In praise of Webley air pistols

[ggggr]

A lot of you know that I have messed around with a lot of old and pretty knackered guns since I joined the site. I have come across a lot of abused guns/broken guns/ guns that are virtually impossible to repair or get spares for and some plain old crappy designs. One of the things that stand out are Webley pistols. Think of how old the design is. Think of how much abuse some of these have had and how many are still working.
got a few (cough,cough) of these things now. a tin grip junior, early Mk1 with a safety, later post war mk 1,mid 50,s junior, senior,premier,premier and junior mk2's, typhoon,hurricane and tempest. Ok they are not the most powerful of guns and I wish they had done a beefed up one with a larger diameter cylinder and stronger linkage. They are not the most accurate of guns either and with that firing cycle take some getting used to. The grips on most models will chip or crack with a little abuse and the linkage and pins can wear, usually with abuse as well.
BUT---when you think about it. With the junior they made a gun that could take the abuse young boys could throw at it (I think Edbear put up an advert of some running round a camping site, shooting in the glory years before everyone was terrified of "GUNS" :rolleyes) Some of these things are still going strong after 80 years. I think that there are about 20 parts in a Junior? You can undo 1 screw and then the end cap and get the mainspring and piston out in about a minute! The mk1 and senior are similar, even the early mk1 with the end cap at the rear and the little lock screw to locate it. The Mk1 and premier sears could do with being a bit tougher but they last long enough I suppose. All of the guns up to the Hurricane could be stripped without removing the trigger. I usually strip guns right down but it is a bit of a pain on the later ones having to strip the trigger to get the piston out. That is a criticism of the later guns as well as the plastic fore end and grips. But these things plink great, despite the short sight line. With practice, with anything from an earlier junior or mk1, right through to the last tempests and hurricanes, it is possible to hit bottle caps more often than not at 7 or 8 yards. Now that is not bad really is it? I know a few people on here do wooden grips for these pistols and if you want a bit of fun plinking, buy yourself a rough Webley pistol and a set of wooden grips and you will have something that will last longer than you.

[Big Seth]

My first gun was my Webley Senior. Second hand from my grandad one Xmas 37 years ago. I still have it and must have fired it tens of thousands of times. Loads of memories but never been an easy one to shoot. Just good fun...

[pushbikeman]

Very interesting stuff, just a thought but has anyone got any views on the way a .177 shoots as opposed to a .22

[Abasmajor]

Very interesting stuff, just a thought but has anyone got any views on the way a .177 shoots as opposed to a .22

I have always been a one handed precision target shooter and was used to shooting high quality PCP pistols, always in .177 calibre, so naturally chose this calibre when I got interested in vintage Webley spring air pistols. I did however pick up a couple of Seniors and a Premier in .22 which I didn't expect to be as accurate as their .177 counterparts. In practice this has not proved to be the case and the .22 pistols appear to just as accurate at 10 metres. I shoot H&N Match flat head pellets in .177 and RWS Hobby pellets in .22. The main thing I have found which affects accuracy in these old springers is follow through. If you hold the pistol on aim for a couple of seconds after pressing the trigger the results are improved dramatically. Of course you still need to use the correct, stance, grip, breathing, sight picture and trigger control, but I have found follow through to be most important for me anyway.

Regards

Brian

[trevor1]

I've noticed barrels on early Mk1s and Mk11's tend to "banana" if they are .22.Simply not enough steel to be a cocking lever.
Trev

[laverdabru]

I really like Webley pistols, having started with a tin grip Junior back in the '70's. I have an early Hurricane now, but wish I still had my placcy grips Mk 1.
I was interested in Trevor's remark re the banana barrel on the .22. Mine had this, & at the time I assumed that it was due to 'bear trapping' - I think that's the term for when the trigger is operated when the action is open.
Does anyone make wooden grips for the Hurricane? If so, what's a ball park figure re cost?

[ggggr]

I really like Webley pistols, having started with a tin grip Junior back in the '70's. I have an early Hurricane now, but wish I still had my placcy grips Mk 1.
I was interested in Trevor's remark re the banana barrel on the .22. Mine had this, & at the time I assumed that it was due to 'bear trapping' - I think that's the term for when the trigger is operated when the action is open.
Does anyone make wooden grips for the Hurricane? If so, what's a ball park figure re cost?

think some of the earlier pistols could benefit from a slightly lighter spring to reduce the stresses on the guns. On a lot of old rifles, I just fit a spring that will do for plinking. A lot of ASI paratroopers get trigger failure because strong springs have been fitted.

A few people on here or that auction site do grips. Airgunner.177 has done me a few pairs of Walnut grips. Prices usually around the £28 mark but seen them go for more at auction.

[Muskett]

I have two Tempests, one in each calibre. To me they are the nearest thing to shooting handguns pre ban. Both are a bit new and shoot well off to the right but that I put that down to the twist in the spring firing cycle. Accuracy wise they are excellent and overall, including their size and the triggers, mimic full bore handguns well. Get your marksmanship and full bore handling right and these air pistols deliver. Other makes, and specifically target air pistols, are very different animals and just don't give "the real deal". Tempests are just the best in my book. Older Webley's are pretty great too.

