28-Sep-2026
Some air rifles are tools, and some are heirlooms. The Daystate Huntsman manages to be both. For decades, this slim, walnut-stocked sporter has been the rifle UK airgunners picture when they hear the words “hunting PCP”, light enough to carry across a farm all afternoon, accurate enough to win field target trophies, and finished to a standard that makes most rivals look industrial. Interest in the Huntsman has been climbing again on the used market, and if you are one of the many shooters searching for one, this review covers what makes it special and what to know before you buy.
Daystate: Britain’s PCP pioneer
Daystate, based in Staffordshire, has a fair claim to having invented the modern pre-charged pneumatic air rifle. The company was building PCPs for pest control and farm use back in the 1970s, long before the format became the default choice for serious airgunners. That head start shows in the Huntsman, a model line that has been continuously refined rather than reinvented.
Where many manufacturers chase tactical styling and adjustable everything, Daystate kept the Huntsman defiantly classic: a slender sporter stock in genuine walnut, a compact action, and handling closer to a best-quality game gun than a target rig. It is the rifle in Daystate’s range that appeals equally to the traditionalist and the serious hunter.
The Huntsman line: Classic, Regal and Revere
The Huntsman name spans several generations, and used buyers will meet them all. Earlier rifles, the Huntsman Classic and its contemporaries, established the template with a mechanical action of charming simplicity. The Huntsman Regal tightened up the action, improved the trigger, and brought the model into the modern era, becoming one of the best-selling sporting PCPs in Britain along the way. The current Huntsman Revere adds a refined sidelever action and an updated magazine system, while keeping the same trim proportions that define the line.
Each generation shares the essentials: a bolt- or sidelever-cycled multi-shot action, a free-floating match barrel, and that unmistakable slim walnut stock. Calibre choice follows the usual UK pattern, .177 for the flattest trajectory, .22 for hunting, and both are plentiful on the second-hand market.
What it’s like in the field
The Huntsman’s defining quality is how little of it there seems to be between you and the shot. At around six pounds bare, it comes to the shoulder like a game gun, and the balance point sits naturally over the leading hand. The firing cycle is quiet and quick, with a crisp two-stage trigger, and with a decent moderator fitted, the loudest sound on a still morning is the pellet striking home.
Accuracy is everything you would expect of a rifle wearing a match-grade barrel. Sub-12 ft·lb versions return a healthy shot count from a charge, and the regulated later models are impressively consistent across the fill. This is a rifle designed for rabbits at range and pigeons off the barn roof, and it does that job about as well as anything ever has.
Buying a used Huntsman
A used Huntsman is one of the safer buys in airgunning, because these rifles tend to be owned by people who look after them. Even so, the standard PCP checks apply. Ask about service history, seals, and, on later rifles, the regulator benefit from periodic attention, and Daystate specialists are easy to find in the UK. Confirm the rifle holds a charge overnight, check the walnut for cracks around the action bolts, and cycle the magazine through a full string to make sure indexing is clean.
Prices vary with generation and condition: earlier Classics are the affordable entry point, Regals occupy the middle ground, and late Reveres command close to new money when boxed and tidy. Our checklist for inspecting any pre-owned PCP is worth a read before you view a rifle.
Huntsman vs the competition
The Huntsman’s natural rivals are the Air Arms S410 and the BSA R10, both excellent, both British, both slightly different in character. The S410 is arguably smoother, the R10 the value pick, but neither matches the Huntsman’s game-gun handling or its walnut. Within Daystate’s own range, the electronic Red Wolf shows what the company can do with technology; we compared the approaches in our Daystate Red Wolf review, but the Huntsman remains the purist’s choice: no electronics, no fuss, just a beautifully made mechanical rifle.
New shooters weighing formats should also read our guide to spring versus PCP air rifles, though be warned: one afternoon with a Huntsman tends to settle the debate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Daystate Huntsman regulated? Later models, including recent Regal and Revere variants, feature regulated actions for tighter shot-to-shot consistency. Earlier rifles are unregulated but still impressively consistent; check the specification of the exact rifle you are viewing.
What calibre is best for a Daystate Huntsman? For hunting, most UK buyers choose .22; for target work and the flattest trajectory, .177. Both are widely available used, so choose the calibre that matches your shooting rather than what happens to be in stock.
Do I need a licence for a Daystate Huntsman? Standard sub-12 ft·lb versions need no licence in England and Wales, though Scotland requires an air weapon certificate. High-power FAC versions require a firearm certificate. Our UK air rifle law guide covers the details.
Is the Huntsman good for a first PCP? Yes, it is simple, reliable and forgiving to shoot well. A used Regal in particular is a first PCP you may never feel the need to upgrade.
Browse Daystate Huntsman listings on Rightgun.uk
Few rifles hold their appeal, or their value, like a Huntsman. New and used Daystate Huntsman rifles are listed on Rightgun.uk, alongside the full range of Daystate air rifles and hundreds more air guns for sale across the UK. If you have been waiting for the right example to appear, it may already be listed, and if you are moving one on, Rightgun.uk puts it in front of the buyers actively searching for it.
Further reading: Daystate Red Wolf review, Air Arms S410, Air Arms S510 vs BSA R10, The best PCP air rifles, and UK air rifle laws & licensing explained.
