Webley Raider 10-shot

[arjimlad]

Arjimlad’s review of the Webley Raider 10-shot - Part 1

Vital Statistics

This is a blued steel sporter PCP with a 10-shot bright aluminium magazine. The action is worked by a bolt on the right hand side of the gun which is lifted then pulled back to cock the gun and index the magazine in a fashion a little reminiscent of a magazine bolt action rifle. The stroke is short, 3cm only. There is a notch at the rear of the travel of the bolt into which it can be locked for unloading the magazine and to keep the gun in a safe condition.

The left hand side of the action is covered with a large plate proudly showing the model name and maker of this gun. This might be a little too bold for some but it is good advertising for Webley.

The overall length of the gun is 38”.

The stock is unashamedly a sporter. I have the beech model. Starting from the rear, the stock has a slim ventilated brown rubber pad with black spacer. Being ambidextrous, it has a raised cheek piece on each side, a raked pistol grip which is angled nearer to the 45 degree mark than the 90 degree favoured for a true target style, chequering on each side of the grip, slab sides from the grip until 4” or so in front of the trigger guard where the stock then grows “wings” on each side to aid grip. The stock tapers in depth and the end is raked back from its base. It is a good fit for me, 5`11” average build as I am. There is plenty of depth in the stock to screw a QD stud in for a bipod or sling. The trigger guard has a nice shape, is made of metal, deeply blacked, and has a raised patch of waffle effect metal moulded into its base, for improved grip I suppose.

There is a small black and white pressure gauge in the base of the stock 5” forward of the front of the trigger guard.

The owner’s manual gives the gun’s weight as 6.6 lbs or 3 kilos. The barrel itself is but 13.8” long. It is housed within a shroud some 18” long which gives the gun the appearance of having a varmint style barrel. In fact, the last 4.2” of the shroud contain moderator baffles and a knurled screw-in end plug holding these in place. The baffles are removable for cleaning. A replacement end cap is available which provides a male thread suitable for a standard ½” UNF moderator such as the latest Weihrauch or Parker-Hale.

The air cylinder stops some 5 3/8ths” short of the muzzle of the barrel. It has a quick-fill aperture at the underside of the end nearest the muzzle. This is protected by a nicely made aluminium dust plug - no plastic here. The cylinder is finished off with a smooth circular plate. The barrel shroud is fixed to the cylinder at the end nearest the muzzle.

Throughout the gun, all screws are allen-headed, save for one trigger guard screw which screws into wood alone.

The trigger has two stages and is adjustable for length of first stage and weight of pull. The blade itself can also be moved.

[arjimlad]

Operation

Having secured my Hawke Airmax 6-18x44 to the long scope rail, and adjusted for correct eye relief and level cross hairs, I used the muzzle end plug adaptor to attach a basic moderator of unknown make to the gun. This moderator is only a little larger in diameter than the barrel shroud itself, and adds 4 ¼ “ to the length of the gun. It is a simple design, consisting internally of one long spring with a washer in the middle.

The magazine is released by moving the bolt back and engaging it in its rearmost position. The magazine itself pivots around a small steel pin, which has a knurled tip accessible from in front of the scope rail. This pin is simply pulled out (it is retained in a channel) and the magazine pushes itself out a little proud for easy acquisition.

The magazine is reminiscent of those supplied with my Umarex CP88, save that it is bigger and lighter. There is a channel cut around the magazine where the pellets skirts sit and a pip in the centre around the axis hole. The front-facing side of the magazine is quite smooth by contrast. It would be hard to insert the magazine the wrong way round. The pellets are held in place by a rubber O-ring which runs around the outside of the magazine in a slot. The O-ring slot is cut just into the pellet holes, and allows the pellets to be held by the waist.

The magazine can be inserted into the gun and held in place with the right thumb whilst the little finger pushes the pin back into place. The pin does not seem to click or otherwise to be retained in place.

The bolt is then returned to the forward position and pushed down to engage with a slot in the action. This pushes a pellet probe forwards which inserts a pellet from the magazine into the bore. The gun is ready to fire. The bolt is simply lifted, pulled right back to cock the action, pushed forward and re-seated in the slot to reload the gun.

