Webley II XS Quattro review | Rifles Reviews

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Webley II XS Quattro

By: Pete Wadeson

Pete Wadeson tests the Webley Stingray II XS Quattro; the name’s familiar but it’s radically different from the air rifle as it once was - as he soon discovers...

When the original Webley & Scott ceased trading, the company that took over became known as Webley (International) Ltd. As manufacturers they too have ceased trading but the famous Webley brand name and logo continues on, thanks to Highland Outdoors who now distributes and markets virtually all Webley brand products including the new range of AGS Cobalt scopes.

Quality control

It’s no secret that Webley air rifles and shotguns are now manufactured in Turkey and prior to Highland taking on the brand, regular visits by former Webley employees ensured the companies manufacturing them had the right facilities, satisfactory level of engineering expertise and of course quality control. I mention this as the Webley Stingray II XS Quattro far exceeds my expectations.

The new look Stinger’s fully ambidextrous beech wood stock boasts a substantial yet medium height cheekpiece, with the pistol grip having twin panels of fine cut chequering on either side with shoulder fit catered for by a ventilated brown rubber butt pad stylishly attached to the rear of the woodwork with a synthetic white spacer. The slab sided forend is quite lengthy and has three relatively small panels of chequering set alongside both sides of the mid section of the rifle. Incidentally, though there were once a few different variants of the Stingray, the Stingray II XS Quattro is now the only model available.

Measuring 42” from butt to muzzle end of silencer in my opinion puts this halfway between a carbine and full length rifle. I mention this as the highly effective screw on QGS silencer that comes with the rifle adds more length, as the rifle only has a 10” tube. The silencer is still available separately for other rifles as it uses a standard ½” UNF thread. In relation to the XS not only does it compliment it in looks as well as effectiveness, but doubles up to act as a very useful cocking aid.

A slight tap is needed to unlock the hold of the solid relatively large wedge shape détente catch, whereupon the break-barrel action shows itself to have a smooth cocking stroke but does takes a bit of heft to cock. Once the barrel has locked back in the open position, it also engages the automatic re-settable safety. This is a broad and well sized T-bar ‘slide catch’ that pops out rearward and as I’ve mentioned in previous articles, this trigger safety was used on other rifles that this company once produced, and now it’s even fitted to certain other brands of rifle. Personally I reckon it’s still one of the most finger friendly, well-sited and best designed trigger safeties fitted to any springer on the market. It’s just the ticket for the big digit to push forward to put the rifle into fire mode and can easily be gripped between forefinger and thumb for pulling back if you need to re-set the safety should your quarry inconsiderately do a bunk before you draw a bead. A solid détente coupled with the large ‘O’-ring on the barrel’s breech face makes for an airtight seal that ensures the rifle fires as accurately and consistently every shot. Also, though the rifles are no longer made in the UK, they are built to exacting tolerances from the blue-prints of the original Webley rifles. I mention this as the Stingray also retains the cleverly designed adjustable breech jaw facility that Webley brought to their new springer selection almost a decade back.

Zeroing

The rifle came for test ready scoped up with one of the new look AGS 3 – 9 X 40 mil dot reticle Cobalt models. Highland Outdoors are retaining the AGS brand of scope and look set to improve on it.

Using the cover capped low profile cross bar type ¼” MOA turret adjusters I soon set a precise zero for 25-yd for the .22 calibre test rifle. Accuracy was impressive, with the best groups being around ½” using Crosman Accupells and I’d have faith once I’d got used to the .22 trajectory (which I did surprisingly quickly seeing as I mainly shoot my own .177 calibre PCP’s) in putting any legal airgun quarry down at sensible hunting range.

Accuracy is aided mainly by the Quattro ‘four lever trigger’, but credit must also be given to the Powr-Lok mainspring, an internal spring dampener termed as a ‘Tuned Vibration Absorber’ and of course barrel quality. The 2-stage trigger claims multipoint adjustment with a unique drop safety interlock. The unit was originally designed by Paul Garrity who for many decades was involved in the Technical department of the original Webley & Scott.
When Highland Outdoors took on the Webley brand they had Paul come with it, due to his knowledge and skills in the manufacture and design of airguns.

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The well designed gold plated trigger blade is so angled and curved that the pad of your forefinger naturally falls onto it. Knowledgeable readers will know this trigger is also used on other rifles. The Tuned Vibration Absorber helps quell and reduce internal spring noise and coupled with that chunky dominating can not only reduces muzzle report quite impressively but also helps reduce muzzle flip. Put all these elements together and you have a springer with a very smooth action and low recoil.

