An airgun thats been on my 'list' for some time now - a big beast of a thing, this one dated 1997. UK made Webley Patriot in .25 flavour.

known as a scope killer, I imported some Sportsmatch rings which have a hardened steel pin that fits the grooves in the Patriots rail. Then mounted a Hawke Varmint scope. After a good 50 shots at the range last night its holding strong and not moved a millimetre. winner.

A quick 6 shots over the chrony with JSB Kings showed 710fps, and a spread of only 6fps. = 28.44 footpound - great for pest control; good power and not too slow either.

It sighted in OK, most shots touched off a rest, which I was impressed with as its got quite the jolt.

Cocking is surprizingly not too bad, takes some effort but less than I thought it would.

Last nights shoot at the Auckland Air Rifle Club was a bit of a fun shoot - 15 shots standing, unsupported, 25 yards, at the 'super roundel' target, plus a compulsory shot at the fly for bonus points.

I shot pretty averagely indeed! If I was a hunter there would be some safe bunnies...

I couldnt get my head around the trigger - a light first stage then a long firmer second stage with letoff somewhere between there and the triggers physical stop point - so very hard to predict.

I took the loss, then with some open range time gave the adjustment screw on the trigger a bit of a turn; suddenly I could feel the break point! This changed how the rifle shot entirely! The adjustement had been lightened to a point that the second stage was gone altogether, and it seemed the initial light pull is just some free movement before the trigger firms up for the first stage. Its now set with predictable let off, a firm first stage comes to an identifyable stop then a bit more pressure to fire.

Shooting with elbows rested on a bench, rifle lightly held and allowed to do its thing, the next 10 shots went into a largeish ragged group. Not bad considering its recoil!

The rifle oozes 90s Brit airgun charm, large but not over weight, nicely balanced, it fires with a kick and a twang, but is pretty consistent and potentially very accurate once you get used to using it!

Thats an interesting gun, I think I was shooting right next to you. Looking forward to the next meeting.

 cheers mike

 cheers mike

Standing target - I am happy just to stay on the paper and score so well done.

Nice group on the turkey.

Information about mounts and scope is great as I continue to look for the "springer solution".

.25 Pellet tins empty fast when having fun.

I use 1.6 gramme Apolo Domed at $14 for 200 pellets.

Lets keep the springer stories coming.

cheers all

Nothing like shooting a good springer!

Its definitely a well built hunting rifle. I dont have anywhere to really hunt, but its still been on 'the list' a long time and glad to have it.

For this one I rang up the distributor of Hawke to check they were warranted and bought new - simply because if it failed it would be replaced under warranty.

Ill give it a few good shoots at the club - probably on the 'challenge' / fun shoots where the points dont matter, to see how it holds up.

I do see what you mean about the tin of pellets. After sighting in, then shooting the target, then testing and adjusting the trigger afterwards, it used over 1/3 of the tin, whereas with .177 I wouldnt have even noticed pellets were used!

Its got a big spring in it and generally the bigger the spring / more power, the harder they are to shoot. Once you have a predictable trigger then its learning how that rifle likes to be held - generally artilery hold, letting it do its thing is best for powerful springers - trying to hold it tight doesnt often work in your favour.

This seems to like JSB exact Kings, but could probably do with some more testing. It got the most power efficiency with kings - higher weight yeilded less power and lower weight gave faster FPS but a little less power.

I would not bother ordering a new cocking arm for that model, as it will likely fail very quickly too.

Billbobnz wrote: Yes I have read that they fail on these. I've put a blob of weld onto the end and reshaped it but it keeps binding.

That should work, I will dig up a photo of my weld and reshape on my Turkish patriot.

The closer action is the newer one with a quattro trigger. Notice the metal bridge between the cocking slot and the trigger slot. The other one is my .22 Patriot with the older crappy cocking arm piston slot and trigger design), I welded a support there as the slot had opened out a bit, which added to the problem with the cocking arm coming off the piston.

This is the rebuilt shoe on the cocking arm

  Hi j-S .I shot a patriot a few days ago at my local Airgun dealer

it was set at 22 fpe i used to own one of these 15 yrs back ,after 

a few shots ,i was able to to place 10 shots over 28 yds so close a10 pence 

would cover them  my RFD was well impressed, he does not know i have shot one many times

before.!!

atb brian

They take some getting used to. Last I shot mine I was frustrated as I was getting 2 seperate groups, but very tight, but then realised it was a change in how I was holding it and head position.

Once concentrating it came right.

muscles you never knew you had, but once mastered it if you have 

a good one its fun.enjoy it& have fun

atb Brian

To be honest I havent used it a lot, apart from sighting it in at the club with the scope. The hawkes are pretty reliable so I have no doubt it will last a while. Ill have to bring it out again and give it a good run when im feeling strong!

Its a beast to cock and heavy punch on firing. Its very accurate though as are most the old webleys.