Blackwolf Blackwolf and Sub-MOA Barrels Review

[Franklink]

Shot a couple hundred 18.1s yesterday, all from the 1:22 SubMOA barrel. Some of that was the 150 yard pickle jar lid fun mentioned above, and some was on paper @ 30 and 50 yards.

So, reg pressure of 125bar, plenum stuffer and a transfer port restriction in place, white spring on "12" produced 880fps with the 18.13s. Lots and lots and lots of shots per fill. Very minimal cocking effort with the white spring. Overall pretty darn enjoyable.

Here are two "30 yard challenges." Shot them benched, which I think is my first time doing so, as I usually shoot them from a field target position. Per the National Weather System, the nearest weather station to my house (3 miles) recorded wind speeds from 3-18mph while I was shooting, and from various directions.

And this is the chrono date for one of the above, I didn't note which one...

From there I went out to 50 yards. Found some old printed N50 targets in my target binder so shot at them. BIG disclaimer here on the 18.1s @ resisting wind....I've got at least 6 different .177 and .20 barrels and guns that resist wind better than the .22/18.1s @ 50 yards.

I don't have a 0.35 plug so I set my calipers to 0.175 and measured from the center of the hole to assist in scoring, like this...


(Top row of both = sighters)

And then for scoring here's the math to extrapolate the 196/200 to a score out of 250, had I shot a full card.

So, by setting up ratios, it would have shaken out to something like a 245/9x.

I hadn't put many 30fpe shots down any of the barrels for the BW prior to this, but I found the experience quite enjoyable.

 

[Danman]

Shot a couple hundred 18.1s yesterday, all from the 1:22 SubMOA barrel. Some of that was the 150 yard pickle jar lid fun mentioned above, and some was on paper @ 30 and 50 yards.

So, reg pressure of 125bar, plenum stuffer and a transfer port restriction in place, white spring on "12" produced 880fps with the 18.13s. Lots and lots and lots of shots per fill. Very minimal cocking effort with the white spring. Overall pretty darn enjoyable.

Here are two "30 yard challenges." Shot them benched, which I think is my first time doing so, as I usually shoot them from a field target position. Per the National Weather System, the nearest weather station to my house (3 miles) recorded wind speeds from 3-18mph while I was shooting, and from various directions.

And this is the chrono date for one of the above, I didn't note which one...

From there I went out to 50 yards. Found some old printed N50 targets in my target binder so shot at them. BIG disclaimer here on the 18.1s @ resisting wind....I've got at least 6 different .177 and .20 barrels and guns that resist wind better than the .22/18.1s @ 50 yards.

I don't have a 0.35 plug so I set my calipers to 0.175 and measured from the center of the hole to assist in scoring, like this...


(Top row of both = sighters)

And then for scoring here's the math to extrapolate the 196/200 to a score out of 250, had I shot a full card.

So, by setting up ratios, it would have shaken out to something like a 245/9x.

I hadn't put many 30fpe shots down any of the barrels for the BW prior to this, but I found the experience quite enjoyable.

I woulda packed it in after the first card ...mighty consistent!
That tune is exactly what my S510 came set at, 880 with an 18.1gr...my guess is you B.W. isnt even flinching at that power level as its a fair bit heavier. I get zero muzzle flip, whereas its definitely noticed with my Ghost @53fpe.
Curious....did the pickle jar lid survive that far away?!

 

[Franklink]

I woulda packed it in after the first card ...mighty consistent!
That tune is exactly what my S510 came set at, 880 with an 18.1gr...my guess is you B.W. isnt even flinching at that power level as its a fair bit heavier. I get zero muzzle flip, whereas its definitely noticed with my Ghost @53fpe.
Curious....did the pickle jar lid survive that far away?!

Incredibly stable at only 30-31fpe. There were a couple times where I backed off the gun completely and took the shot just to see what it'd do without any shooter input (not sucked up to shoulder or cheek-welded), and it was still settled on the correct holdover point after the shot.

Pickle jar lid is shredded.

 

[Franklink]

Pickle jar lid location @ the added red dot. It spins with the wind so that makes it even more of a fun challenge.

 

[Franklink]

Update...

I've been playing with it as a carbine these last few months.

F

Blackwolf Blackwolf Chassis Carbine

Apr 22, 2026

Starting a new thread since this isn't a SubMOA barrel...

Calling it phase two of this :


36" OAL with the STO Pugio

37.5" OAL with this shroud

Weighs just shy of 11lbs (versus 13lb + with the SubMOA barrel).

OAL dependent on moderator, but Carbine configuration is 9.5" shorter than SubMOA config, when measuring from butt-plate...

• Franklink
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Daystate Airguns

• 

I ran around 1200 pellets through it with three different 15" .22 barrels, mostly around 18-24fpe, using pellets from 13-18grains. The 15" barrels were all repurposed from other projects, of various provenances and vintages. I REALLY enjoy the form factor of the 36-38" version of the BW, more so than when running a 24" barrel, but just couldn't arrive at a magic combination of speed/pellet for any of the 15" barrels. The most promising was a 15" poly. And the problem I ran into there was that the accuracy got better as the speed went up, which seems pretty typical of polygonal rifling. And getting the speed up enough with such a short barrel resulted in a harsh shot cycle, relative to the power output. One of my non-negotiables is that I've got to enjoy shooting a gun (again, shot cycle) to leave it set up in any particular configuration long-term. And the shot cycle for the 15" barrels, relative to the power output relative to the accuracy/precision results, just wasn't the collective magic that I'm looking for.

So I'm back to the SubMOA barrels for now. And in the first mini session with the 1:22, found myself noting how it's more accurate/precise than any of the 3 different 15" barrels I've been playing with, and not by a little.

Currently running the white spring, with the plenum reducer in place, with a (restricted) transfer port size of 0.177" and a reg pressure of 110BAR.

At MIN, that combination produces 925fps with JSB .22/13.43s. At "10" I get 890fps with JSB .22/18.13s, and on MAX, 825fps with JSB .22/25.4s.

Very pleasant cycle, easy-cocking, and quite accurate here. Also getting away with just using the 110c 0Db for moderating. But this combination of adjustments made me realize that the weight difference between the 13.43s and the 25.4s doesn't really allow for optimal results from both at the same reg pressure and/or hammer spring.

At this point, I'm still overwhelmed with all the possible adjustments and what to land on as a long-term configuration/use-case for the BW. But currently trending towards doing a 180 to the idea of the modest power output carbine, and really leaning into what the chassis version of the gun seems like it was designed for: being a bench howitzer. I've been eyeing a .22 slug mold and casting some slugs using trap-collected lead. Recently went down this road with a different platform but the non-choked nature of the SubMOA barrels, coupled with the ease at which the BW makes power, might make the BW a platform better suited to this idea.

 

[Danman]

I say swap in a .30 cal barrel and put the pedal to the metal!
My thoughts: the Blackwolf is an expensive top tier platform pcp, meant to challenge the top competitors. Neutering it as you have proves it can be done, but...its wine n cheese in the field. No one is sparrow hunting with their BWs.
Many many pcps with this detuned power level (at 1/4 to 1/2 the cost) can match the accuracy/efficiency.
It is the most powerful Daystate to date and is priced accordingly. We need to see 40gr .22 slugs and 55gr .30cal slugs zinging outta the beast!
Also, this would cut out at least half of the ammo/barrel combos, as anything light just wont work.