Daystate Huntsman Mk 11 Review

Overall Rating

Accurate, many shots per fill, very steady power curve for an unregulated gun

heavy

I own 2 daystates mk IIs, one in .177 and one in .22. Both guns are PCPS - pre-charged pneumatics.

Both were second-hand and both have been owned by me for a couple of years.

I'll review my other air rifles later.

See http://www.scotnet.co.uk/jon/guns/Pellet_tests.html for the behaviour of the .22 gun on a wide range of Pellets.

See http://www.scotnet.co.uk/jon/guns/177pellet_tests.html for the behaviour of the.177.

The .177 carries further (40m easily) and has plenty of power at that level. My .22 is dropping off by 40m - 5 mil dots down and an appreciable delay until "hit time".

The guns are both set about 11 ft/lbs at "tops" and a bit lower than that on some ammo.

I have a x24 and a x32 scope on the rifles.

I am not a great shoot (Class C in Small Bore Rim Fire) but noth rifles shoot better than me and are extremely accurate. Even on a bad day 14mm (about the size of the rear of a USED 12bore cartridge) at 25 yards is easy. On a good day I can take the ignition cap out on USED 12 bores. Don't ever try this on live ammo!

The guns are heavy - nice chunky wood stocks. Some argue the front is too thick/wide for an average adult it seems comfortable enough. There is no "chequering" on the fore-stock so in wet weather grip can be a bit of a pest.

Although I am left-handed I have a LH, RH and ambi-stock. Means the kids/visitors can use the guns with ease. The ambi-stock is a bit cheap looking - I should have paid for a better quality of wood. Hey it was only for the kids and once tucked under your cheek it makes no difference.

You can fill to 200bar but the graph is flattest in both these guns from about 160-100bar. You notice climb and drop off outside this range. Typically 100 shots from the .177 and 120 from the .22 in this range.

I have done a complete chrono graph from 200bar to about 50bar and with a wee bit of sight clicking can get over 200 shots into target.

The gun is too heavy for my younger small aged 10, and he needs a front rest. At 10-15m he can blow a .22 pellet off of a pin holder with the .177 (as can his pals) - accurate indeed.

If you can afford one of these they are good guns well put together and the support from Daystate is excellent. I had the .177 serviced and returned in under a week.

Jon

Members' Comments onjonmalone's Review

• Martin H on 13th Nov 2006

  Excellent review. You've helped convince me to change to .177 after 30 years of .22. The groups using 'quality' pellets seem much tighter with the smaller calibre. Off now to find myself a .177 X2 Sport.