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BY ROYAL

APPOINTMENT!CROWNING THE NEW DAYSTATE REGAL

HUNTING FOR HIRE!> A DAY AT DEVIL’S PIT <

Technical stuffJim’s on it!

CROWN JOULES

The editor accepts a royal appointment with the latest Daystate

EDITOR’S TEST: DAYSTATE HUNTSMAN REGAL

decided to change my test format a little and call on the services of some Huntsman owners to find out what they thought of the new incarnation. That’s to come, but I’d like to begin with an arms’ length appraisal of this month’s test subject.

First impressionsThe Daystate Regal, for that is the latest model in question, seems

to have everything that put the Huntsman Classic at the

top of the Daystate sales charts, plus enough

new features to mark it as a genuine

progression. But then, of course

it should,

or there would be no point in releasing it, would there?

So, first I’ll list those upgrades, plus the rest of the Regal’s features, and then I’ll see how they combine to produce a set of performance figures. When that’s done, I’ll give my personal impression, and I’ll add the views of some existing Daystate Huntsman Classic owners. Sounds like a review plan to me, and I’d best get stuck into it. First, let’s take the grand tour of the Daystate Regal.

Feature-by-FeatureThe briefest overview will reveal that Daystate have done nothing radical to the styling of the Huntsman Classic in order to create the Regal. The sporting lines, concave fore end, scope height cheekpiece, rosewood grip cap and right-hand configuration are all there, so that’s the first part of ‘if it isn’t broken …’ sorted out, although there are changes if you look closely enough. Most noticeable is the extension to the air reservoir, which has been done without extending the overall length of the rifle. That reservoir is now made from aluminium, rather than steel, and it’s lighter than the previous version but every bit as strong.

Back to the stock, and the general dimensions and profile are all but identical, while the wrap-

around laser chequering is definitely an upgrade. That distinctive ‘R’ at the grip, plus the ‘Regal’

name on the left-hand side, lets us know it’s the new model on show, but the classic sporting lines that Huntsman owners appreciate so much are all present and entirely correct. Unseen, there’s a change to the inletting to accommodate the new action, and that’s where the major moves have taken place.

more and lessThe longer air reservoir means extra capacity, which already means more shots, of course. Making the most of that extra air is the real trick, though, and here’s where Daystate have raised the game. The Regal’s version of the renowned Harper Slingshot micro-valve is made from titanium. This, plus a selection of classified techno tweaks, gives the valve a quicker, more consistent cycle, which in basic terms allows it to open and close faster with reduced loss of air between shots.

Now add an improved air-flow, and the fact that every rifle is individually set up to perform at its optimum charge pressure – which varies between 200 and 220 bar – and we discover the reason behind the real-world uplift in performance. The Regal in .22 does 95 top quality shots per charge, compared to 80 from the Huntsman Classic, while the .177 goes to 82 shots from a previous 60. It must be stressed that these are ‘perfect’, hunting or competition standard shots, not just shots that will hit a large target at 30 yards. At this performance level, we’re only concerned with the cream of the output, and

that’s how

Updating and uprating a best-selling airgun is always a tricky

business. The ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ rule absolutely must be applied, while at the same time the game has to be raised. Daystate faced just this challenge when it was time to upgrade the Huntsman Classic after six succesful years in production. This is a company that doesn’t rest on its laurels and it’s always interesting to see, and shoot, the changes introduced to a popular rifle. This time, though, I

The Huntsman is a great rifle - but the Regal is a better one.

AIRGUN WORLD 19

it should be. The valve system is not just more

efficient in terms of shot count, its lack of ‘waste’ also reduces muzzle noise. The fully-shrouded barrel has a silencing effect that, to my ears at least, negates the need for an add-on moderator. I’m sure that making use of the Regal’s threaded muzzle and fitting one of Daystate’s reflex silencers would hush your intentions further, but adding any sort of carbuncle to such a stylish sporter would be a sin. Says me. You do what you like, but if I get a Regal, that muzzle will remain clutter-free.

The final physical feature change of note is the gauge position (moved back toward the trigger slightly), although there’s one more alteration that Huntsman Classic users will notice as soon as they shoulder the Regal.

on balanceThe Regal has had its balance point shifted more toward the muzzle. This front-end bias improves on-aim stability, especially from the standing and kneeling stances, which are the most widely-used positions in the hunting field. Unless you have a Huntsman Classic to compare directly, the difference this altered balance makes won’t actually leap out and grab you, but it’s a genuine improvement I assure you.