[Abasmajor]

I have two Tempests, one in each calibre. To me they are the nearest thing to shooting handguns pre ban. Both are a bit new and shoot well off to the right but that I put that down to the twist in the spring firing cycle. Accuracy wise they are excellent and overall, including their size and the triggers, mimic full bore handguns well. Get your marksmanship and full bore handling right and these air pistols deliver. Other makes, and specifically target air pistols, are very different animals and just don't give "the real deal". Tempests are just the best in my book. Older Webley's are pretty great too.

I fully agree with Muskett that these spring powered air pistols do feel alive when shot and not at all like the dead, recoilless feeling you get from PCPs. However, I much prefer the earlier steel Webleys with the pre-war slant grip Senior being my favourite combination of appearance and functionality.

Regards

Brian

[ggggr]

The force was with me

Last night I decided to have a little plink with a Webley Tempest that I bought after being offered it by a nice chap on here. It looked a little rough but in fair working condition. The mainspring was bent and broke when i was trying to polish the ends. Anyhow the gun was cleaned and lubed, the piston seal and breech washer were reused. I had a Typhoon mainspring knocking about so I fitted that. The trigger and sear were polished and a lighter, slightly shorter spring fitted for the trigger. After cleaning the barrel out and a few shots the other week, it started to settle in nicely.
Sorry, I was just setting the scene.
So yesterday evening after a 1 sip of wine to relax my arms, I had a plink. Shooting 2 handed, from about 7 or 8 yards, I had a few sighters at some circles drawn on a bit of cardboard. I was shooting low and slightly left. The shooting low is because it is set for shooting at bottle caps on the floor.
I set up some bottle caps and hit 14 on the trot
For my 15th shot, I stood on one leg and I pulled the shot to the right. Another 3 shots, still standing on one leg, hit the caps.
So---17 out of 18 and 3 out of 4 standing on one leg.
Next week, the blindfold

[eyebull]

...Next week, the blindfold

Bloody hell, It's like the first 10 minutes of Casualty


I do like the early Webley pistols, real firearm quality - really must get a good Senior to go with my Junior. .

[flatrajectory]

The force was with me

Last night I decided to have a little plink with a Webley Tempest that I bought after being offered it by a nice chap on here. It looked a little rough but in fair working condition. The mainspring was bent and broke when i was trying to polish the ends. Anyhow the gun was cleaned and lubed, the piston seal and breech washer were reused. I had a Typhoon mainspring knocking about so I fitted that. The trigger and sear were polished and a lighter, slightly shorter spring fitted for the trigger. After cleaning the barrel out and a few shots the other week, it started to settle in nicely.
Sorry, I was just setting the scene.
So yesterday evening after a 1 sip of wine to relax my arms, I had a plink. Shooting 2 handed, from about 7 or 8 yards, I had a few sighters at some circles drawn on a bit of cardboard. I was shooting low and slightly left. The shooting low is because it is set for shooting at bottle caps on the floor.
I set up some bottle caps and hit 14 on the trot
For my 15th shot, I stood on one leg and I pulled the shot to the right. Another 3 shots, still standing on one leg, hit the caps.
So---17 out of 18 and 3 out of 4 standing on one leg.
Next week, the blindfold

Guy, that standing on one leg shooting is only supposed to be used in the Freemasons competition, as you know only too well..tut tut.

Pete.

[ggggr]

A bit of an update and a big "THANK YOU" to Richard H for doing a cracking bluing job on a barrel.
The Hurricane to go with the Tempest for the eldest niece was in fair nick but the barrel was a bit crappy. It was sent to Richard H who did a cracking job of bluing it. It was a case of nickel plate it or blue it. I know Richard spent a lot of time but the casting would not take nickel. However he polished it up and blued it and the casting is nearer in colour to the rest of the barrel than the original Webley job, which is matt and sticks out like a sore thumb.
I manage to get the foresight hood on without scratching the barrel at all. The barrel was cleaned out just in case and then put back on the gun.
It plinks very well although it does not feel right to me as the trigger is too heavy and the grips are not shaped to my hand---BUT---the pistol is not for me but my niece.
Anyhow, with the pistol finished, I glued a couple of wooden inserts covered in baize in the box been doing for it,
So niece now has a .177 Tempest and a .22 Hurricane, both with walnut grips and both boxed.
It,s a pity I don't have a camera, not for the boxes but to show off the bluing on the Hurricane barrel.
Thanks Richard.

[Amac]

I must admit to having a soft spot for old Webley pistols as I reckon they are so much fun to shoot. I am far from an expert when it comes to shooting pistols, but defy anybody not to enjoy the good basic fun of shooting something as classic as a good (sometimes very old) Webley pistol. I picked up an old Mk 1 recently and shooting it takes me right back through the decades to when we all aspired to ownership of one after cutting our teeth on a "Gat." Thats the way it was for me and my mates anyway!

Andy

[I. J.]

I must admit to having a soft spot for old Webley pistols .

Andy

Yes. A patch of quick sand on Blackpool beach.

ATB
Ian