Daystate Huntsman Regal

The Daystate Huntsman Regal combines an elegant sporting rifle stock with a reliable and proven bolt-action to deliver one of the most popular and sought after rifles on the market. Although there is no adjustment on the walnut stock, the perforated rubber shoulder pad and high roll-over cheek piece provide good eye alignment. The stock is not ambidextrous, but left-handed versions can be specified. High quality laser chequering adorns the pistol grip, which also has an ‘R’ motif, and the forend. A shelf at the top of the pistol grip accommodates those who wish to shoot with a thumb up grip. Beside it is the safety switch.  The trigger is two-stage and fully adjustable for length of pull and weight – something that is best done by removing the stock. The bolt action, which can be moved to the left side of the rifle as a factory option,  is reliable and operates in two stages. The first pull rotates the magazine, the second cocks the action and the return probes a pellet into the breech. Care must be taken to ensure the second cocking stage is completed to avoid a pellet being probed into the breech without the rifle being cocked. A dovetail rail provides plenty of room to locate a scope for perfect eye alignment but you’ll need to ensure your mounts are high enough to clear the 10-shot magazine that stands proud of the action. The magazine is Daystate’s proprietary design and a single shot tray is also provided. Pellets are inserted in a drum which rotates anti-clockwise. Once inserted into the breech, magnets hold it in place. Magnets also hold on a cap located underneath the forend which once removed reveals a valve to which a supplied foster attaches to fill the rifle with air. A roundel on the side of the action indicates the maximum fill pressure for each rifle. All models are 928mm long and feature a 430mm Walther barrel which is shrouded and has a ½ inch UNF thread to accommodate a silencer. In terms of shot count, the Huntsman Regal performs well for a cylinder rifle due largely to a highly efficient hammer system which reduces wasted air. Expect around 90 shots from the unregulated rifle in .22 at 12 ft. lbs. and a little less in .177. The Huma-Air regulated version will produce closer to 160 shots. The high-powered XL models deliver 18 ft. lbs. in .177 and 30 or 40 ft. lbs. in .22 and .25. 

Daystate Huntsman Regal

Daystate Huntsman Regal XL

Daystate HR Huntsman Regal

Daystate HR Huntsman Regal XL

Best suited to?

The Huntsman Regal range is all about the looks. The elegant walnut stock has a long forend which encases much of the air cylinder which, along with the bolt action, gives the rifle a traditional sporting rifle look and feel. At around six pounds, it is light and compact and has excellent shot count, making it an ideal hunting rifle.

Pros and Cons

In terms of pros, the Daystate Huntsman scores high in terms of aesthetics – many people buy the rifle simply because it looks so good. Fortunately it performs as well. The bolt action is reliable and well engineered with a pleasant mechanical feel to it. The magazine system is also reliable and cycles cleanly. A patented hammer design cuts down on wasted air and as a result, the Huntsman Regal delivers excellent shot count for the size of the air cylinder, especially the regulated HR versions. In terms of accuracy, the Walther barrel combined with an excellent two-stage adjustable trigger means the Huntsman Regal is capable of tight groups, making it an excellent range gun as well.

There’s very little to criticise the Huntsman Regal as any weaknesses have largely been engineered out over various iterations. Like many other rifles, it is possible to double load. The bolt has two stages the second of which cocks the action. It is possible to pull the bolt back without cocking the rifle but probing a pellet into the breech. When the trigger is pulled and nothing happens, pulling the bolt a second time to cock the action results in a second pellet being probed. Resolving is easily enough – simply remove the magazine and return the bolt to fire the pellets before re-installing the magazine. Two pellets inserted into the breech can be fired out, but more than that risks them becoming jammed.

The Huntsman Regal is the lightest and most compact rifle in the Daystate range and although it can be used on the range and in competition, it is intended first and foremost as a hunting rifle. Along with the Wolverine C-Type, Pulsar and Renegade, the Huntsman Regal has an air cylinder. All other rifles in the range have air bottles. As the company increasingly adops side lever actions, the Huntsman Regal, along with the Wolverine 2 range, are the only guns to use a traditional bolt action.