Side lever cocking vs. bolt action cocking

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DHart

Member
Jul 7, 2018
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AZ, United States
I’m wondering if the side lever cocking mechanism spoils one, to not want to go back to a bolt action cocking mechanism.

My only frame of reference is a Bantam .25 which is, of course, bolt action style and requires a fairly significant pull back to cock the hammer. And this is a slower-to-operate action. Not that it is difficult to do, but it seems like a lighter, smoother side lever cocking action might ultimately make the bolts seem outdated or less desireabe?

I ask because I have the Bantam .25 now and planning on my next air rifle, I don’t think I want to go bolt action again, but would prefer side lever cocking.

FX seems to be mostly side lever and Daystate looks to be playing a little bit of catch-up in that regard. (Daystate just changed up the Wolverine to side lever action from bolt.) Does it seem that Daystate will likely go side lever on more and more of their models? Is this the wave of the future, or just a current fad?
 
Once I went side lever I’ll never go back to bolt, with the side lever you can stay on target way better, don’t have to move your head where some of the bolts you have to move because the pull of the bolt so hard.

in the video I posted you can see how I stay on target with the side lever, can’t do that with my bolt actions.

my wildcat is way smother then the bully and my HMx’s are even smoother in my book.
 
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Once I went side lever I’ll never go back to bolt, with the side lever you can stay on target way better, don’t have to move your head where some of the bolts you have to move because the pull of the bolt so hard.

in the video I posted you can see how I stay on target with the side lever, can do that with my bolt actions.
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I know. Watching competitors in the EBR and RMC, with their side lever actions, cycling seems fairly effortless.

With my Bantam .25, I need to pull that bolt pretty hard to cock the hammer.

That’s why I think I will limit my next purchase decision to a side lever action. And I have a hunch that Daystate will move more toward side lever on their models that don’t already have it.
 
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"I’m wondering if the side lever cocking mechanism spoils one, to not want to go back to a bolt action cocking mechanism"
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Absolutely! there are a few guns I would have liked to have owned i.e. Daystate Saxon, but couldn't bear to shoot a bolt gun now!
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Furthermore once you try the "zero" cocking effort of a Redwolf the same applies VS a spring tensioned side lever!
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Since FX has been heavily into side lever actions, but Daystate seems to have only recently gone with side lever designs, might FX have perfected the feel and reliability of side-lever designs more than Daystate might have?

I’m just curious, as I have no idea on this. It just seems that FX might be farther down the road toward perfection of side lever design than Daystate. I haven’t operated either one, though, so I have no direct experience with it. Could be that Daystate’s side lever design is every bit as nice feeling and reliable, if not better, than FX? Given what Daystate charges for their models, one would hope that they’re even better designed and made.
 
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"I’m wondering if the side lever cocking mechanism spoils one, to not want to go back to a bolt action cocking mechanism"
Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Absolutely! there are a few guns I would have liked to have owned i.e. Daystate Saxon, but couldn't bear to shoot a bolt gun now!
Click to expand...

Furthermore once you try the "zero" cocking effort of a Redwolf the same applies VS a spring tensioned side lever!
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Ah ha... so perhaps Daystate is actually ahead of FX when it comes to side lever cocking action. That must be an electronic version? I don’t think I’d want an electronic airgun, personally. I’m just not ready for that big of a technological leap. Or am I? Yikes.



Is the side lever cocking mechanism on the new Wolverine R spring tensioned? That model, with Huma regulator, is one I am considering. Unfortunately, at $2200, it’s nearly the cost of a Redwolf. Why stop at $2200, with a Redwolf starting at just $2300 or so.
 
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Yes, the Wolverine R has a spring tensioned side lever and the Redwolf does not because it is electronic. There is no hammer spring in the Redwolf. The FX Impact also uses a spring tensioned side lever and that hasn't stopped anyone from winning competitions. I like everything about the Redwolf with the exception of the thin hollowed portion on the wrist of the gun for the battery storage especially after seeing someone posting their broken laminate stock. 
 
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Yes, the Wolverine R has a spring tensioned side lever and the Redwolf does not because it is electronic. There is no hammer spring in the Redwolf. The FX Impact also uses a spring tensioned side lever and that hasn't stopped anyone from winning competitions. I like everything about the Redwolf with the exception of the thin hollowed portion on the wrist of the gun for the battery storage especially after seeing someone posting their broken laminate stock.
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It sounds like you really know your air guns! Do you know if Daystates are a higher grade, generally, or more reliable generally, than FX - as their higher pricing might suggest? It seems like FX is really on a roll with top competitors - have they leap-frogged Daystate with their side levers, smooth barrel, and lower pricing?
 
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Yes, the Wolverine R has a spring tensioned side lever and the Redwolf does not because it is electronic. There is no hammer spring in the Redwolf. The FX Impact also uses a spring tensioned side lever and that hasn't stopped anyone from winning competitions. I like everything about the Redwolf with the exception of the thin hollowed portion on the wrist of the gun for the battery storage especially after seeing someone posting their broken laminate stock.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you really know your air guns! Do you know if Daystates are a higher grade, generally, or more reliable generally, than FX - as their higher pricing might suggest? It seems like FX is really on a roll with top competitors - have they leap-frogged Daystate with their side levers, smooth barrel, and lower pricing?
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?

I only act like I know a lot about airguns. A lot of the stuff I'm posting here has been posted by others that have way more experience than I do and also have both brands in their arsenal.

I've never owned an FX so I can't and shouldn't speak about them nor should I bad mouth them. I don't want to turn this into an FX vs Daystate thread. You can do a search and find plenty of them here and other forums.

This is only my opinion and my observations. The way I see it is that Daystate is catching up with FX now offering side levers and regulators in their airguns. Especially Huma Regulators. Daystate did it the right way.

It's just weird that some people are buying an FX airgun with the intention of changing the factory regulator to a Huma Regulator. Of course that's not my concern if you have the money to burn.

In regards to fit & finish, I have to give it to Daystate. Look at Daystate's bottom of the barrel model, the Huntsman Regal XL. I have seen a lot of people post pictures of their Huntsman Regals and their walnut stocks are beautiful.

I have also seen people post pictures of their FX Royale, Streamline, Crown, Wildcat in the walnut stock versions and I was not impressed. The quality, pattern and finish on the walnut stocks on the bottom of the barrel Daystate Huntsmans I have seen are nicer than what FX has to offer, even their higher end models.

PS,

FX fans, please don't crucify me. Just my observations. DHart made me do it.


 
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