Webley pistol power conundrum

[Geezer]

This has been on my mind for a few days.

In the world of spring rifle tuning, we now know, to put it too simply, that the route to higher power is through greater sewpt volume, longer stroke, and efficient flow dynamics through the transfer port. Just bunging in a bigger/stiffer/Ox spring increases recoil much more than power (which sometimes even goes down).

Still with me?

Now, transfer that to classic Webley pistols.

The Senior has slightly greater stroke and therefore swept volume than the Mk1. And makes more power.

But the Premier has slightly longer stroke than the Senior. But is not as powerful.

And the Hurricane/Tempest appears to have about the same swept volume as the others, but is potentially much more powerful.

Chris Thrale's book lists the .22" varities at:

Mk1: 273/293 (NM)
Senior: 330
Premier: 310
Hurricane/Tempest: 330 - but "with proper lubrication and adjustment" 410, and chrono-tested at 400 in US spec with a different spring.

Can you really get a 25% power increase in a spring pistol basically by shoving a more powerful spring in?

[laverdabru]

Did C Thale do a book on Webley pistols as well as his rifles one? - or are you getting mixed up w' the Gordon Bruce one on their pistols? Think the Bruce Pistols book says the US models had a stronger spring.

ATB

Bru.

[Aimstraight]

Maybe the transfer port on a pistol is large enough in proportion to the relatively small spring?

The Turkish Tempest is understood to have a stronger spring (coils have a bit more meat on them, circular section as opposed to flat on the original Webley spring). The one I had was powerful and snappy...so much so I sold it

[Geezer]

Did C Thale do a book on Webley pistols as well as his rifles one? - or are you getting mixed up w' the Gordon Bruce one on their pistols? Think the Bruce Pistols book says the US models had a stronger spring.

ATB

Bru.

Quite right. Got the wrong Webley expert (own both books).

[laverdabru]

Got the Bruce, the Thales addressed to my better 1/2 arrived today - but I'm not allowed to see it till 25/12...

[webman]

I've fitted a heavy duty (unknown make) spring into a Webley Premier pistol, and the velocity was quite a bit higher than with the standard Webley spring. However, when cocking it I thought something might break (including my wrist!) and the recoil was violent. It goes without saying that all the components in the gun need to be balanced, so that the velocity is adequate without undue stress on the pistol or shooter.

[Geezer]

I've fitted a heavy duty (unknown make) spring into a Webley Premier pistol, and the velocity was quite a bit higher than with the standard Webley spring. However, when cocking it I thought something might break (including my wrist!) and the recoil was violent. It goes without saying that all the components in the gun need to be balanced, so that the velocity is adequate without undue stress on the pistol or shooter.

And that's what intruiges me. The Hurricane/Tempest is basically a Premier (originally planned as the Premier MkIII/Superpremier). I can't quite work out what they did to make it generate and cope with the higher power.