Hi ChickenD,
I've owned a .22 Wolverine R HP for a few years now, I'll give you my thoughts on the rifle. Mine is the green camo laminate stock - exactly like in this video. My velocities are exactly like in this video.
My thoughts:
Crazy heavy trigger out of the box - see another thread today where I suggest a fix that works well. (heaviest trigger out-of-the box that I've ever experienced on a PCP - and I've owned lots of PCPs from every major brand).
The .22 HP seems to have been designed around a single pellet JSB/FX 25.39g (MRD). It shoots them at 895-900fps as delivered. It shoots 18.13g at 1,025fps and 15.89g at 1,040fps. Stunningly, I have achieved excellent accuracy doing precision target shooting at 30 and 40 yards with 18.13s at that ridiculous velocity (200 in 30-Yard Challenge and 197 at 40 Yard Challenge).
The HP is a very long and bulky feeling rifle in hand. It feels lighter than it looks, but it is not "maneuverable" . Its form is well suited to benchrest.
Daystate drove me crazy with the stupic 0-ring in the shroud carrier - it would rip out and break every time I removed the shroud. It is an unusual size - I was able to get the exact size and some close-to sizes from the O-Ring store that work well. I actually shot some of my best scores with no o-ring installed on the carrier - essentially free-floating the barrel inside the shroud.
Despite its power, the HP has a very nice shot cycle, it is more mellow than you think,
The Wolverine is adjustable for power. You do this via adjusting the length of hammer throw on the Slingshot Hammer. It is straightforward, you have to do it with the stock off. You can also adjust regulator pressure. I've rebuilt my reg, it does take quite a bit of disassembly to adjust regulator. Heck, Daystate uses the same 18mm diameter hammer spring in everything - so you can even swap hammer springs if you desire, lol. The delivered regulator pressure is high - about 162-165bar from Daystate's tune.
The Wolverine R HP CANNOT be decocked like most PCPs! I had a Daystate rep explain that the rifle was designed to have the action open when walking from station to station (field target shooting in mind for the design I guess). With the cocking lever back (open), you cannot fire the rifle. However, you cannot decock by pressing the trigger while holding the cocking lever. Strange "feature".
I've thought many times that I would have preferred the non-HP .22 Wolverine. It is shorter, more maneuverable and shoots 18.13s at "normal" 880fps velocities. The .25 Wolverine R HP seemed a better choice than .22 for the big 600mm barrel HP format. However, the HP barrels are polygonal rifling and the standard barrels are not - and the polygonal have been great shooters for me.
So, I would have recommended the .25 over the .22 if you wanted an HP Wolverine.... until just the past year. Now there are the JSB 20.83g pellets and the JTS/AEA 22.07g. These pellets are ideally suited the the .22 HP's factory power level - they shoot at 925 and 915fps and have been delivering excellent results target shooting. The .22 HP platform always seemed a bit underpowered to me for the 25.39g. At 890fps, I would get great accuracy at 75 yards, but things fell apart quickly at longer distances out to 100. I didn't get good results at 100 - but I'm shooting at a windy "range".
In conclusion, the .22 Wolverine R HP is a bit quirky, but its accurate. You are buying one at the perfect time - as the pellet choices now available suit it better than when I got my .22 HP. Buy yourself some JSB 20.83g and some JTS 22.07g and have some fun.
Hope this helps,
-Ed
