Daystate daystate alpha wolf barrel choice (.25)

[airman_o]

I recently bought a .25 barrel kit for my Daystate Alpha Wolf, but it turned to be the older design (delrin chrony part). It ended shooting horrible groups, but luckily I was able to return it.

So I want to order a new barrel kit in 25 caliber (with improved aluminium chrony section). But the question is: which barrel should I choose?

• 23 inch pellet
• 28 inch pellet
• 28 inch slug

Ideally the barrel would work for both pellets and slugs. At the minimum I'd want it to shoot JSB or JTS 34gr pellets very accurately (as in one ragged hole at 50m or more). Good slug performance would be a bonus.
Are there any reports or experiences on the performance of the 28 inch slug barrel? Both with pellets as slugs? Would the slug oriented barrel be versatile, or should I stick to a pellet barrel (and probably abandon slugs)?

On my Edgun Leshiy 2 I have good experiences shooting pellets with unchoked barrels with faster twist rates, but I'm learning that Daystate likes to be a bit more stubborn, so that's why I'm asking.

 

[Corvid_hunter]

I don't have any experience with the barrels, but would look at the 28" slug version if you think you want to shoot slugs.

 

[Arzrover]

It's been a while since I was really involved in the Daystate barrel project so I can only offer some info for questions to ask the supplier and also to help you decide.

The original 25 cals were 1 in 17 twist, 6 groove poly's from LW. They pretty much have to be choked because they're button rifled and threaded at the muzzle. When barrels are hammer forged or button rifled, there are stresses that will open up the bore when the outer diameter is reduced(where the threads are cut, for instance).

In the project, we tested 25 different barrel profiles and the best that I ever saw was a 1 in 30 twist, 5 groove poly. It had a gentle choke. Because of the twist, it could stabilize light slugs but not long, heavy ones. It was labeled a 6b. The Brits chose one called a 5d that had a slightly different profile but still 5 groove, and a HEAVY choke. They could shoot okay but were quite picky about projectile and velocity. What people got on the Red Wolf for a while after that were labeled "Art" barrels and could have been either. The 5d WILL NOT shoot slugs.

Fast forward a bit and I was given a 28" in 22 and 30 cal to test so no direct experience with the 25. The profiles on both are different than the 5d or 6b but they are 1 in 30 twist and choked. I've not worked with a "slug barrel" yet to know what they are. Both my 28" shoot pellets quite well in most sizes and shoot light for caliber slugs decently but will not stabilize heavy ones.

So, I realize that with no barrel background , all this may be confusing for some but if you have a way to find out, a 6b or a 5 groove barrel with light choke, should work well for most pellets and light slugs. A slug specific barrel will be faster twist, (depending on the slug weight) and little to no choke and should still shoot pellets well at shorter distances ... say under 150 yards.

There is MUCH more to relate on this subject but I won't do it here. Hopefully the above can answer some questions and help you decide.
Bob

 

[airman_o]

thanks a lot @Arzrover , that's a lot of very useful information So the funny thing is that I had a 6b barrel in .25 that I sent back today just before I read your explanation. I didn't know what the inscription on the barrel meant, but it makes more sense now. The bad accuracy in my case was probably not caused by the barrel, but by the loose shroud. See video for illustration: wobbly shroud . So too bad I had to return the best barrel because of a poorly designed shroud.

For full information: I reached out to Daystate, as I suspect the issue is caused by the old chrony part in delrin. I asked if they could provide the newer aluminium one. All they could answer after 10 days of waiting was "Please get in touch with your dealer for further assistance". So I'm deeply disappointed in the Daystate customer support (not the first time). All the dealer could do was let me return the barrel. I'm starting to understand as well why almost no dealer in Europe wants to sell Daystate anymore.
I'm still positive on the Alpha Wolf in .30 cal, it shoots great. But Daystate as a company does not seem to inspire much confidence.

But I also understand between the lines that the Daystate barrels are happier with pellets. So I think I'll stay with pellets, and use another gun for slug shooting.

 

[Arzrover]

thanks a lot @Arzrover , that's a lot of very useful information So the funny thing is that I had a 6b barrel in .25 that I sent back today just before I read your explanation. I didn't know what the inscription on the barrel meant, but it makes more sense now. The bad accuracy in my case was probably not caused by the barrel, but by the loose shroud. See video for illustration: wobbly shroud . So too bad I had to return the best barrel because of a poorly designed shroud.

For full information: I reached out to Daystate, as I suspect the issue is caused by the old chrony part in delrin. I asked if they could provide the newer aluminium one. All they could answer after 10 days of waiting was "Please get in touch with your dealer for further assistance". So I'm deeply disappointed in the Daystate customer support (not the first time). All the dealer could do was let me return the barrel. I'm starting to understand as well why almost no dealer in Europe wants to sell Daystate anymore.
I'm still positive on the Alpha Wolf in .30 cal, it shoots great. But Daystate as a company does not seem to inspire much confidence.

But I also understand between the lines that the Daystate barrels are happier with pellets. So I think I'll stay with pellets, and use another gun for slug shooting.

The most odd thing here is that you received a plastic chrono frame. I was not aware that any had been made since early 2020. THAT should have been the concern from Daystate.
I'm also not well informed about dealers or customer service anywhere but the USA, so what you say there is just something I don't know. I CAN say that in my interactions with the personnel at the factory and assembly location that they are good people and well meaning and generally concerned about customers and their reputation.
I'm also not sure that shroud movement will affect the accuracy. I have made some shrouds for mine and at least a couple have that movement and shoot just as well as the ones that have less. The plastic chrono frame will DEFINITELY affect accuracy though. It's a shame about having a 6b in hand and returning it...

More info... the number refers to the profile of the rifling with nothing I can define for you but the letter is the choke profile... A being zero and E being super choked. The 5 profile was ok but the heavy choke was the problem on the 5d. You won't see any of the other profiles, as far as I know .
Bob