Red Wolf .22 hits the desert

Well... I experienced the breech seal failure (about 1/4 of the seal tore off, leaving the 3/4 remaining in the breech). Which, of course, gave me a disconcerting and loud POP sound and horrible accuracy. So I beat feet over to AoA for a fix.

Kip at AoA fixed me up quickly with a supply of Viton breech seal O-rings which, I understand, are much more durable than the factory O-rings. Back home again and enjoying blissful accuracy and remarkably whisper QUIET shooting.

Here is a brief range report from today:

With the Red Wolf .22 I've been shooting the JSB EXACT 15.9 gr pellets on LOW and getting excellent accuracy to my targets set at 30 yards (groups about dime size). And this rifle (especially on LOW) is so incredibly quiet... it's amazing. I love how quiet this rifle is! That is one of the major reasons why I bought the Red Wolf. (Not to mention the stunningly light electronic trigger, the effortless cycling action, the accuracy, the 5-year warranty... yada yada.)

For hunting squeeks and rabbits, I step up to the JSB EXACT 18.13 gr, set the power level to HIGH, raise my Aztec Emerald scope elevation turret by 1.75 and again, I'm getting awesome accuracy to my 30 yard targets (groups about the size of a dime).

The Red Wolf is not significantly louder on HIGH, but is somewhat louder than on LOW.

I asked Kip at AoA (who happens to be QUITE an accomplished air gun hunter, that man!) to recommend a pellet for small game with this .22. He set me up with a tin of H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 gr pellets. Back home, RW on HIGH power, I found that they gave great accuracy as well... same hold as with the 18.13 gr JSBs. They shoot great in the Red Wolf. Quite accurate. THANK YOU KIP.

I don't have my chrony yet, but from what I can tell from Daystate's test firing, the 21 gr pellets should be giving me about 35 fpe. Just fine for my modest small game needs.

Mostly, though, I will be plinking and target shooting to 40 yards or so, on LOW power, with the 15.9 gr JSBs for high shot count, excellent accuracy, and dang is this rifle QUIET. Unbelievably FUN experience to be able to shoot off my back patio any time I feel like it, rain (rare) or shine (pretty much always). We did have a monsoon downpour at the house this afternoon, which my steel spinning targets didn't mind a bit! I kept right on shooting. For me, this is what air guns are ALL about. Pure fun.

IMHO, AoA should have given you the breach o-rings when you personally picked up your Redwolf from them knowing that it's a common problem. Besides that issue, I was about to ask about accuracy comparisons between the Barracuda Match 21gr and the different varieties of JSB pellets. Were you able to try the Barracudas at different power levels? Any photos or size measurements of your groups for the Barracudas?

Thanks,

Jude

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Yes, it would have been nice to have been informed of the likelihood of a breech seal breakage and have a few extra o-rings on tap for that so that when it happened, I wouldn’t be so surprised and concerned. 

I know that AoA reviews posts on this forum on a regular basis, so I’m sure they’re getting the feedback. I was just fortunate that I needed to return there today anyway, so an extra trip wasn’t required just because of the breech seal. If the worst thing that happens to me with the RW now is having to replace a breech seal once in a while, I’m going to have a GREAT run with this gun!

The Baracuda Match 21.14 gr accuracy was quite comparable to the JSB EXACT 18 gr at HIGH power, which I was pleased to see! I didn’t shoot either of them at anything but HIGH power today. I only shoot the lighter 15.89 gr JSBs on LOW power. My thinking is that I will probably only shoot those heavier pellets at HIGH anyway, so I didn’t even give a thought to shooting them at lower power levels.

In the next day or two I will do some more carefully documented testing of the two and follow up. From what I’ve seen so far, the H&N 21 gr Baracudas perform quite similarly to the JSB EXACT 18 gr, both at HIGH power.

What was the FPS with the Barracudas on high?

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I don't have velocity numbers for the Baracuda Match 21.14 gr. However, Daystate tested my Red Wolf with another 21.4 gr pellet, which gave an average velocity of 861fps and 35 fps, if that helps any.

A little bit of a range report from my new Red Wolf .22 on HIGH power.

I don't have a Chrony yet, so I can't report on velocities. But I did some accuracy testing at 35 yards.



Unfortunately, the most distance I can comfortably get on my backyard property is about 60 yards or so. If it weren't for trees and shrubs, I could go to 100 yards, but oh well.

Unfortunately, there was some wind and my little table that I have, at present, for a "bench" is really wobbly, but that's what I'm working with until I can get a more stable table.

The targets marked H&N 21 were shot with the H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 gr pellets. Those marked with JSB 18 were with the JSB EXACT 18.13 gr pellets. And the targets marked with JSB 16 were with JSB EXACT 15.89 gr pellets.

I was most impressed with the H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 gr pellets, my RW seems to really love those pellets!

5 pellets put into each bullseye.

I also did a round with JSB EXACT 15.89 gr and the Red Wolf .22 on LOW power.





Most of my backyard plinking and reactive target shooting will probably be with these 16 gr JSBs and the Red Wolf on LOW power. That keeps it fun, very quiet, and reasonably economical on pellets.

For pest control, I will switch to HIGH power and the H&N Baracuda Match 21 gr pellets.

Brief report on shot counts:

On HIGH POWER - The RW .22 consumes about 15 BAR for each 20 shots:

Starting with 223 BAR PRESSURE

after 20 shots - 212 BAR

after 40 shots - 197 BAR

after 60 shots - 181 BAR

after 80 shots - 166 BAR



On LOW POWER - The RW .22 consumes about 10 BAR for each 20 shots:

Starting with 230 BAR PRESSURE

after 20 shots - 219 BAR

after 40 shots - 209 BAR

after 60 shots - 199 BAR

after 80 shots - 189 BAR

after 100 shots - 180 BAR

So far, I have to say that I'm extremely happy with the Red Wolf. It is so quiet, so smooth and easy to operate, versatile with the power levels, and very accurate. I'm a happy camper with this rifle.

It is a large and heavy rifle, however, well-suited to the bench and back yard shooting that I will do the most of.

For something more nimble, quick, lighter, and more portable.... I'm thinking Wildcat MkII in .25 caliber! Haha... what a nice pair these two rifles would make.

Personally I am really struggling to shoot any non-electronic rifles after a few months with my Redwolf(s). I keep thinking about a Pulsar for a compact Daystate but I just cant stand the look of it!

Sitting here this morning waiting for the postman to deliver my Accutac FC-5 bipod, will be putting it on the walnut one for the range today.

I am pretty sure I will end up with .22STD 35FT/ILB and a HP in .25 and just dump the FX Crown.

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Mark... you have struggled so long and hard with that Crown. It certainly seems like it would be a relief for you to let it go.

The Pulsar is a heavy beast and quite top heavy, but no doubt a nice rifle. It would be great if Daystate redesigned it to be more like the Wildcat MkII with side lever above the trigger and much lighter in weight. As it is, though, I think I’d have to go with the Wildcat. Perhaps the Wildcat is actually FX’s finest achievement? The complexity of the Impact may be its Achilles heel, whereas the Wildcat’s relative simplicity may be its crowning achievement?