It is possible to see whether the next chamber in the magazine is full or empty. The magazine moves in a clockwise direction.

[arjimlad]

Shooting Impressions

Shooting after work and after the children are in bed means shooting at night at this time of year. Turning on the lights in the back rooms of my house, I illuminate both my backstop and a shooting position 10m away. I set up a rough benchrest style operation with a plastic garden table and chair, and used my old FT seat and a rolled up sheet as a support for the rifle.

First, I simply plinked with the gun for 10 shots, without zeroing. A shot at a line of empty 12 bore shells told me that the gun was shooting 1” to the left and a touch high at 10 yards.

The gun had hardly any muzzle report at all. There was a prrrp noise from the action rather like a frog’s croak. I will try the gun without the additional moderator later, to see what the sound is like unmodified. I cannot imagine that a better quality moderator would make the gun quieter, but if I ever acquire one, will see what results it gives.

The gun moved slightly on firing with the impact of the hammer. This was not appreciable though, and over a longer distance I am sure I would still be able to follow the pellet’s flight through the scope.

I then put up a standard 10m 5-bull air rifle target and proceeded to zero the scope so that the gun would shoot 1” high at this range. I was concerned that the moderator might affect accuracy and was quite prepared to chuck it away.

I found the trigger a little heavier than I am used to. The stock needs to be removed to adjust this, so I may do this later. There is a very slight amount of creep, which is predictable and did not detract from my enjoyment of the gun. The trigger is nothing like as bad as an untreated CZ rimfire, but not as good as that on my old Titan Mohawk.

Using 9x mag and Accupells, the first 5-shot group was 1/8th" centre to centre. The pellets all went through the same hole. I moved the group over to where I wanted it to be on the target and again, the group was very small indeed. I then emptied a full magazine into a target using the upper mildot on the scope, which was set at 6x for this exercise. My group opened up to ½” centre to centre mainly because I was having fun rather than really trying to keep things tight.

Switching to RWS Superdomes, I carried on plinking at a double spinner (45mm and 13mm discs) and resetting 45mm disc target, empty shotgun shells, a beer can (end on of course) until I had fired 80 shots or so. I didn’t miss anything I aimed at, nor did I notice any drop off at all in zero. The pressure gauge now read 120 BAR, a drop of 50 BAR from the 170 the gun came with. I was able to reload fast enough to keep the spinner spinning.

The 300-BAR 3ltr bottle I bought with the gun is with the diving shop being charged from empty. I will pick it up tomorrow and recharge the gun to the recommended 190BAR pressure.

My first impressions are that this is a superb British product. I love the lines of the gun, the way that the cylinder finishes short, allowing the barrel to protrude. It looks like a gun, if you know what I mean.

For me, it balances beautifully, and the large Airmax scope does not look cumbersome or out of place. The moderator adds to the grace of the design, being only ever so little thicker than the diameter of the barrel shroud. I am sure that this will put many rabbits in the bag. Without seeming so light as to bounce around on aim, particularly for a standing shot, it is that much lighter than my Mohawk, and will be easier to carry as well as easier to load. I am very pleased with the choice I made.

[arjimlad]

Woke up this morning and realised I had omitted to mention the trigger !

Rather important, so I edited to include comment on this now.

[jeff0100]

nice review...any pics ??? :)

jeff

[arjimlad]

Not got sorted on pix yet I'm afraid..reliant on DV stills only so they are not best quality, and I have not got around to getting picture hosting. Gun Mart has an ad for it though..

[arjimlad]

My usual haunts were not accessible this weekend, but I took the gun on a stalk about, and accounted for a rabbit very nicely at 25 yards or so. Clean head shot with Accupell.

The rifle seems very quiet to me. The bolt action is weird. I am so used to .22RF that I was looking to catch the ejecting brass when pulling the bolt back. It's certainly fairly easy to cart about. The bolt can be put in the rear position so that the trigger is disabled and there is no pellet in the breech.

