Webley Stingray MK II

First impressions of the Stingray II are highly favourable, and it’s difficult not to be won over by the eye-catching walnut woodwork and attention to detail. Pick this rifle up and it feels like a Webley and for that read a solid and dependable workhorse. Starting with the woodwork, the Turkish walnut sporter stock largely follows a reliable, conventional pattern, then add in the gold coloured trigger and reddish brown, English-style rubber butt pad, for a really tasteful looking rifle.

The forend is now extended and nicely squared off, whilst extensive, laser-cut chequered panels do their job but also give a certain pleasing look and feel. Incorporating a ‘W’ into the pattern is a nice touch, as is the white line spacer at the butt, and the end result is a highly attractive rifle that shows intent. Grain pattern was excellent on my test gun, and with pride of ownership all part of our world, the Stingray owners club should be a satisfied bunch; surely prepared to overlook the odd scuff mark underneath the varnish!

Finish

Precisely engineered components, and a level of blueing, to satisfy all but the sternest of critics, puts this latest offering in a different bracket altogether. Attention to detail is another impressive factor. Fibre optic, ‘Tru-glo’ open sights are fitted as standard, including a fully adjustable rear, and a protector up front housing the element. Many of us cut our teeth so to speak on ‘iron sights’, and with fibre optics now offering a much brighter sight picture in poor light, today’s new intake are spoilt without even knowing it!

The muzzle comes pre-threaded for a silencer and has a knurled, protective cap. An automatic safety comes in the form of that slick T-bar style push-pull design, sited at the rear of the cylinder – very reminiscent of the famous old Webley Omega rifle.

Improvements…

The stroke to compress the ‘Powr-lok’ mainspring was fairly easily achieved, and a pretty smooth operation all told - finished off with a very solid barrel lock-up. Nudging off that T-bar auto safety is easy, although for the record, no de-cocking of the action, once primed, is possible.

One thing that many of the old original Webleys were never known for, was a decent trigger, and whilst giving many of us hours of pleasure and valuable experience, they were truly awful in this regard! However there are such issues with this new Stingray; in fact quite the reverse, for the Quattro trigger design is a triumph by comparison. An adjustable mechanism allows for the length and weight of pull to be altered, whilst that flat surfaced, near perfectly shaped blade, is a delight in use. I tweaked around with an Allen key, and whilst the instruction leaflet clearly showed pictures of a different layout to reality, I still managed to get some joy - shortening the first pull; ending up with something that tripped predictably and crisply. Take another look at the asking price here, and the fact that this trigger is way above average for a gun of this class, is genuine cause for celebration. Manufacturers continue to ignore triggers on rifles in the lower price bracket at their peril in my view, as an increasingly sophisticated shooting fraternity, look for more across the board.

Feel & Performance

Shoot this latest Stingray II, and if my test gun is anything to go by, you’re in for a surprise, as the relatively mild, super slick, firing cycle hammers home the point. Mild recoil, very little resonance, and no spring reverberation, just about stopped me in my tracks, and with just a slight metallic ring the main accompaniment of pulling the trigger, I was left mightily impressed.

On the range, I suspected that that Quattro trigger would play its part, and I wasn’t to be disappointed. Sub-1/2”clusters over 25yards, with Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets, and ¾” groups with some Webley Harriers that I happened to have handy, proved the action’s capabilities beyond all doubt.

Conclusion

I was impressed when I first clapped eyes on this model, and now having spent time with it, the quality of that lovely woodwork, super slick action, and well thought out design throughout, left me convinced that this famous old British brand name will continue to flourish. The price may suggest that this is an ideal starter/novice gun, but in truth the accuracy, power and overall performance indicates that this rifle is far more than that, and it will also be quite at home for pest control and hunting duty.