I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, here, and I’ll save my ‘field’ observations for later in

EDITOR’S TEST: DAYSTATE HUNTSMAN REGAL

the piece, while I get the Regal on the bench rest and produce the clinical performance stats.

on the benchThe .177 calibre test rifle came fitted with an excellent MTC 3-12 x 44 scope and was single-figure clicks from perfect zero. I’ve loaded the Daystate 10-shot magazine so many times that I can do it in my sleep, so I asked a chap who’d never loaded a multi-shot magazine in his life to do it. His instructions were limited to, ‘just drop a pellet into that bottom bay, then move the wheel round a click at a time, filling the bays as you go, until they’re all full’. He did it without a hitch, twice. That’s a positive statement about the ease of use involved in catering for the Daystate autoload system.

With a charge of air installed, courtesy of the snap-fit connector, a tin of the recommended Daystate Li pellets to hand, and a following wind, I settled to my testing task. By the time my chrono had recorded 80 shots, I needed to stretch my back, legs and target ranges, so I took a stroll to the target.

When I reached it, 35 yards away, I was satisfied to see the expected cluster of five-shot groups neatly defined on the cards. Barring my ‘getting used to it’ sighters, the groups were sub-thumbnail in size, with four of them genuine little fingernail versions. The wind had been kind-to-non-existent

throughout the test, but those groupings were impressive. Truth to tell, the Huntsman Classic can repeat this feat of accuracy, shot-for-shot, so let’s not get too caught up in it all, but it’s worth noting that I’d delivered an extra 20 pellets, with a few more in the bank.

relaxedPushing the targets out to 45 yards made the thumbnail groups the new standard, although I did manage two of the smaller variety, albeit with increased concentration. Fully relaxed and confident in the Regal’s trigger release, I toured the metal targets on the range and hammered them in fine style, even if I say so myself. Once I found my mark at 55 yards, I was flipping 40mm reset targets up and down with pleasing regularity, and a seven-hit sequence on a 25mm spinner at 50 yards put a smile on my face that only the truly

tragic among us will fully relate to. These pleasing feats of clinical

accuracy were all accomplished with the considerable help of a bench rest, so any credit coming my way was drastically reduced. These tests aren’t about the shooter, though, at least not at this stage, so I was more than happy to record such impressive stats. The chrono was fairly impressed, too, returning a 50-shot string containing an overall variation of just 12 feet-per-second throughout, from pellets used straight from the tin. The average variation was just in single figures, and the impact changes at the target, even at 45 yards, were beyond detection. I’ve bored the readership of this noble magazine senseless with my bleating about how tedious chrono tests are, but my feelings about this phase of a test will never change. So I was delighted to distil the electronic

The Regal gained universal approval from existing Huntsman owners.

This is a splendid sporter - however you look at it.

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EDITOR’S TEST: DAYSTATE HUNTSMAN REGAL

data all the way down to a far more practical conclusion; this rifle can hit absolutely everything at realistic hunting ranges for a legal limit sporter. Not only will it do this, it will help you do it, too, and that’s a massive feature of any rifle.

trigger testingThe Regal’s trigger is a high-quality unit, featuring a curved, set-back blade, and an adjustable, two-stage let-off. It also features total predictability, a practical range of let-off weight options, and a tried-and-tested mechanism. In short, it’s a top grade trigger and once it’s set you can forget about it and ‘think’ your shots off rather than consciously squeezing it.

This rifle, like all quality rifles, should have a sliding butt pad, but it doesn’t. No, I didn’t suffer any great loss of performance or results because of this omission but it’s still

a negative in my book. I moan to Daystate, as I do to all manufacturers who refuse to give their rifles the butt pads they deserve, and I’m nodded-at sympathetically, but little changes. I’ll continue with my crusade, though.

Even without a fully-accommodating but pad, I got on tremendously with this rifle and within three sessions on the range it felt like I’d used it for years. I varied its diet to include Air Arms Field, Daystate Heavies, some old Bisley Magnums and Crosman Premier, but the Li took the accuracy and trajectory prize so I carried on with those. This isn’t a pellet-fussy rifle, but as ever it’s still worth carrying out your own tests to find the ultimate pellet. Yes, I know most of us know that, but you’d be astounded at the amount of shooters who spend many hundreds on their hardware, and let it all down by

either saving pennies on pellets, or not bothering to find the best type. Don’t be either of these, please.

other opinionsAfter my fourth major range session and a weekend hunting trip with the Regal, the stats were gathered, my views on it were formed and my opinion set. Then I thought I’d invite three of my friends to give their take on it. All three have a Daystate Huntsman in their hunting armoury and all use them extensively, so a like-with-like comparison was on the cards. First up, Tom, a hunter of vast experience who has a ‘direct’ way of looking at things. Tom is practical and unimpressed by anything that doesn’t earn its keep, so I was interested in what he thought of the pure performance of the Regal.

