Webley Mk3, initial impressions

[andrewM]

I agree with you, Geezer, although I personally prefer the elegance of the Mk3, as did a friend of mine who bought one after he saw my own.

I produced for the site, a few days ago, a comparison between a 1922 BSA v three Mk3s, which you might find of interest.

Generally, the trigger is stiff for the Mk3 but if it is loosened too much, I discovered it might discharge accidentally. A stiff trigger affects accuracy unless and until the owner properly becomes acquainted with his rifle. Furthermore, on the foresight, the blade is not as good as the bead on the Standard - in my opinion. I found that a bead provides a sharper image - just a personal preference.

Out of the three Mk3s - one belonging to a friend - we have discovered that BSA Elites do best and, remarkably, I achieved some 11.8ft/lbs on my 1968 Mk3 - which is exceptional. Superdomes are not too bad and Defiant Vintage (if you can find them), are pretty good but I noticed there was a difference with the later Mk3, which was produced in Nov 73. At some point - not sure when but perhaps around '69-71 - the Mk3 embraced button rifling and this presumably upset the pellet preference above. Not sure when your Series 3 were manufactured.

The accuracy leaves a little to be desired on a Mk3 - 3/4in from 12 yards - but the trigger and blade played a part in this, I suggest. These can be mastered as one gets to know the rifle better - an essential requirement.

In my view, they were designed to be shot with open sights and I doubt I shall fix scopes to mine. I shall sight them in for 25-30 yards and then study the holdover and holdunder for different ranges. Certainly, they produce a better challenge and better sport than pre-charge rifles, which are characterless and make everything far too easy.

Let us know how they shoot. It would also be worth testing various pellets through a chronograph to see what readings you get.

Like Aubrey, I had one of these when I was 12/13 and hit plenty of pests with it but then traded it in for an HW35 which had a useless spring in those days, which lost power after some two tins of pellets. The Airsporter which followed was hopeless and undermined my faith in BSAs. Over 40 years later, I have just bought two Mk3s.

Rgds
Andrew.

[SRV1]

andrewM, agree with your comments especially accuracy and the trigger not helping with accuracy. Really, I am more of a BSA collector, but, was intrigued by the quirky vintage look of the Mk3, so I bought one that is fairly immaculate. It does have a chunky, solid feel about it, seems well engineered and has a dark walnut stock. Mine is more of a cabinet display due to the mentioned accuracy and trigger, but, it does get a bit of airing now and again......

[ogilkes]

Loading tap up issue... Yes as its a copy of a Diana 45 (?) Where the tap is on the 'right' side, it's an oddity . Did they do it to be original(no pun intended) or is there a practical reason?

[Rapidnick]

When folk on here extoll the virtues of the Mk 3 I wonder if I am in a parallel universe! I bought a new one back in the day and it was HORRIBLE. It was quite a pretty rifle but not in the same category of the Airsporter but it was dreadful to shoot AND the loading tap was dreadful too. Being honest I hated it and was really relieved to buy something decent-a Weihrauch HW35.
I appreciate that it is of interest to collectors but to shoot it needs real dedication. At my club which has a vibrant vintage section, I have shot fettled Mk 3's but in standard guise I thought they were rubbish.

[andrewM]

As I understand it, there were some 80,000 Mk3s produced, so it has some considerable grounding and was magnificently presented. Webley would have been well advised to have produced a Mk4, based on the quirky Mk3 design, with an improved trigger, better accuracy and sights but missed an opportunity. Still, those in top condition can fetch £400 - which attests to their popularity amongst collectors. I think few other rifles of that age would establish such a price, excepting Mk1 and 2 Airsporters in top condition.

Rapidneck has thrown a rock into our pool! I can safely say, however, that the loading taps are perfectly engineered and more so than the Airsporters I have seen. With some, I have heard that the cocking lever can be left at right angles if the loading tap is raised, as the air is held. I am not concerned that the tap is on the other side as I am a left-hander. Yes, the HW35 was the beginning of the end for the British airgun industry, which failed to innovate and reinvest in research and development (R&D) - rather as with our motorcars - and we lost our lead to the Germans. After that, the superb FWB Sport and Original 45 mopped up - at least until we invented the pre-charge rifles and then AirArms threw another spoke into the German wheels - which goes to show that we are still the best and can still invent, albeit we are Heath-Robinson sometimes and do not always understand the importance of R&D.

Incidentally, given their age, surely most Mk3s are now fettled - unless they have not been fired or hardly so, quite rare methinks. Many must have had the contents of many dozens of tins down the barrel. We should also not forget that they are of the old British .22 measurements, so some care must be taken over pellet choice.

I have read, here, that the Mk3 was a copy of the Diana but, to be fair, was not the Diana a copy of the Lincoln Jefferies' design?!!

Rgds to all
A