WEBLEY & SCOTT 912 XSL

Although Webley & Scott (W&S) have been gunmakers since 1790, they have undergone many changes in ownership, but despite this, they are still able to turn out really decent 12-bore shotguns, one of which is the new 912 XSL.
This over-and-under 12-bore is a variant of Webley’s highly successful and well-made 912 Boxlock shotgun design, and has proved to be a reliable performer in the field, whether for competition or general shooting.
This 912 XSL is the steel-actioned competition model, but instead of the usual walnut stock, it sports an increasingly popular laminate one, thus modernising the look and brand to satisfy a new breed of shooters, and also providing a very weather-resistant shooting platform.
It still features W&S’s Equipoise stock balancing system, allowing the XSL’s handling to be tuned to the shooter’s preferences, along with an adjustable cheekpiece for perfect eye alignment.
The black-chromed action is very striking to look at and is distinctive to this model, as is the full complement of five extended chokes.
Retailing for only £1,149.99, it seems a bit of a bargain, with the added benefit of being designed in the UK and having a five-year warranty, too. Let’s see how it shoots.

Big and heavy
At the heart of the XSL is a large and let’s be honest, heavy action. It’s all steel, and I think the gun is far better for it, as this not only translates to a longer life and higher shot count before it becomes ‘rattly’, but it also serves to reduce recoil, too.
This regular Boxlock action is large, with a monobloc system, and I much prefer the steel construction, as its weight makes the gun feel better in the hand, in my view. The actual lock-up of the action is of the common under-bolt configuration we see on so many shotguns, and it is entirely safe and reliable. This lock-up secures the barrels into the action via a full-width bolt at the back and bottom of the action face, which locks directly into the ‘lump’ below the bottom barrel in standard monobloc style. The barrels also hinge on stub pins inset into the front of the action sides.
The easy-opening top lever sits noticeably to the right, further demonstrating the XSL’s credibility, with ample allowance for wear built into the action to support extended use or long-term ownership. Fine craftsmanship is shown, as the internal machine marks are minimal.

On close inspection
Internally, you have a manual trigger/hammer system, not an inertia one, meaning utter reliability with the added bonus of being able to shoot light or heavy loads without worrying about resetting the hammer for the second shot. The action, therefore, is cocked irrespective of recoil.
The silver-coloured single trigger is nicely curved and is surprisingly crisp for a shotgun, with a pull weight of just 4lbs 2oz, measured using my Lyman trigger gauge.
I also really like the non-auto safety, as this system never catches you out in competitions. Plus, to me, it is equally handy out in the field. I like to put the safety on when I want it on! The safety catch, as usual, also selects the barrel, with the left position for the top barrel and the right for the bottom barrel. It has a slim profile but is very easy to manipulate.
One of the gun’s best features is its superb black-chromed finish, which looks so classy and is far superior to the coin-finished, low-cost engraving found on other guns in this price range. Yes, it is a bit shiny and reflective, but this is a competition model after all, and it would not deter me from hunting with it. You also have the W&S logo and model name highlighted in white.

The barrels
When it comes to barrel length, you have a choice of 30 or 32”, with the test model showing the former. Whichever length you go for, you get 3” chambers, allowing for a more diverse range of loads, although 2 3⁄4” competition cartridges would be its usual fare, or in my case, 28g pigeon loads. The barrels have a deep, even blued/black finish that is both surprisingly scratch-resistant and durable.
The mid-rib is solid, adding to the overall solidity of this model, and the 10mm top rib is raised with nine evenly spaced and sized vents for good ventilation of the barrel when it gets hot, thus reducing mirage. A single red Day-Glo element up by the muzzles is the only sighting device, and it works very well on this naturally pointable gun.
The chokes have a blued finish and extend 20mm beyond the barrels, with an overall length of 70mm. A full complement of five chokes is supplied: cylinder, ¼, ½, ¾, and full, along with a polymer choke key that engages and removes the chokes in a single movement.
Ejector-wise, the individual ejectors grab the spent cases with security, and ejection is similarly reliable and brisk, with no hint of stickiness.

Laminate furniture
The ‘L’ in XSL stands for laminate, and this choice of furniture is probably the gun’s most noticeable feature.
More and more shooters are recognising the advantages of laminate, as it provides a strong, weather-resistant and non-warping material with a striking appearance. The green, brown and grey tones of the laminate complement the XSL’s new black action particularly well. The suppliers also pointed out that no two laminate stocks are the same, so you have your own unique XSL.
The second desirable feature of this model is the adjustable stock, which offers horizontal and lateral movement of the cheekpiece. Simply loosen the securing Allen screws through the stock sides and adjust the top section of the stock to your desired position. It’s all simple, fast, and secure when all tightened up.
Webley’s Equipoise balance system is accessed by removing the butt pad, allowing you to insert the supplied weights into the rear of the stock. These are available in 75, 100, 150 or 175g, and are a useful addition for fine-tuning the balance of the XSL to suit your preferences or chosen barrel length.
Equally pleasing is the pistol grip, with its generous length and quite upright gait that feels relaxed but secure, and there is a palm swell to the right-hand side for extra grip. The laser-cut chequering also helps in this regard, but is a bit shallow, though it has a nice radial pattern to it and is mirrored on the fore-end, which sports a hand-filling shape with a good, prominent finger groove along the top edge. The blued metal release mechanism allows easy access to the release lever and fits very snugly to the barrel catch for a tight attachment. Befitting a laminate stock, there is a weatherproof satin lacquer finish.

Field test
I conducted the pattern tests at 30 yards with the ½ choke fitted, and I have to say this is one of the most consistently patterning shotguns I have ever tested. I used three different loads—two pigeon cartridges and one clay steel load—all with varying shot sizes and weights, yet each load resulted in a pattern with only a five-pellet variation in total strikes.
Hull’s Special Pigeon 12-bore cartridge is just superb, in my opinion, with its big 32g load of No.6 shot. We had a total of 287 pellets within 30”, with 120 in the outer sectors and 167 within the 15” inner circle. A lovely, dense pattern that will give you clean kills at extended ranges.
Next came Hull’s Superfast Pigeon cartridges, loaded with 29g of No.6 shot. Despite the lighter load, we still recorded a total of 282 pellet strikes, with 112 landing in the inner circle and 170 in the outer sectors. This resulted in a very good, dense inner pattern, a slight right-hand bias, and probably very few pellets off the board.
The final load tested was the Joker Bio Iso Steel, with 28g of No.7 shot. Once again, it produced an impressive total of 283 pellet strikes, with 153 landing in the inner circle and 130 in the outer sectors, and with the added benefit of being eco-friendly.

Conclusion
The 912 XSL will surprise you with its looks and handling. Yes, it’s a tad heavy, but it’s so well-built and finished, and sporting that alluring laminate stock, it really handles well. The patterns it produced were absolutely fantastic and would put to shame some of the other 12-bores I have tested recently! So, I can highly recommend the gun.  GM