The Daystate Alpha Wolf is widely regarded as the most technologically advanced airgun on the planet. This remarkably compact bullpup PCP boasts an electronic trigger, computer regulated firing cycle and touch-screen power adjustment.
Over recent years, the Alpha Wolf has proved itself to be much more than a digital gimmick. It is a dependable shooting machine with a proven track record for accuracy and the ability to stand up to rigorous use. Several updated variants have been added to the line-up – the most recent one being the subject of this test.
The Daystate Alpha Wolf Shadow is equipped with the quick and simple SMART version of the Alpha Wolf electronic system and retails for a cool £2,075. Before anyone starts whining about the thought of spending more than two grand on an airgun, I will just point out that this is one of the finest airguns that money can buy... and, of course, nobody is forcing you to buy one if you don’t want to.
I think the Alpha Wolf Shadow is a beautiful looking little bullpup, and the new shadow grey stock certainly suits its overall aesthetic. It is an ultra-stubby airgun and very well-suited to pest control in confined spaces, whether in a hide, inside farm buildings or even from the cab of a truck. It is just 665mm long without the supplied suppressor fitted and still only 765mm long with it. The Shadow isn’t too heavy either, and tips the scales at a very manageable 3.6kg unscoped.
Below: The Daystate Alpha Wolf Shadow is a handsome bullpup airgun but it has also been designed to function in the field
Although the stock is very kind on the eye, it has also been designed for functionality. The forward sweep of the forend means you don’t have to place your leading hand on the bottle – which is certainly not the case with all bottle airguns – and it also incorporates an underside Picatinny rail for accessory attachment. Moving back, there is a nice steep and very comfortably contoured pistol grip that’s adorned with some really crisp stippling which feels great in the hand while making for a very secure purchase.
The rear section of the ambidextrous stock incorporates a Gecko butt pad which is height-adjustable to ensure correct alignment between your eye and scope. There is loads more adjustability incorporated into the super-rigid main chassis, which has Picatinny accessory rails on both sides.
One of the key adjustable features is the 20 MOA Picatinny scope rail, which provides about 170mm of clamping space. It sits on a dovetail rail which runs the length of the chassis. Slacken off the Allen screws that lock the rail in position and you can slide it back and forth to ensure correct eye relief with virtually any optic. The reversible cheek support sits on the same dovetail rail and can also be slid back and forth to get it into exactly the right position for you to nestle in nice and snug.
Below top: An adjustable Gecko butt pad helps with achieving correct gun fit
Below bottom: The cheek support and scope rail can be slid back and forth to achieve perfect eye relief and optimum comfort
At present, the Alpha Wolf shadow is available in .177 and .22 calibres at sub-12 power. The barrel is 430mm long and features Daystate’s quick-change system for rapid changing should you wish to swap it out. Its front section sits within a chunky carbon shroud which has a half-inch UNF thread and, combined with the supplied BRK silencer, keeps it very quiet. I have heard a few people moaning about the fact that the silencer is BRK branded and not Daystate, while I can see their point, when was the last time any of us really worried about matching the brand of our moderator with the brand of our gun. The important thing is that it hushes down muzzle report, and this one certainly does that.
The Alpha Wolf Shadow runs Daystate’s tried and tested gate-fronted magazine, which is easy to load and is very pellet-friendly. It holds 13 shots in .177 calibre and 11 in .22 and is driven by an utterly dependable sidelever mechanism. The lever is well positioned just above the grip, has a chunky dropdown handle and can be reversed for lefthanders. It’s fast and smooth to operate and keeps the shots coming without a hitch.
Below: The Daystate Alpha Wolf Shadow runs a proven magazine that's driven by a very reliable reversible sidelever action
I am a huge fan of Daystate’s electronic triggers – and the Alpha Wolf is all the better for having one because it eliminates the sloppiness that can result from the extended linkage necessitated by mechanical bullpup airguns. The blade is a match-type design which can be adjusted for length of pull, height and angle. You can also adjust the length and weight of the two-stage release but I prefer to test triggers on their factory setting to demonstrate what punters will get off the peg. As I had expected, the trigger on the Alpha Wolf Shadow was excellent. The first stage was quite short and light but the stop point was unmissable and followed by a light, clean and utterly predictable second stage break. That’s about as good as any trigger can get.
The safety catch is a switch-type setup. It is well positioned just above the pistol grip (sensibly out of the way of the trigger) and there is a switch on both sides to keep it fully ambidextrous. The switch is positive to operate but still very quiet. It is safe when in the horizontal positional and you simply flip the switch down when you’re ready to take the shot.
Maximum fill pressure is 250 bar and from that you can expect about 350 shots from the current sub-12 models. Pressure in the 300cc carbon tank is displayed on the gauge on the side of the stock. When it’s time to refill, simply pop the cap off the inlet that’s sunk into the underside of the stock and snap on the supplied Foster connector.
Below top: The Alpha Wolf Shadow is equipped with Daystate's electronic trigger which eliminates any of the spongy release associated with bullpup airguns
Below bottom: The air inlet is discreetly positioned in the underside of the stock
When it comes to power output, the Alpha Wolf Shadow is an incredibly consistent airgun. At full power, the test gun was running at 11.5ft/lb with Rangemaster Sovereign pellets. Shot to shot variation was within four feet per second over a ten-shot string, and this airgun’s Huma regulator no doubt plays a significant part in that level of performance. The pressure of that regulator is is shown on the touchscreen display on the left side of the butt section.
That screen is the interface you use to operate the Alpha Wolf’s electronic controls. There are numerous features on here but, being the SMART version, there is no chronograph – I have to say I actually prefer its simplified operation. The electronic features mean there is a battery to keep charged but it has a very healthy runtime and you don’t need to remove it to top it up – just plug a USB C lead into the port at the rear of the large thumbhole cutout.
A really handy feature of the Alpha Wolf Shadow’s electronic system is being able to quickly adjust power output with a touch of the screen. You can tweak it in small increments from 70 to 100 percent output. Apart from winding down output for safer shooting when plinking in the garden or carrying out pest control at very close range, it is surprising how tiny adjustments to power output can also tighten up grouping with your chosen ammo.
Below: The Daystate Alpha Wolf Shadow's touchscreen interface makes for quick and simple power adjustments and gives access to a host of other features
If you want to take a deep dive into just what the Alpha Wolf Shadow is capable of, it is all covered in detailed manuals that are available on the Daystate website. In my opinion, the standout feature is that this airgun’s firing cycle is effectively controlled by an electronic brain – add an excellent trigger and a high-quality barrel and you should expect some pretty impressive performance on the range. Sure enough, the test gun was single-holing very comfortably at 40m and, shooting from a bench in windless conditions, it was also capable of single-hole groups at 50m.
I think the Shadow is my favourite incarnation of the Alpha Wolf yet. Yes, it is expensive but it’s a very accurate, super-compact hunting gun that’s easy to carry and is incredibly pointable – and its retail price also includes a moulded hard case and a very effective moderator. If you want a high-end bullpup for field use, they don’t come more refined than the Daystate Alpha Wolf Shadow, and its modular configuration makes it easy to evolve and adapt its spec in terms of barrel length, calibre and power output – and even add the chronograph – should your requirements of it change.
MAKER: Daystate
MODEL: Alpha Wolf Shadow
RRP: £2,075
LENGTH: 765mm (30in) with supplied silencer fitted
WEIGHT: 3.6kg (7.9lb)
BARREL LENGTH: 430mm (17in)
LENGTH OF PULL: 380mm (15in)
MAX FILL PRESSURE: 250 bar
SHOTS PER FILL: 350
Article first published 19th December 2025
