Vulcanator's got a new hammer!

[Vulcanator]

This is a just a short review. I've been in the market quietly looking for a UK made Webley Patriot or Beeman Kodiak. I've seen many on the classified going for silly money and those closer to my desired price have been across the country. I'm not comfortable purchasing something used sight unseen.

On the off chance I call my local airgun shop to see if he had any Patriots and he says "I have a .25 Kodiak, mint condition" I go to his shop to inspect said rifle. Well mint is an understatement! The bluing is to die for and is in 100% condition makes my R9 looks as though Gamo blued it! The wood was in what I would call about 95% just a few minor handling marks on the bottom and top of the stock near the butt plate.

$485 poorer and I'm out the door with it. I borrow a chrono and put about 35-40 shots through it to see if it makes power. Oh yes it does, Beeman Silver Sting averaged 705fps for 26.8 ft/lb, Beeman FTS averaged 780fps for 27.1 ft/lb. Doing the chrony testing revealed that gun still needed breaking in as evidenced by the slightly coarse cocking cycle. The dealer told me the previous owner hardly used it and it certainly felt like it. Removing the stock from and inspecting the spring more closely reinforced this impression. Now this is of no interest to me but this is a Santa Rosa Kodiak so it is a few years old but the condition speaks for itself.

Here are some pictures:http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/iansmama2000/Martin/IMG_5582.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/iansmama2000/Martin/IMG_5583.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/iansmama2000/Martin/IMG_5584.jpg
So how does it shoot? Bloody marvelous! Here's the target:
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/iansmama2000/Martin/IMG_5581.jpg
Let me set the scene, all I did was put 35-40 shots through the chrony. I then shot two 10yd and one 15yd target to zero the rifle then I put the trap out to 25yds. This is the second 5 shot group that measures 5/8" with open sights-holy f**king moly!

Recoil is not too bad and the trigger while 2 stage is not as sweet as a Rekord but adequate considering this is one of the bazookas of magnum springer rifles. As you can imagine I'm pleased to say the least. I'll keep you informed how the thing lays waste to the squirrels.

[Hellequin]

Nice review and some great pictures; the gun looks like new!:cool:

That was a nice group you put in with it the other day too. You say that recoil isn't too bad, can you give us some sort of comparison? I've heard some horror stories regarding standard .22 Webley Patriots over here but to be honest I've always fancied one myself... Keep us posted on how it goes with the squirrel bashing anyway.:D

Regards
Paul

[brian747]

Nice review vulcanator/ paul i will do one on my patriot once i get it back From our baz on here ,
regds brian

[Hellequin]

Nice review vulcanator/ paul i will do one on my patriot once i get it back From our baz on here ,
regds brian

I'll look forward to that one Brian, I've heard Baz knows how to fettle a Patriot very well!;):cool:

[Vulcanator]

Nice review and some great pictures; the gun looks like new!:cool:

That was a nice group you put in with it the other day too. You say that recoil isn't too bad, can you give us some sort of comparison? I've heard some horror stories regarding standard .22 Webley Patriots over here but to be honest I've always fancied one myself... Keep us posted on how it goes with the squirrel bashing anyway.:D

Regards
Paul
Paul,

I'll try my best. Recoil is subjective of course but the frame of reference I can use is my Webley Vulcan as that represents a full power UK spec rifle. Also, if I recall you were ex-army so you may have shot the .22LR No 8 rifle in training. I did back in the army cadets.

The Patriot definitely has a more substantial recoil that my Vulcan. On another forum someone remarked that it kicked more than a .22LR! I can attest to that as well, but would it be bothersome to you? I can't say. I'm only 5' 8" and 11.5 Stone and manage the rifle with no problem.

People who rubbish the rifle seem to forget this gun is not a plinker you can pick up and put a 100-200 pellets through it at a time. This is a hunting rifle that definitely puts the smackdown on what it hits. The thing you will notice is that with a 50lb cocking effort you will feel it after 50+ pellets,. I'll go so far to say that if you own the Patriot you won't need a Bullworker to work out your arms!:D When it comes to getting good groups the "artillery hold" works wonders, basically a light hold, don't pull it too hard into your shoulder, let the fore-end rest in your supporting hand, do not wedge your cheek too hard into the cheek piece-it will ache after a session with the Patriot if you do that!

When it comes to accuracy I was concerned that the target I posted was a fluke-it wasn't. I was able to repeat the same size groups on 3 subsequent occasions. I've been using a mixture of Diana Magnums and Beeman's Silver Sting, FTS and Arrow pellets. My gun is not pellet fussy and I've been getting 3shot 10 yd groups at 1/4" ctc, 15yds at 3/8"-1/2" and 5 shot groups at 25yds 5/8"-3/4" open sights.

I nailed my first squirrel with it last weekend, I've never heard a pellet hit a critter so hard!:eek: I have heard that the .25 Patriot has the nicest shooting characteristics but I cannot confirm that. I have read that there are many owners who are happy with their .22 Patriots. If you get an opportunity to try one out that may be the best option for you.

[Hellequin]

Thanks for the update mate, very interesting! The recoil certainly isn't something which would put me off, especially when the rest of the rifle seems to work so well. It does sound very nice in the bigger calibre and one to look out for in the future; I think I'd rather have that than the .22 version, especially as I now have that base covered with my fac .22 HW80.;)

ATB
Paul

[Vulcanator]

Thanks for the update mate, very interesting! The recoil certainly isn't something which would put me off, especially when the rest of the rifle seems to work so well. It does sound very nice in the bigger calibre and one to look out for in the future; I think I'd rather have that than the .22 version, especially as I now have that base covered with my fac .22 HW80.;)

ATB
Paul

I was thinking of importing one from the UK, there are about 6 of them listed on www.guntrader.co.uk There's a .25 cal version going for 125GBP with a bit of wear and tear on it that caught my eye. The exchange rate and paperwork and shipping costs raised it to pretty much what I paid over here. If you decide to get one, guntrader and this forum would not be a bad place to start.

[brian747]

hi martin/paul i doubt you will pick one up as cheap as what i paid
for mine just 60 quid is all i paid my rfd May of London , it was in very good
condition and i just thought it needed the attention of baz as the recoil needs a bit of smoothing out,and i heard baz had done these before and owned one at sometime so i am looking forward to this joining my fac line up
of a mk1 rapid.25 @48fpe ,a air arms S400extra .22@ 30fpe , and the patriot at .25@26fpe bunnies and tree rats beware!!!!!:D:D
atb brian:)

[Vulcanator]

hi martin/paul i doubt you will pick one up as cheap as what i paid
for mine just 60 quid is all i paid my rfd May of London , it was in very good
condition and i just thought it needed the attention of baz as the recoil needs a bit of smoothing out,and i heard baz had done these before and owned one at sometime so i am looking forward to this joining my fac line up
of a mk1 rapid.25 @48fpe ,a air arms S400extra .22@ 30fpe , and the patriot at .25@26fpe bunnies and tree rats beware!!!!!:D:D
atb brian:)That is a steal!:eek: Post some pictures when you get it back from Baz.

[R. P. McMurphy]

I would really like a .25 Webley Patriot meself,very nice looking rifle you got there Vulc mate.Looking forward to hearing how the Baz fettled version shoots too.:)