgun World readers regularly ask me about the complication of loading multishot pellet magazines, and while its fair to say that anyone seriously thinking about buying an Air Wolf MCT will probably have no fear of loading it, these tests arent intended purely for prospective buyers. The fact is there is a right way, and therefore many wrong ways, to

The new Reflex silencer adds supression without sacrificing style. 20 AIRGUN WORLD 2009

Testing the Daystate AirWolf MCT

load a magazine. In this case, its a simple matter of inserting pellets via the chamfered loading bay, manually indexing the mags internal pellet carrier each time until the magazine is fully loaded. The magazine can only be loaded the correct way, unless a mallet and extreme determination are involved (not completely out of the question read this months news section) so theres nothing to fear at all, really. Mind you, the wrong way of loading this magazine does exist and Im going to highlight them here. First, not all pellets are ideal for use in autoload magazines, especially those used in CO2-powered pistols, which will often snarl up when loaded with pointed or over-long pellets. Secondly, while no shooter who expects the best from his airgun should ever load damaged, malformed or substandard pellets, these are especially troublesome when used in autoload magazines. Use the closest thing to perfect pellets you can get your hands on, and load each pellet correctly into its chamber so that no damage occurs as the magazine rotates. Finally, keep your magazines clean and free from grit. Mags are too often stowed in grubby pockets among all sorts of creeping crud, and thats exactly the sort of crud that will infiltrate your magazine and stop it working as it should. In short, theres absolutely nothing to fear from autoload airguns, or pre-charged pneumatics, or any other airgun for that matter, as long as you read the manual, use your common sense and dont take anything to bits that you dont understand. Right, lets kick on with my real world test.

h care. Choose your scope wit

Yes, the Air Wolf is virtually effortless to shoot, partly due to the bolt being merely a switch which activates the magazine rather than cocks a hammer spring, but thats not what makes this rifle so stressfree to shoot. The trigger, although not the most attractive looking component, can be set to break almost subconsciously, while still offering full control. I realise how arty-farty that may seem to some, but its absolutely true, and only comes into play when youre totally tuned into a gun and youve moved past the basic stuff. During this test, I left the basic stuff behind within 50 shots.

ACCURACY REPORT

Easy, quick and clean air injection.

SHOOTING THE WOLF

I have a Daystate Air Ranger, which, with its buddy-bottle air reservoir, shrouded barrel and obvious other similarities, could be described as a mechanical version of the Air Wolf. I reveal this purely to put myself in an ideal comparison position, and frankly I was expecting little more that a slightly sterile edition of the Ranger. I was more than slightly wrong on that one, as it turned out.

Using the .22 pellets and MTC Viper Scope Daystate supplied with the rifle, plus the Idleback shooting chair as my all-terrain rifle rest, I produced group after group on my 35yard test target. George Stevens was shooting beside me and he used my main test card to zero the Webley Tomahawk hes reviewed in this issue, which made a pleasant change but ruined a seriously special target card which included several single-holers. I didnt moan at George, because he still winds me up about the framed one-hole group I have in my office at home, but that target card was definitely a cut-out-and-keep job. Pushing the target back to 45 yards kept me safe from George he doesnt bother shooting much past his hunting ranges and I managed a couple of thumbnail-sized groups on that. One-inch spinners at 50 yards were at my mercy, and even George was impressed once or twice. Possibly. As my pellets hit their marks, I settled into the session more and more, and within two hours there was absolutely nothing left to prove as far as the accuracy of the Daystate Air Wolf MCT was concerned. Convention dictates that my next step would be to explore the eight-phase electronic options this rifle allows. Not this time. This time I was heading off to pastures real, to do some hunting with it.

I think a rifle of this standard should have an adjustable butt-pad, but this one does a fine job as it is.

IN THE FIELD

I know George Stevens normally does the aprs-test hunting bit, but his knee is knackered at the moment, so I thought Id give it a go. As it turned out, I got rained on a bit too much and I spent most of my time not being able to resist plinking at things from the stability of the Idleback. I made holes in leaves (squirrel head shot simulation), I splattered dandelions (max-range rabbits) out to 40 yards and exploded a series of windfalls, including acorns, crab apples and walnuts, which gave confirmed potential kills on every type of vermin we can go for.
Ready-threaded to take the Reflex.

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Testing the Daystate AirWolf MCT

rning. the techno pressure wa A visual gauge backs up

This screen guides you through the AirWolfs amazing range of option s.