I have put a QD stud in the fore-end to fit a bipod to later. Main reason - this will allow me to put the gun down whilst paunching etc, without laying it down on the grass.

[arjimlad]

2 magpies at approx 30 yards. First one nice 'n easy, second one came for the funeral. And a cracking young rabbit again at about 30 yards, just rolled over, kicked the once and was gone. The moderator does not affect the accuracy at all and this gun is so easy to shoot. I have adjusted the trigger to make it a little lighter than the factory setting, and the creep has diminished too.

[woody2906]

Excellent, comprehensive review jimlad. Being a fan of webleys owning a 'raider' and 'axsor' carbine i'm sorely tempted to buy one, it sounds as though they've combined the best features of the two to produce a nice hunter.

[arjimlad]

Thanks Woody. Richard Reeve at Newavon Arms, where I bought the gun, said that he thought that Webley had listened to what users said about their previous PCPs when putting the Raider 10 together and that they had done a good job of it. I can't disagree with that. Pride of place, this one.

[darren m]

sounds like a good un mate , i also have a raider and an Axsor , i cant fault them .
have you put it over a chrono yet , any results etc .
whats the action based on , Axsor or raider , any chance of a pic of it , close up of action if poss .

cheers
Darren .

[Gareth W-B]

Thought I'd bump this one back up to the top as it was/is (a) one of the best all-in on-going reviews I've seen on BBS, and (b) Ed has some Raider Ten shots that he is selling at a good price (see his opening STICKY on page one of the FOR SALE section). Just trying to help: Gareth W-B.

[arjimlad]

Thanks Gareth !

I enjoyed writing it. Commissions gratefully accepted of course should anyone want an honest review...

[stevejo58]

Having just bought a Webley Raider 10 (in .22), I found your review very useful - thanks!
You said you adjusted the trigger; I don't have a spanner small enough for the tiny locknut. How did you get round this?
As a matter of interest, is yours a .22 or .177?
Thanks,
Steve Jones

[arjimlad]

Hi Steve,

I've only just looked at this again today to see your post.

I seem to recall that I had a small adjustable spanner which I used on this.

However, I found that I did not have an allen key the right size to adjust the screw itself, but I found that having loosened the nut, the screw turned quite easily using a smaller allen key held at an angle.

Obviously I proceeded very cautiously with this and would not have done so had there been any stiffness or difficulty.

Mine is a .22. I'm still very pleased with it. Even though I've seen them advertised for £100 less than I paid, by JSR ! :(

And I got a good deal at the time.

Hope you enjoy yours.

[daryl]

hello mate just got my r 10 today first inprestions is looks cool can you tell me did the silencer adapter come with the gun or did you get from newavon arms thanks daryl:D

[arjimlad]

Daryl, I got it from Newavon as an accessory when I bought the gun. It's not included with the gun. Enjoy !

[stevejo58]

Thanks for the info re. trigger adjustment. Useful warning, and knowing my capacity for disasters with things technical, I shall leave well alone for now!
Steve :rolleyes:

[arjimlad]

My Raider 10 has gone back to Webley (via my gundealer) as the power seems to have dropped to about 6 ft lbs :(

The dealer told me that there is a seal which is prone to fail. I have never tinkered with a PCP - the thought of making a mistake with all that pressure puts me off. Even if I emptied it, I might not put it back together properly.

I'm very glad I bought it from my local gun shop.

I don't know how long it will take to get it back.

[bullcelt]

every gun i have ever sent to AGS for a service has been sent back within a week,always had very good service from them.

[arjimlad]

Thank you - that's reassuring.

[MikB]

Did you shoot it without the additional moderator? There are a few guns about now with mods incorporated into bull barrels and I'm considering replacing my Falcon FN12TW with its short quickfill mod, but don't want to have to put significant extra length on, so would be interested if it's acceptable without.

Regards,
MikB

[arjimlad]

It's OK without an additional mod, but definitely quieter with one.

