An oldie but a goodie - daystate harrier single shot

P8X

P8X

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Not shot this for a while so despite the rather windy conditions I took it over to the club this morning
Fitted with a sightron s1 3-9x40 (100 yard parallax) in bkl mounts
Trigger set as keenly as I can manage given its relative simplicity

Jsb express at 32 yards, 10 shot group
With the huge flier on the right caused by a sudden change of wind
Looking forward to a calmer day when I can zero properly
IMG_9598.jpeg
IMG_9602.jpeg
 
The odd looking / shaped group caused by me folding the card in 4 and stuffing it in my pocket
 
Audi Swift said:
Nice older DS rilfe. Still nice to use nowadays, enjoy.
You might have this info already.
HR2272 Harrier Beech
.177
705 fps Magnum
*/7/01
Click to expand...
Cheers for that. I didn't have that info, though assumed it was about 2000 manufacture
I do have the factory ambi beech stock, in pretty much original condition, but the Regal stock I've grafted onto it is far more ergonomic
 
P8X said:
Cheers for that. I didn't have that info, though assumed it was about 2000 manufacture
I do have the factory ambi beech stock, in pretty much original condition, but the Regal stock I've grafted onto it is far more ergonomic
Click to expand...

The regal stock is a tasty tweak to a very nice action. Pity we don't see more of the nice older DS airguns about thesedays.
They still do the job in hand very good.

Not far from me, he's a brilliant engineer. Who worked for DS years ago and designed a couple of their rifles Inc the Harrier etc
 
Audi Swift said:
The regal stock is a tasty tweak to a very nice action. Pity we don't see more of the nice older DS airguns about thesedays.
They still do the job in hand very good.
Click to expand...
They made some superb rifles in those days

Sadly now a bit out of favour, with mag fed rifles seemingly being a must have (not for me) and all the tactical looking stuff thats now popular

Over at the club, when I was shooting this, a clubmate was trying to tell me about the virtues of his Airmaks Krait. I could feel the puke building up in my mouth just looking at it. I like the classic look, probably down to my age
 
P8X said:
They made some superb rifles in those days

Sadly now a bit out of favour, with mag fed rifles seemingly being a must have (not for me) and all the tactical looking stuff thats now popular

Over at the club, when I was shooting this, a clubmate was trying to tell me about the virtues of his Airmaks Krait. I could feel the puke building up in my mouth just looking at it. I like the classic look, probably down to my age
Click to expand...

Agree, older the better. I was with them up till the type b wolverine and then I sort of left them for reasons.
Most of the older ones are there best examples in my eyes.

I've moved on to Steyr as HFT is my main shooting discipline. Hence I needed a rifle to fit my frame and what's easy to work on even in the field if needed.

Still miss my old DS kit mind.

Saying that on my premission one of the other blokes uses a nice Mk4 a fair bit, great bit of kit, wish I kept mine.
There's still a few old DS rifles on the HFT circuit being used, CRX mk3 mk4.
sadly I don't really see any older mk1 or mk2 being used even at the ranges, they definitely put a smile of my face being so old now and I guess in away being very basic, but they're still fully suited for a lot of shooting disciplines.
 
Here's a pic of another old DS - my 1996 (I think) Huntsman MK2. It does 40 shots with a total spread of 10fps from a 155bar fill and I use it for bench rest now with a Sentinel scope on it. I have shot 250s with it but I'm usually around the 245-7 mark.
It's a heavy old beast, not only no plastic but also no aluminium: it's all steel and brass:-)

benchrest.jpg
 
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P8X said:
They made some superb rifles in those days

Sadly now a bit out of favour, with mag fed rifles seemingly being a must have (not for me) and all the tactical looking stuff thats now popular

Over at the club, when I was shooting this, a clubmate was trying to tell me about the virtues of his Airmaks Krait. I could feel the puke building up in my mouth just looking at it. I like the classic look, probably down to my age
Click to expand...
I imagine that was Woody?? I gave it a miss today as the forcast was really bad, plus I went to East Devon yesterday and had a great time on the FT cse in the woods with the XTi and then the TX200SR. XTi sitting, TX200SR kneeling. Guess which I prefered?

I thought you were going to get rid of the Harrier? Although I can't keep up with you; I know I'm as bad (worse!)
 
bootneckbob said:
I imagine that was Woody?? I gave it a miss today as the forcast was really bad, plus I went to East Devon yesterday and had a great time on the FT cse in the woods with the XTi and then the TX200SR. XTi sitting, TX200SR kneeling. Guess which I prefered?

I thought you were going to get rid of the Harrier? Although I can't keep up with you; I know I'm as bad (worse!)
Click to expand...
Yeah it was Woody. Those types of rifle's just don't float my boat

I reckon you preferred the SR

Yeah I keep going on about selling this Harrier, but every time I pick it up, I know why I hang onto it.
Its a perfect rabbit rifle
 
Frog said:
It's a heavy old beast, not only no plastic but also no aluminium: it's all steel and brass:-)
Click to expand...

I think you will find there is some aluminium on the Mk2, the inlet valve plug, firing valve block, rear end plug and Fig-8 barrel collar are all alloy on these, that is where the weight saving came about over the all steel Mk1 Huntsman FTR. It is all good quality, well made and finished though.

Old Daystates:

Huntsman 'Low' (pre being known as the Midas), circa mid 1980's:
Huntsman Low 2.JPG


Huntsman FTR Mk1's later 1980's:

Walnut sporter version:
DSC03912.JPG


With Nick Jenkinson hand made stock and upgraded CR-94 trigger unit:
Huntsman Mk1 b.JPG


LR90:
LR90a.JPG
 
Frog said:
Here's a pic of another old DS - my 1996 (I think) Huntsman MK2. It does 40 shots with a total spread of 10fps from a 155bar fill and I use it for bench rest now with a Sentinel scope on it. I have shot 250s with it but I'm usually around the 245-7 mark.
It's a heavy old beast, not only no plastic but also no aluminium: it's all steel and brass:-)

View attachment 879404
Click to expand...
I like the mk2 Duncan

Oddly enough, my Harrier gets around the same
Running at 10.5, I get 45 shots from a 150 bar fill, as yours, all within 10fps
Brilliant things

I did try the Harrier at benchrest, but couldn't cope with the trigger after the Steyr and 9015
Now they're gone, I'm back liking the trigger
 
rockdrill said:
I think you will find there is some aluminium on the Mk2, the inlet valve plug, firing valve block, rear end plug and Fig-8 barrel collar are all alloy on these, that is where the weight saving came about over the all steel Mk1 Huntsman FTR. It is all good quality, well made and finished though.

Old Daystates:

Huntsman 'Low' (pre being known as the Midas), circa mid 1980's:
View attachment 879411

Huntsman FTR Mk1's later 1980's:

Walnut sporter version:
View attachment 879412

With Nick Jenkinson hand made stock and upgraded CR-94 trigger unit:
View attachment 879413

LR90:
View attachment 879438
Click to expand...
Some beauties there Dale
 
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