After three sessions of this hunting, during which I actually did bag a few rabbits, crows, squirrels and a pigeon, I was forced to concede that shooting an Air Wolf really isnt the same as, or even closely related to, shooting my Air Ranger. Desperately trying to remain practical, here, I can sum up the difference by stating that shooting to a high standard with the Air Wolf is easier than doing so with my Ranger. Again, this appears precious and pretentious, because that .177 Ranger of mine will put pellets on top of each other at 50 yards, but I now know that the Air Wolf lets me shoot to the limit of my talent that much easier. Does it make a worthwhile difference in this real world Im struggling to remain part of? Well, yes it does, because once youve reached a level of commitment where you want the absolute best, then only the absolute best will do. Would I swap my Ranger for a Wolf? Yes I would. Will I be doing so? Im not saying, because my good lady wife often reads this stuff. What Ill probably do, is to claim I gave Daystate a tenner for one of those little telly screens to stick on my Ranger, dear. Sorted.

shots being fired, the rifle being charged with air, or fluctuations in temperature, but the important thing to know is that the MCT action will react to them for each and every shot. Thats right; each shot is set up by the Air Wolfs computer-controlled internals in response to whats happening inside the rifle at that very moment. That reaction is instant, too, and it means theres no power curve, sweet spot, or anything else to worry about. Finally, the Air Wolf is designed to be fully capable of high power FAC-rated performance, so blipping out shots at 11-plus ft.lbs. leaves it supremely under stressed, and it passes on that happy state to its users. Okay, theres no avoiding it; Ive got to run through the things this rifle lets you mess about with, via the interaction of its screen, trigger, safety catch and the Mapped Compensated Technology gubbins that runs its every vital function.

Daystate know what you want, theyll think seriously about installing it in the next update. Meanwhile, Im going to carry on shooting this one and let the Daystate crew take care of the rest.

CONCLUSION

THE DAYSTATE GREAT EIGHT

THOSE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS

Just before I go all technical with those oh-soessential functions, its essential to know that the Air Wolf MCT has a digital regulation system inside it which responds to every change of pressure that takes place within the rifle. These changes may come about due to

On the MCT, the bolt is flicked not pulled.

The Daystate Air Wolf allows you to customise the following functions: 1. Magazine counter reset. This gives a bleep after the 10th shot is fired, telling you the magazine needs to be reloaded/replaced. 2. Reset the overall shot counter. This lets you see how many shots your rifle has fired since the last reset, say when it was re-charged with air. 3. Active pressure. This gives you a readout on the pressure in the air reservoir, and updates itself after every shot or every temperature-induced fluctuation. This system is so sensitive that heat from placing your hand on the buddy-bottle causes the reading to change. 4. Power settings. Two levels are available, 11-plus and slightly lower. 5. Safety-catch settings. This lets you turn on/off the red l.e.d. in the safety catch. An obvious essential, I trust youll agree. 6. Magazine counter. Spookily, this counts the number of magazines youve shot your way through. 7. Single shot mode. This is recommended for competition use, and requires you to reset the safety catch between shots. 8. Pressure warning. This causes the rifle to blow a little electronic raspberry when its internal pressure reaches a preset level, so you can re-charge before you run out. 9. Default reset. This is the MCT get out of jail free card, which resets the rifles system to its factory default, should you wish to wipe the slate clean and start again. This function also displays the firmware code, so you know which version your rifle is running. Yes, of course there can be more where that scary lot came from, and if you let

The Daystate Air Wolf MCT is better used as a hunting rifle than an electronically inspired and aspirated shooting platform. It works superbly as a sporter, thanks to proper gunsmithing and design skills, which have combined to give us a well-balanced rifle, a stock with positive handling as standard, and a top grade Lothar Walther barrel. Its magazine has now passed no fewer than five revision stages, and the tolerances have been tightened every time. The mags aluminium pellet carrier sits inside an acetyl casing which is now lower in profile to assist scope mounting, and every rifle is accuracy tested with the magazine supplied with it. These are all basic, fundamental, practical measures that have been sorting the best from the rest for the thick end of a century of airgunmaking. The incredible computer smarts may be unique, but what really sets this rifle apart is that it does the job magnificantly, and in my real world that counts more than anything.

Model: Air Wolf MCT Manufacturer: Daystate. Country of Origin: U.K. Contact: 01782 791755. Type: Fully electronic, pre-charged, multishot/single shot sporter. Calibre: .22 or .177 Cocking: Bolt-action Loading: Removable, rotary magazine, or single shot pellet tray. Shots-per-charge: 500-plus from 230-bar in .22. 450-plus in .22. Trigger: Two-stage, adjustable. Sights: Scope rail only Stock Type: Walnut, right-hand, thumbhole sporter. Sporter configuration available. Weight: 3.44 k. (7.5 lbs. unscoped). Length: 1030mm (40.5 inches). Barrel: 430 mm (16.8 inches). Price: 1200 includes, 10 shot magazine, single shot pellet tray, mains charger, two keys and CD Rom instructions/handbook. Options: Reflex silencer 55, matte-black cocking/loading bolt 25 or no-charge when specified with new rifle, sling swivel studs 10 fitted when ordered with rifle. FAC option 1250 (up to 40 ft.lbs.) and left-hand (including hand-made bolt) 1230.

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