I got the gun back at the weekend and was surprised to be charged for the repair (£50!). Webley told the gunshop that it was user error - they claim that I have been overfilling the gun and had blown a valve.

I bought a Webley 300 bar bottle, with a Webley hose & guage, to go with my very first Webley rifle, and have strictly followed the Webley instructions and never charged it over 200 bar. I have owned a PCP before and am not some irresponsible inexperienced hamfisted clot.

The guage on the bottle mirrors that on the gun so I don't think it is under-reading.

I have always tried to charge it slowly as well.

The gun has had but little use - my bottle although only a littl'un is still on its original fill. I have not put 1,000 shots through it.

I am not a happy bunny, but my local gunshop is taking it up with the sales rep and I have hopes of a satisfactory outcome...nevertheless the gun accounted for a very nice young buck rabbit at 30 yards at the weekend.

If it drops power again, I will have to buy a Combro and teach myself PCP maintenance..which is not so good for a £400 gun.

[the wizard]

:eek:if i was you id fone webley, if the gun is new it should be warranted, also not all dealers are that honest, wouldn't be the first time i've heard of a dealer charging for a repair when the manafacturer didnt charge them, might be wrong, but wot u got to lose from a phone call.

ps raider 10, good little gun, can be improved tho'

the wiz:D

[arjimlad]

I suppose it was older than 12 months but for a £399 gun to croak after 18 months of light but careful use is pretty poor. I'll see how the dealer gets on with the Webley rep.. It's more the insult to my intelligence which annoys me.

[Reiver]

I just picked up a Raider 10 shot second hand. Its a nice gun, possibly a little big for lamping from a motor, but i like it with the exception of the damn safety. :mad:

From what I read in the manual the rifle is safe when the bolt is back and down, moving the bolt forward indexes the mag, loads a pellet and cocks. If I then decide not to fire and want safety on I can pull the bolt back, fine except that when I next ready to fire pushing the bolt forward indexes the mag and loads a second pellet :eek:

Hope someone can tell me I am doing something wrong. The gun is awkward enough in a confined space last thing I need is a dodgy safety.

[Punchsteve]

I just picked up a Raider 10 shot second hand. Its a nice gun, possibly a little big for lamping from a motor, but i like it with the exception of the damn safety. :mad:

From what I read in the manual the rifle is safe when the bolt is back and down, moving the bolt forward indexes the mag, loads a pellet and cocks. If I then decide not to fire and want safety on I can pull the bolt back, fine except that when I next ready to fire pushing the bolt forward indexes the mag and loads a second pellet :eek:

Hope someone can tell me I am doing something wrong. The gun is awkward enough in a confined space last thing I need is a dodgy safety.

I think the gun actually cocks when you pull the bolt back, and indexes a pellet when you push the bolt forward.

What I tend to do, if I have already indexed a pellet and cocked the gun is pull the bolt back, remove the magazine, take hold of the bolt and while pointing it in a safe direction squeeze the trigger while easing the bolt forward. That means the gun will need to be cocked again before it will fire, and there's no magazine to index a second pellet.

I then put a pellet in the empty space on the mag so I don't have to fumble about positioning it to index the next pellet properly when I put it back in, but this is just me.

[arjimlad]

Steve's right. I keep the bolt back and slip it forward when I want to shoot. If I don't end up shooting the only option I can think of is what Steve suggests - or letting the shot off in a safe direction.

I had two rabbits in quick succession last night. Very pleased.

[Reiver]

Pretty much what I have been doing, but wastes a lot of pellets. Its a lovely gun, very comfortable accurate, just a pity the designers missed a manual safety. That and the fact its a bit too long to swing around in a motor means I'll have to go looking for another one

Oh dear how sad. ;)

Thanks for the help

[arjimlad]

Update - no resolution from Webley - dealer has lost my custom and I shan't buy another Webley - I bought a Combro though (thanks Robin - what a marvellous little tool that is !) and I was seriously impressed with the consistency of the rifle. It's doing about 11.3 ft lbs at the moment. Sitting supported I got one-hole groups from 25-40 yards, which I am rather pleased with.

