AG Cover 0908:AG Cover 0105 23/7/08 11:52 Page 1

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Test Bench 0908:On Test 0105 23/7/08 16:22 Page 30

Nigel
Allen’s
UP-CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
Test
SERIES E MVT MOTHERBOARD

I
think my middle name must be ‘Peter’ – because I
just can’t seem to get away from the Wolf!
Specifically, Daystate’s computerised AirWolf
precharged pneumatic. I hunt with one of my own –
an early ‘A’ model in which the microprocessor has
since been upgraded to ‘D’ status. Then I put the all-black
Tactical model on the test bench back in April’s edition.
And for the last month or so I’ve been evaluating the
AirWolf in its very latest guise – the MVT.
With ‘standard’, Tactical and MVT versions now
available, don’t think a Wolf is a Wolf is a Wolf. The MVT
may share its looks with its stablemates – and it’s fair to
say it also boasts all the handling attributes that have made
this buddy-bottle sporter so popular with hunters – but as
far as performance is concerned, it’s a completely different
animal from anything that’s gone before.
The rifle’s new suffix stands for Mapped Velocity
Technology. It’s something that I came across in pre- THE CHIPSET is now upgraded to the fully-digital E version,
production format back in the February issue when I bringing with it the benefits of a much speedier lock-time. In
exclusively tested the Mk. 4 Grand Prix field target rifle fact, the longest part of the firing cycle is the pellet’s journey
for Air Gunner – and it’s probably the most advanced down the barrel – which, of course, Daystate can’t do
development I’ve ever seen on an air rifle since... erm... anything about (unless you’re going for the high-power
the time Daystate showed me their original ‘computer model).
gun’, the Mk. 3. Note the insertion of a new circuit board at 90 degrees to
the main motherboard. This is the MVT controller which
Mapped Velocity Technology is actually a highly
converts the data that’s passed back from the
complex set of algorithms fed into a computer programme
integral chrono.
that ultimately ‘learns’ how the AirWolf is shooting – but the
funny thing is, you really don’t need to know a thing about
how it works... just that it does.

The truth is, while this is the most technologically

advanced air rifle in the world today, it’s also the simplest
as far as the shooter is concerned. I’d liken it to a point-
and-shoot digi-cam; the camera’s electronics are way
beyond a layman’s understanding – and most of the
shooting programmes are left well alone in favour of the
‘auto-everything’ setting. But push the shutter button and
you’re guaranteed a perfectly executed image – leaving
you, the photographer, to concentrate on composing the IN-SITU CHARGING
picture. SOME BUDDY-bottle sporters
Similarly, with the AirWolf MVT, you can play around are charged off-gun, but there
with various programmes – or simply choose to switch it are no unscrewing hassles with
on and let the computer do all the work for you. When you the AirWolf. You simply plug in
push the rifle’s trigger, you’re guaranteed the perfect shot the high-pressure snap-fit
– leaving you, the shooter, to concentrate on nothing but connector that’s supplied with
holding a steady aim. Shooting can’t really get any simpler. the rifle, squirt in your air using
For the technically minded, I’ll cover how MVT works the on-board air gauge as a
more specifically when I take the Daystate onto the firing reference, then unplug. No tools
line over the page. First, let’s give it a quick once-over... required, either.
Besides being far easier, this
NIGEL ALLEN assesses the system also ensures you get
maximum value per fill and,
down-range performance of the helped somewhat by MVT, I
DAYSTATE AIRWOLF MVT worked out that one 250-BAR
fill of air would be enough to give
on page 33 you 597 shots... in .177 calibre.

30 AIR GUNNER
Test Bench 0908:On Test 0105 23/7/08 16:23 Page 31

Bench THE DAYSTATE AIRWOLF MVT

CONTROL PANEL LOW-PROFILE MAG & BOLT-ACTION
DAYSTATE SHAVED around 2 mm. off the height of their ten-shot, rotary magazine
a while back and this low-profile version means you can fit a lot more scope models
in standard mounts without fear of interference with the saddle.
Its fit has also been refined. A small magnet now makes the whole unit ‘glide’
into place on insertion, and it stays put to ensure each chamber perfectly lines up
with the breech. Daystate have retained their neat idea of using a removable stop-
pin to let you choose between left and right-hand insertion/removal. This
complements the rifle’s other ambidextrous features, namely the thumbhole stock
and left-hand bolt option.
THE ONLY external component – The bolt – stainless here, but there’s a matt black option – is very chunky and
engraved nametag aside – that easy to operate in all conditions, even with gloves on. Because of the solenoid-
identifies this Wolf as being MVT. The driven hammer, there’s no tension on the bolt; you simply lift it up and glide it back
LCD readout panel gives you a realtime and forth to automatically index the magazine’s spring-operated chambers.
display of the rifle’s status, and is also
the main interface when you change
programme modes.
The default window shows you the
pressure in the air tank, the velocity the
rifle’s been programmed to deliver (or
the actual velocity of the last shot), the
overall shot-count, the battery’s voltage
and (if the mode’s been set) how many
shots you have left in
the magazine. The
readout updates with
each shot.

SINGLE-SHOT LOADING OPTION – NO TOOLS REQUIRED

DAYSTATE GIVE you the option of converting the AirWolf
MVT from a 10-shot auto-loader into a single-shot shooter – and you can
do it in seconds without any tools or gunsmithing skill.
With the magazine removed, you simply drop in the stainless single-
shot pellet tray which has two pins to locate into the breech block, where
everything’s held tight courtesy of a couple of high-power magnets.
With the bolt drawn, ‘roll’ a pellet into the channel and it will
be probe-fed into the breech with perfect precision when you
return the bolt.

AIR GUNNER 31