Whilst some dismiss the electronic action as unnecessarily complicated, the reality is that Daystate has been making electronic rifles for many years and has developed an extremely reliable platform that not only delivers consistent power and performance across the fill range, but enables enormous shot counts; at 12 ft. lbs. Daystate claims the Red Wolf will return around 500 shots in .22. The ambidextrous Minelli stocks combine elegant looks with in-the-shoulder comfort and performance thanks to a height adjustable cheek piece and three-way adjustable butt pad. The pistol grip is nicely contoured and provides excellent access to the trigger. With no sears to operate, the trigger effectively tells the computerised brain when to let go – some have likened the experience to a mouse click. In reality, although the trigger has a unique feel, it is fully adjustable for weight and travel and, like any other trigger, once gotten used to it is a joy to use. The 10-shot (five shot in .303) magazine inserts from the left hand side and self-locates thanks to the use of magnets. Daystate provides a single shot tray as well. The cap to the fill valve, which will accept a foster fit and is located underneath the forend, is also magnitised. A roundel on the side of the rifle’s action indicates the maximum fill pressure for each gun. The Red Wolf’s electronic action also allows you to choose between three different power settings – high, medium or low. In all honesty, the feature is only really of any use in high power versions as most 12 ft. lbs. shooters will leave the setting on high. Cycling through the levels is achieved by activating the safety catch, opening the side lever, which incidentally can be located on the left of the rifle as a factory option, and cycling through the menu displayed on the digital screen via the trigger. The battery is accessed by opening a flap on the underside of the pistol grip – you’ll probably need a pair of long-nose pliers to gently ease it out. The digital screen will tell you when it is time to recharge, something only necessary after several thousand shots. Carefully detach the connector to remove the battery and plug it into the provided charger. The Red Wolf is a super-high performance rifle, capable of incredible accuracy, as has been proved by the number of awards it has won, including world championships. It performs well as a hunting rifle as well. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the electronic action will go into a sleep mode after a few minutes, requiring you to either operate the sidelever – you won’t double load – or flick the safety catch off and on to wake the rifle up again. 

Daystate Red Wolf B Type

Daystate Red Wolf HiLite

Daystate Red Wolf HiLite HP

Daystate Red Wolf Safari

Daystate Red Wolf Midnight

Daystate is well-known for producing some of the most attractive stocks available and has a long relationship with Minelli of Italy. In addition to the walnut handle, the company produces a couple of laminate finishes including the blue Midnight edition which blends dark blue and black shades. In all other respects, the Red Wolf Midnight is identical to the rest of the range with B Type, HiLite and HiLite HP models available. Although the stock will appeal mainly to competition and range shooters who want to stand out from the crowd, the colours blend in well with most backgrounds, making the Red Wolf Midnight a superb hunter as well.

Best suited to?

The Red Wolf has won countless titles, including world championships, on the competition circuit and ranges around the world where its precise power delivery, consistency and superb trigger provide an edge. Those qualities also make the rifle an excellent choice for hunting in both 12 ft. lbs. and high-power formats. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Red Wolf is a top-of-the-range premium air rifle and is priced to match. However, if you are looking for the ultimate rifle that will deliver regardless of the discipline you shoot, it is worth close consideration.

Pros and Cons

Although the electronic action will put some shooters off, there’s no denying the platform is reliable and sets new standards when it comes to consistent performance. The electronic trigger takes a little getting used to, but no more than a couple of magazines, and is a joy to use. The stock is not only beautiful to look at but well-designed for comfort and function as well. There’s very little to criticise the Red Wolf for. The only niggle is the fact you have to reawaken the electronic action after a few minutes which can be a pain if you forget and you’re hunting.

Daystate Red Wolf vs Daystate Wolverine R

Daystate’s other traditionally stocked sporting rifles are the Wolverine R and the HR Huntsman Regal/Huntsman Revere. Both are regulated and rightly regarded as top-end rifles. Like the Red Wolf, the Wolverine R is a bottle rifle with a side lever 10-shot action. However, unlike the Red Wolf, its action is mechanical and as a result lacks the flexibility of variable power settings, although power settings are less relevant on 12 ft. lbs. rifles. The Wolverine R’s thumbhole stock has an adjustable shoulder pad but some shooters say they cannot achieve proper eye alignment, so it’s a rifle you’ll want to try before you buy. The HR Huntsman Regal has an air cylinder rather than bottle, but still has good shot count, albeit nowhere near the levels of the Red Wolf and Wolverine R. It is one of the best-looking traditional sporting rifles available with performance to match. The current Revere model replaces the older bolt action on the older models. Like the Wolverine R, its 10-shot action is mechanical rather than electronic.

More information from Daystate can be found in the user manual here.