Daystate Harrier X Review

Overall Rating

Ambidextrous stock
Safety catch
Nice balance and weight
Neat-fitting magazine (10-shot)
Smooth bolt-action

No regulator - hence problem of 'power-curve'
Only 1 pellet manufacturer deemed suitable
Noise of trigger mechanism

The Daystate Harrier X was a serious disappointment. I've had a long interest in airguns, and been the owner of a .22 HW77 (and HW45 pistol) for around 12 years so I was used to the accuracy, dependency (and weight!) of this rifle (and pistol). Because of the loud 'twang' as the spring releases in my HW, I made the move to pneumatics. I had done (what I thought was) sufficient research, and found the various reviews on this site very informative and helpful. Admittedly, there were not many for this particular rifle but I figured that was not necessarily a problem as I knew it was only recently out. Daystate appeared to have a good reputation.

The Harrier is a let down for the following reasons. Whilst its shot-to-shot accuracy is very good (you can put sequential pellets into the same hole at 25 yards), what you CAN'T do, is achieve the same level of accuracy throughout the duration of the air reservoir. As I found this out to my cost after purchase (the difference I noticed was about of an inch), Daystate told me it results from a 'power-curve' and hence the power of the rifle changes from between around 11.0ft/lbs to 11.5ft/lbs and back down again (their figures) during the release of air for the 65 shots (for .22). Their opinion to me was, that if I wasn't entering competitions then why did 100% accuracy matter so much? Hmm - an interesting attitude - I wanted consistent accuracy and this was a big let-down for me. Of course, the reason that the required level of consistency is not there, is due to Daystate's omission of a regulator (surprising for a rifle of over £400 but there you are)- as they said, it's their bottom-of-the-range model).

I purchased the 6.5 inch Logan silencer and found it very effective in combination with this rifle. However, the claimed 'whisper' of the shot is ruined by the sound from the trigger mechanism. I am aware that one's face is pressed up against the stock and any sound is thus amplified, but even when standing some considerable distance away, I guarantee you that a 'whisper' is not a faithful description of the sound, and definitely leaves something to be desired.

On the plus side, it's got an ambidextrous stock, which can be useful for those awkward shots and is very nicely balanced. The bolt action is a dream, very smooth and reminiscent of my days on the range as part of the Cadet's shooting team (.303 and .22LR). It's got a manual safety catch which the Air Arms doesn't have (something I've got used to on my HW's), which is good and fairly accessible with the thumb.

The magazine is allegedly BSA and not a Daystate original. As such, I preferred the way it was elevated up under the scope and did not stick out to the side as the Air Arms' one does. In contrast and a real pain, was that Daystate say usage of pellets other than their own, will invalidate the warranty. Fair enough, pointed pellets are known to be a no-no in magazines as they tend to catch and prevent efficient turning/loading, but to actually state that no other pellets should be used is a bit much, to my mind.

Indeed, whilst using Field and Target Trophy pellets (5.5mm) in the sprung magazine, a pellet dislodged itself from the mag and prevented its removal temporarily- not good. Daystate further warned that non-recommended pellets could become stuck in the trigger mechanism, again invalidating the warranty and rendering the gun inoperable.

This loss of a pellet was bad enough, but on several occasions, a number of pellets actually got jammed in the barrel and it took 2 or 3 'releases' of air to free the obstruction. Not very impressive.

I was lucky and succeeded on returning the gun to where I'd purchased it - the shop-owner was very decent and honest, saying that he honestly thought the rifle contained a regulator but understood that the lack of it would/could compromise the accuracy I clearly wanted.

Finally, I'm sorry if any of you have set your heart on this gun and I've now trashed your dreams. This is the first review I've ever written (having selfishly read everyone else's before now, about all sorts of things), but I thought it only fair to warn others of my experience. It has rather put me off pneumatics, although I'll probably start looking again sometime in the future, as I'm sure there are some out there that meet my needs.

Members' Comments onnorthernclimes's Review

• nbrooks on 17th Dec 2003

  Hi,
  Please don't be put off PCP weapons. I resisted them for years, but finally bought an Air Arms 400 in .177. I get 80-90 dead consistent shots before I notice ANY change in trajectory. It's superbly accurate, and I can't fault it.
  
  Neil

• floody on 2nd Mar 2004

  It sounds to me that there is a fault with the rifle, in fact I know there is.
  maybe the set-up of the valve / striker ect. maybe a fault with the on board air cylinder.
  You will NOT SEE ANY SORT of power curve with a perfectly tunned daystate hx or se model. FACT!!!
  
  AND - this guys right - don\'t be put off -
  Daystate make one of the most ACCURATE - if not thee most accurate PRODUCTION SPORTER - EASY capable of going head to head with leading TARGET RIFLE!!!! FACT!!!!!

• northernclimes on 7th Mar 2004

  Hi Nbrooks and Floody,
  
  I take your points and agree that this might have been a bad egg. As such, I was rather put of them as I\'d done loads of research (or so I thought) before taking the plunge.
  
  Tell me please - those rifles without a regulator and those with - why bother to have one if it\'s not needed? Is it purely to sell more \'latest model\' rifles?
  
  Best regards,

• floody on 8th Mar 2004

  hi northerclimes
  
  It depends on the pedigree of the rifle.
  I can tell you that the mk3 valve in a daystate SE or X gives regulator consistency. Some other rifles which have a standard knock open valve are no where near the technology of a daystate.
  Put an SE on the chronograph and test it - you will get single figure deveation throughout the charge. Like I say many other gun makers do not have a valve like a daystate. Therefore I can say clearly that the daystate X or SE does NOT need a regulator - but some rifles do. I can say that you should not need a regulator with an air arms also as the other chap states - but there not as accurate as a daystate [I\'ve owned a s410 and s400]

• Michalis on 25th May 2004

  So, should there be a regulator on th Harrier X or not?

• Michalis on 28th May 2004

  The NEW Harrier X2 R - prestige, comes with a factory fitted regulator, an it is anticipated to go on sale this June.
  
  I wonder what else would the anti-Daystate's will come up with in the review column.
  
  To be honest, I was shaken a bit by the non regulator existance on the Harrier X as it was a gun I favoured to buy but hesitated because of that.
  
  You cannot immagine how I felt when I clicked again at the Daystate's website and saw the X2!!!
  
  In fact I will start .... the gun hunt from today! Let's see who will have it in e-stock first, to go & buy it off him!

• Tgrit on 29th Jul 2008

  I am thinking of having a Regulator fitted cost £200.00