I had a lot of help from guys on here re maintenance etc., and am confident I can sort out any problems which arise. I still really like the fit and feel of the gun. It is doing a lovely job around the shoot.

[Taz]

nice review i was sad to sell mine and if i had the cash it's still in my local gun shop and i would have it back tomorrow :( mine was .177 and the last to leave the now defunct webley factory, I modded mine by cutting down the shroud and having it re threaded, I then added the brilliant hw100 silencer which made it totally silent, and the same length as with the original shroud :D
imo it is one of the best air rifles i have ever used and did everything i wanted it to do.

[arjimlad]

That's very sad !

I was thinking of parting with mine in favour of an FAC rated air rifle, but I think I will keep it, and save up for the FAC gun. I'd like to try a better moderator on it than the RWS Manders which it sports at the moment. A SAK quietened it down beautifully, for example.

[Punchsteve]

That's very sad !

I was thinking of parting with mine in favour of an FAC rated air rifle, but I think I will keep it, and save up for the FAC gun. I'd like to try a better moderator on it than the RWS Manders which it sports at the moment. A SAK quietened it down beautifully, for example.

I can recommend the Weihrauch silencer. Did a pretty good job on mine. But no amount of silencer will get rid of that farting (pfffrt) noise from the action though. But there is a way to de-twang (or de-pfffrt :D) it I believe. Or at least it has been mentioned on here at some time.

[fok]

I can recommend the Weihrauch silencer. Did a pretty good job on mine.

I'll second that...........my lad has Punchsteve's old Raider and it's whisper quiet with an HW fitted.

[paddyeds]

Arjimlad’s review of the Webley Raider 10-shot - Part 1

Vital Statistics



There is a small black and white pressure gauge in the base of the stock 5” forward of the front of the trigger guard.



Mine Doesn't have a pressure gauge at all, does anyone know why this is???
Also it is a .177 but has .22 5.5 Cal stamped into the barrel shroud ?? is this strange ??

I love the rifle and have no intention of parting with it but find these two points a little niggly.

Thanks

Paddy

[Punchsteve]

Mine Doesn't have a pressure gauge at all, does anyone know why this is???
Also it is a .177 but has .22 5.5 Cal stamped into the barrel shroud ?? is this strange ??

I love the rifle and have no intention of parting with it but find these two points a little niggly.

Thanks

Paddy

Is it a raider 10 or just a raider 1 or 2 shot? As far as I know, neither of these had a pressure gauge, only the Raider 10.

Could be one or two reasons why yours is a .177 when it says .22 on it. Someone might have decided to change calibre and had it professionally converted (I think there was a time up to when Webley went bust that the .177 was in very short supply, so the above might have been an easier option for someone).

Or the shop itself when selling from new might have converted it to .177 for a customer as they couldn't get hold of one new.

[paddyeds]

it is a raider 10 or so the plague on the side says, i thought it might have been modded to .177 if it was originally a .22 would this affect the power?? maybe I should get it chrono'd, don't think it is underpowered shot a rabbit head shot 40yds last night, maybe it is over powered. would be nice to have a gauge, could this be retro fitted do you think?? if so who would do it?

Thanks

paddy

[Punchsteve]

it is a raider 10 or so the plague on the side says, i thought it might have been modded to .177 if it was originally a .22 would this affect the power?? maybe I should get it chrono'd, don't think it is underpowered shot a rabbit head shot 40yds last night, maybe it is over powered. would be nice to have a gauge, could this be retro fitted do you think?? if so who would do it?

Thanks

paddy

Always a good idea to get it chronoed mate. Especially if it's been converted or tinkered about with. If done professionally, the power will have been adjusted and some other work done internally for the change of calibre. But I would still chrono it, just in case.

I'm pretty sure that you can retrofit a gauge, but I'm not sure who could fit one for you. I'm sure a helpful BBS member will be along shortly with a suggestion.

EDIT: Didn't notice this question was in the reviews section as it's an old post that came up in my list of subscribed threads. Apologies mods. :o