Tom said: ‘This rifle handles better than my Huntsman, no bother at all. Mine’s a .177 and the extra shots

would be handy during lamping trips or brancher shooting, or anywhere when plenty of shots will be needed, and I think this gun is quieter than mine, too. The stock feels the same, but I do like the feel of that fore end chequering. I’ll be adjusting the trigger on mine, too, because I like the way you’ve set this one up. Yes, it’s up a notch on my gun, but how much extra will it cost? I notice you haven’t said anything about that.’

I’ll get to the cost after the next two opinions, and next up is Sandy, a professional pest-controller of 15 years experience, who uses his .22 Huntsman almost exclusively for culling feral pigeons, plus the odd rabbit hunting trip.

Sandy said: ‘I do most of my shooting from the standing position and this gun is more stable on aim than my own one. I even wound up the scope power to 12x, and I shoot on 6x, but I was still happy with

Looks the part ... does the job.

Every feature is practical and in keeping with the successful design format.

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EDITOR’S TEST: DAYSTATE HUNTSMAN REGAL

the stability of this rifle at the sort of ranges I need. It might be a bit quieter but I’d fit a silencer anyway – and I don’t give a monkey’s about the looks, either. This gun feels really solid, without being heavy, and there’s plenty of wood in that fore end tip to put in a sling swivel. Yes, it’s an improvement on my Huntsman, but that’s how it should be, isn’t it? Anyway, what’s the damage price-wise? If it’s half-reasonable, I could be tempted to go for the upgrade.’

Finally, I asked young Brendan, a relentlessly keen young hunter who reminds me of myself when I was his age. He’s obsessed with his sport but his finances are limited, and his Huntsman was bought in place of going on holiday with his mates. That sort of dedication is to

be applauded, but Brendan’s also a realist, because he has to be. He can’t afford to buy on a whim, and he’s extremely demanding of his hardware.

Brendan said: ‘To be honest, I was hoping not to be impressed by this new rifle, but I had a suspicion I would be after seeing the target cards you’d shot with it. It’s a fantastic sporter, and although my Huntsman is a top gun in every way, this one beats it. I don’t think it’s more accurate, but it does feel easier to shoot, especially from a kneeling stance, which is my go-to position for hunting.

It definitely feels quieter, and it shoots somehow ‘sharper’ than my rifle. Maybe that’s because my gun has had thousands of pellets through it and this one’s new, but

I don’t think so. You know, I really wish I hadn’t had a go with this Regal. I want to go on holiday this year, but I’m already thinking of ducking out again. How much is it?’

more isn’t moreThe ‘how much more’ issue is a significant one. At least it would be if it existed, but it doesn’t, at least not yet. The fact is, the launch price of the Regal is exactly the same as that of the current Huntsman. It’s still £783, and that’s not cheap by any standards, but if the Huntsman Classic was a best-seller at that price, then the Regal and its uprated performance has to be on your new sporter shortlist.

Daystate improves its airguns for two main reasons; because

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONModel: Regal

Manufacturer: Daystate

Country of origin: UK, stock made in Italy

Type: Pre-charged, multi-shot sporter

Calibre: .22, .177

Cocking: Bolt-action

Loading: Via removable rotary, 10-shot autoload

magazine, or single-shot tray

Trigger: 2-stage, adjustable

Stock type: Right-hand, walnut sporter

Weight: 3.6kg (7.9lbs) including scope shown

Length: 952mm (37.5ins)

Barrel: 430mm (17ins)

Fill pressure: 200 to 220 bar

Shots per charge: 95-plus in .22, 80-plus in .177

Variation over 50 shots: 12 fps for .177 on test

Average energy: 11.43 ft.lbs.

Best group at 35 yards: 8mm diameter

Average group at 35. yards: 10mm diameter

Favoured pellet of test rifle: Daystate Li

Other notable pellets on test: Air Arms Diabolo

Field, Bisley Magnum, Daystate Heavy

Options: Airstream silencer (£55)

Contact: Daystate on 01782 791 755

Web: www.daystate.com

Price: £783

its customers ask for more performance, and because it’s the natural progression of precision machinery. When better is available, it will be used. The Daystate Regal is better, and believe me, these superior sporters will be used by the best in the business. n

The forward bias of the Regal’s balance improves stability for standing shots.

AIRGUN WORLD22