Webley Service rifle in .25 caliber - rarer?

[45flint]

At a gun show in the US, there is a nice Webley Service rifle in 25 caliber for crazy money. Is that caliber rarer?

[Josie & John]

Yes it is Steve.

The .25 option did not become available until 1937 and original .25 Services and barrels fetch a premium this side of the pond.

Kind regards,

John

[45flint]

I guess this begs the question can a Webley Services really sling a 25 effectively? Hard to believe. Maybe why this one is in such good shape? Lol

[Abasmajor]

I guess this begs the question can a Webley Services really sling a 25 effectively? Hard to believe. Maybe why this one is in such good shape? Lol

I picked up a nice Webley Mk2 Service in .25 calibre many years ago when I was really looking for one in either .177 or .22. As I didn't intend to shoot it all that regularly, I was happy to take it for it's relative rarity compared with the other two. I must admit to being pleasantly surprised at how flat it shoots at twenty five yards using its preferred Milbro Rhino pellets. Webley soon concluded that .25 offered little advantage over .22 hence the relatively short production period. Reproduction .25 calibre barrels are available but you can expect to pay a significant premium for a matched Ser No example of the rifle here in the UK.
Brian

[Fronteria]

If I remember correctly the Webley Service Rifle in .25 had an additional spring so it had two main springs.

[Josie & John]

The early handbook for the Service suggests the Series 2 was fitted with two mainsprings but from the 3rd edition onwards; only one spring is mentioned and pictured in the parts diagrams, so the internals of a .25 Service were identical to its smaller calibre siblings.

John M