For those that know me, I am rather particular and precise with everything I do. It is just one of my faults. I own a number of air rifles, all of which are now tack drivers as a result of much fun work and experimentation over a couple of decades. Some tell me that my expectations approach being unrealistic at times. I need you all to help me keep that from happening with my next air rifle purchase.
Recently I purchased a new Ken Hicks tuned RAW HM1000X LRT in .25 that produces right at 59 ft lbs of energy and will consistently shoot a 1" group at the maximum available range to me of 89 yards, with the 33.9 JSB King Heavy. Ken did a terrific job and has been great to work with. I intend to keep this rifle until I can no longer function.
For my next upgrade, I am going to sell one of my long time unregulated .22 S-510s that is a terrific shooter, opting for a more "optimum" platform just for a new and fun experiment. I have requested that Ken Hicks call me back after he gets done with his competition out West to get his opinion, but for now, I would enjoy having my friends at AGN weigh-in.
Ideally, I would like to obtain a regulated rifle, featuring some terrific "eye candy" that shoots sub 1/2" groups with the JSB/AA 18 and/or H&N Baraduca 21 grain pellets at 50 yards, somewhere in the +/- 40 ft lb range ( I will take accuracy over FPS/ME when something has to be sacrificed to get to the optimum accuracy performance level). At 100 yards, I would be satisfied with 1 1/2". The bulk of my shooting is between 35 and 75 yards, and at least for now, more targets than game - something I hope to alter when I finally get to retirement a few years out.
I like the idea of the Daystate Red Wolf, particularly to be able to shoot two weights of pellets and because of its beautiful appearance, but I am concerned about (A) the electronics holding up as I typically keep my rifles for a long time, (B) the reports of magazine issues, and (C) reports that it really doesn't shoot both the 18 grain pellets on lower power and the new 25 grain pellets on high power as well as advertised. These concerns may or may not be valid as the silent majority is often not heard. I would enjoy hearing from Red Wolf owners relative to these matters and receiving pics that support your responses.
Friends of mine own Impacts and Crowns, and while FX weapons are obviously terrific shooters with great flexibility, my friends have (A) experienced far more leakage issues and other maintenance problems than I have ever experienced with my lesser expensive air arms rifles and (B) I really don't like the feel of the non-traditional stock composition of the Impact. For these reasons, I have already ruled the FX rifles out for me, not meaning that others shouldn't be proud and really enjoy them.
So in my mind, my focus has come down to another RAW in .22, or one of the Daystate Wolverine configurations. I can'r really find much in terms of the pellet combinations and/or group photos being most successfully achieved with either the RAW or the Wolverines. The number of Wolverine configurations available makes it hard to determine what one should really focus on given my criteria, and what the realistic performance expectations should be. For example, will the regulated high power shoot 18 grain ammunition to my criteria, or will the resulting velocities be too hot? How does the Wolverine regulated high power perform with the new 25 grain JSBs? Is there a Wolverine that meets my criteria, and is it subject to the same magazine issues that have been reported on AGN? What is the experience of HM1000X RAW .22 owners, relative to best performing pellets in terms of holding a group, and at what velocities and energy levels.
While asking for your opinions as I work to establish the perfect package to take me through my upcoming retirement years, is the Sightron SIII 10-50x6- Field Target IR MOA scope at +/- $1,475 worth the money over the Hawke 6-24x56 FFP and/or AZTEC 6-25 FFP scopes that I have been so successfully shooting over the last couple of years? Again, I would be interested in receiving your thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your FREE advice offered for my reflection. I love this forum and really appreciate the number of friendships that have resulted.
DZ
Recently I purchased a new Ken Hicks tuned RAW HM1000X LRT in .25 that produces right at 59 ft lbs of energy and will consistently shoot a 1" group at the maximum available range to me of 89 yards, with the 33.9 JSB King Heavy. Ken did a terrific job and has been great to work with. I intend to keep this rifle until I can no longer function.
For my next upgrade, I am going to sell one of my long time unregulated .22 S-510s that is a terrific shooter, opting for a more "optimum" platform just for a new and fun experiment. I have requested that Ken Hicks call me back after he gets done with his competition out West to get his opinion, but for now, I would enjoy having my friends at AGN weigh-in.
Ideally, I would like to obtain a regulated rifle, featuring some terrific "eye candy" that shoots sub 1/2" groups with the JSB/AA 18 and/or H&N Baraduca 21 grain pellets at 50 yards, somewhere in the +/- 40 ft lb range ( I will take accuracy over FPS/ME when something has to be sacrificed to get to the optimum accuracy performance level). At 100 yards, I would be satisfied with 1 1/2". The bulk of my shooting is between 35 and 75 yards, and at least for now, more targets than game - something I hope to alter when I finally get to retirement a few years out.
I like the idea of the Daystate Red Wolf, particularly to be able to shoot two weights of pellets and because of its beautiful appearance, but I am concerned about (A) the electronics holding up as I typically keep my rifles for a long time, (B) the reports of magazine issues, and (C) reports that it really doesn't shoot both the 18 grain pellets on lower power and the new 25 grain pellets on high power as well as advertised. These concerns may or may not be valid as the silent majority is often not heard. I would enjoy hearing from Red Wolf owners relative to these matters and receiving pics that support your responses.
Friends of mine own Impacts and Crowns, and while FX weapons are obviously terrific shooters with great flexibility, my friends have (A) experienced far more leakage issues and other maintenance problems than I have ever experienced with my lesser expensive air arms rifles and (B) I really don't like the feel of the non-traditional stock composition of the Impact. For these reasons, I have already ruled the FX rifles out for me, not meaning that others shouldn't be proud and really enjoy them.
So in my mind, my focus has come down to another RAW in .22, or one of the Daystate Wolverine configurations. I can'r really find much in terms of the pellet combinations and/or group photos being most successfully achieved with either the RAW or the Wolverines. The number of Wolverine configurations available makes it hard to determine what one should really focus on given my criteria, and what the realistic performance expectations should be. For example, will the regulated high power shoot 18 grain ammunition to my criteria, or will the resulting velocities be too hot? How does the Wolverine regulated high power perform with the new 25 grain JSBs? Is there a Wolverine that meets my criteria, and is it subject to the same magazine issues that have been reported on AGN? What is the experience of HM1000X RAW .22 owners, relative to best performing pellets in terms of holding a group, and at what velocities and energy levels.
While asking for your opinions as I work to establish the perfect package to take me through my upcoming retirement years, is the Sightron SIII 10-50x6- Field Target IR MOA scope at +/- $1,475 worth the money over the Hawke 6-24x56 FFP and/or AZTEC 6-25 FFP scopes that I have been so successfully shooting over the last couple of years? Again, I would be interested in receiving your thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your FREE advice offered for my reflection. I love this forum and really appreciate the number of friendships that have resulted.
DZ
Since you have a RAW I'd suggest you buy a Red Wolf I think you would really like the gun. I'm going to consider a RAW since I have a Red Wolf. Finally I'm going to listen to Ken carefully. Maybe we should have a conference call with Ken?? 