Going abroad

Personally I feel it a sad loss that as a country we are making less air rifles, and known British brand names are having them built (and in some cases assembled) by factories abroad. However, Webley go to great lengths to find the best European manufacturers and are on top of quality, so rifles are made to the exacting standards we expect of the brand. In that respect the Webley II XS Quattro is in some ways better than the original. At 7.1lbs un-scoped it’s still relatively lightweight, accurate, and low in recoil and report, plus it boasts a fine trigger unit with auto safety to boot.

Technical Specifications
Model	Webley II XS Quattro
Type	Single-shot break-barrel spring/piston
Calibre	.22 (on test) & .177 available
Stock	Beech wood sporter
Sights	None fitted but grooved for scope mounting
Barrel	10”
Price	£235.95

All Prices Are Guides Due to the Changes in US & European Exchange Rates

This review has 7 comments

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User Comments

Does AGS Cobalt 3-9X50 IR Scope holds zero and live long on 30 ftlb Webley Patriot?

Comment by: Bhaur Posted on: 12 Aug 2011 at 07:14 AM
Truth is we've never tried an AGS scope on a Patriot, but AGS scopes are generally fine on standard (12ft/lbs) airguns. However, the Patriot is far from being a 'standard' airgun, as it is a spring powered rifle that generates 30ft/lbs of muzzle energy - as you stated. Likewise it generates equally significant amounts of recoil, so personally I would choose one of the many scopes that are suitable for both firearms and airguns. Alternatively you can use a Theoben Dampa-Mount to attach your scope and this will soak-up the three-way recoil of a powerful spring air rifle.

Comment by: pat farey Posted on: 12 Aug 2011 at 10:30 AM
Dear All,
It's extremely disappointing that I purchased AGS Cobalt 3-9x50 IR scope for my Diana 54 on recommendations of Highlandoutdoors. My gun produces 24 ftlb. The scope did not hold POI.

Now when I contact the Highlansoutdoors, they don't reply. Apparently they are not willing to compensate.

Be ware of these scopes, these are just dirt and the company also appear to be dirt as they don't respond.

Regards,

Bhaur

Comment by: Bhaur Posted on: 24 Aug 2011 at 04:52 PM
The Diana 54 is a semi-recoilless rifle, so although the action moves backwards during the firing cycle, it really shouldn't put enough strain on the scope to cause POI (point of impact) problems.
Before you put all the blame onto the scope - although it could be at fault - you should check that it is correctly mounted. I'm not trying to be facetious here, but at least 30% of the POI (point of impact) faults on air rifles that I’ve seen have been due to poor mounting and/or poor mounts .
However, by far the most usual problem with POI (point of impact) shift in air rifles – particularly high power models like this 24ft/lbs Diana 54 – is that the pellets are incompatible. So the first thing to do is try a few different good quality brands. Try some heavyweights like Bisley Magnums (H&N Barracudas) which usually work well in high power air rifles.
If you can’t get any brand of pellets to group, you should check the scope for movement within the mounts, and check that the mount itself is not sliding on the rifle's dovetail rails. This can occur if the scope has not been properly mounted or tightened down evenly. These movements can be less than a thou per shot, but that’s enough to shift POI. Because the movement is so slight, it's best to check measurements after a number of shots – at least ten shots or so. Measure the distance from the front of the rail/dovetail to the front of the mount base, and the front of the scope to the front of the scope ring. Take ten shots, then check the measurement again. If there is movement, however slight it may be, take the mount off the rifle and the scope out of the mount. clean (degrease) the scope body and the inside of the mounts, then put the scope back in the mounts and the mounts back on the rifle making sure that you follow the correct tightening sequence.
If the rifle still doesn’t perform correctly at this point, then you should start looking at the scope – so get back in touch with us.

Comment by: Pat Farey Posted on: 21 Sep 2011 at 09:29 AM
Dear Sir,

I have already checked all that what you have recomended. I am an experienced airgunner. I know what to focus.

Any how I thank you for your advice.

Comment by: Umair Posted on: 21 Sep 2011 at 09:54 AM
I optically centered the scope. Used Sportsmatch one piece mount and used many brands of pellets but the gun is accurate with open sights and with the scope, it loses POI.

Comment by: Bhaur Posted on: 21 Sep 2011 at 12:01 PM
Hi Bhaur. In that case the only thing to do is contact the retailer for a replacement scope.

Comment by: Pat Farey Posted on: 21 Sep 2011 at 11:36 PM

Keep it polite and on topic. Your email address will not be published. Please do not advertise products, all posts of this nature will be removed. We do not stock or supply any of these products, we independently review these products.

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