Webley II XS Quattro

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.

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.

PRICE: £235.95