Where the XS19, .22 and Wasp reign Supreme.

04:45 on a cloudless morning, I found myself gazing out across green fields and blue skies. I'd like to report that I was stalking the hedgerows, but alas I was in the cab of a Fiat Ducato Maxi being whisked up the M6 to Carlisle. The main purpose was to collect a family member and his kit, but being the industrious chap I am, I also managed to arrange an air rifle sale with a buyer from Penrith on the same day, most fortuitous, though I was rather put out he attempted to knock me down a tenner! Ordinarily, I enjoy a good haggle, but not so much after 256 mile jaunt, saving the fellow £16 in postage.

Still grumbling to my companion, we journeyed on to our destination. It took minutes to load up, so with time to spare I convinced the chaps to take me to the local Registered Firearms Dealer. That turned out to be Geoff Wilsons Guns and Tackle in Carlisle City Centre.

My conversation with the young man behind the counter was, to me, very interesting indeed and most educational. I won't go too in depth so here are some main points I learned;

• Northern buyers prefer the .22 calibre so much so that .177 is a special order!
• The popularity and demand for shotguns in Carlisle has declined greatly whilst airguns has increased.
• Geoff Wilsons most popular selling gun was the BSA Lightning XL when BSA were selling the scope package, but since that deal was terminated and BSA increased their prices, the top spot has been snatched by the SMK XS19. I was further shown how the XS19 action is apparently shared across the Crosman Phantom and Benjamin Trail actions, the differences being barrels, stocks, and in the case of the latter, a gas ram power plant. But all essentially the same gun.
• The Webley Raider has been changed since I owned my Raider 10XS. It appears that since Highland Outdoors purchased the name, the Stock has been made less appealing (to my tastes), now more square, chunky and less comfortable. With an £80 price hike from £300-£380 and sales have dropped.
• Geoff Wilson did stock the Webley ValueMax, when the carbon fibre stock option was available. The assistant reported that due to the thin side pieces on the fore-end of all the stocks and their brittleness, many snapped. Customers returned the guns after finding that despite repeated re-greasing, the spring twang was returning and was unacceptable. (This I duly noted!) Not an issue they have had with their best-selling SMK XS19.

The two side pieces of The ValueMax's stock are reportedly prone to snapping.

I also got to handle a Weihrauch HW99s, a most impressive and point-able gun that has had a stock update which now includes an impression of 'Weihrauch' along the sides above the chequering on the fore-stock. A far better choice in my view if the funds are available, if not, according to Geoff Wilsons sales figures, then the SMK XS19 will suffice. As I pointed out, Woodfield GCP aka 'Welsh Willy' offers a plethora of after market products for the XS19 which currently do not exist for the ValueMax.

I tried to resist, but once I spotted it, I melted at the sight and had to have a hold of the TX200HC. Ohhh boy it felt good. I was slightly disconcerted to note that certainly on the model I held, the gorgeous fish scaled stock looked rather, unfinished. It may have been a trick of the eye, but the detail seemed rougher than I remember on my old full length. Perhaps hurried. I do hope I am mistaken, though my resolve to procure one in the future remains unshaken.

As a signal of my gratitude for the assistants time, I did as I imagine many browsers do and bought a couple of tins of pellets. I remembered that my .177 range lacked RWS Superdomes, and took a punt on a tin of Wasps (unsurprisingly another best seller in Carlisle at only £4.20 a tin).

 .177 Wasp pellets.

Close up of the .177 Wasp Pellet

The inferior quality of these pellets is so clear to me that I don't feel the need to photograph a Superdome for comparison.
I hope readers are getting the recurring message here. Just because it's cheaper, it doesn't mean its a better deal in most case. We all want to get our money's worth, and that's fine, but always buy the best you can afford and perhaps be prepared to save up if needs be. Just as you would be foolish to put poor quality oil in your car, I would always strongly advise buying good quality pellets to get the very best from your airgun.
To my eye, these Wasps look strikingly similar to SMK Spitfires, I have used them before and found them good only for 'plinking'. It is my opinion that if hunting, no animal deserves to be smacked by such an ill formed lump of lead as pictured.

But all is not lost for the ValueMax. As has been suggested by readers, the next step is to crack her open and spend the time and money on her that I would have saved if I had bought a quality rifle in the first instance!

An 'In The Field' Review Of The Webley ValueMax .177

Though I feared the land was, like Narnia, in the grip of winter forever, finally Spring has burst forth and too long I have delayed in reaping the fruits of this season of life and beginning.

First order of the day was to ensure the rifle and scope were zeroed. Having previously ascertained JSB Exacts to be the best performing pellet it was time to explore the guns other demands. Namely hold. Generally a springer must not be held too tight, it must be supported to allow it to recoil naturally. Due to the harsher recoil of the calibre, combined with this guns unrefined firing cycle, I have found that in order to tame muzzle flip, a slight grip must be maintained on the forestock.

A bullseye in the top right target signaled a successful 'acquaintance' session.

Confident now that Gun and shooter could put a pellet where it matters consistently, the time had come to visit my hunting grounds and break my prolonged spell of unintentionally enforced vegtarianism!

Accompanied by a good friend along with his superb HW100, the pressure and odds were piling on the outclassed Webley.
The contract was already out on squirrels, but the bonus to sitting under one particular tree where the squirrels frequent, is all around are pigeon 'sitty' trees!
Before we sat and waited, we had a recce;

It was during our tour of the hedgerows that one quality of the ValueMax really struck me. It was noticeable how unnoticeable the gun was. That synthetic lightweight stock may not absorb much recoil, but it certainly makes for an excellently weighted rifle that placed no strain at all upon arm or shoulder.

Not long after we holed up in our ambush positions, the ValueMax was presented with its first opportunity. A pigeon flapped into the hedge-line. Alas, neither the HW100, nor Webley could be brought to bear due to the multitude of twigs shielding our target. Unbelievably, the pigeon obligingly fluttered out from his sanctuary to alight dead ahead of my position.
BOIIIING!
Spring was Sprung and down the grey bird fell. The Weihrauch promptly read him the last rites, and dinner was assured.
Despite a thorough inspection, we could find no fatal trauma to the bird. I would ordinarily be puzzled if it were any other quarry, but not with these birds. They are something else, I am nigh on positive that our local variety are either titanium robotic hybrids or at least have evolved a layer of kevlar feathers! Mawders later hypothesized that the pellet did not strike at all, rather the sonic boom of the ValueMax's TWANG liquefied the birds brain. It's certainly an earful for the shooter!

Within 30 minutes we had our first squirrel in our sights. Thanks to some agile and deft manoeuvring on my part, the ValueMax secured the kill. Down the bandit tumbled, only to roll/twitch himself down a cavernous badger sett!

I didn't fancy sticking my arm down to retrieve my prize.

A bloodstained twig the only clue.

  A chance on a second provided further adrenaline surges, until the blighter sheltered in a hollow tree, but I was delighted with what I had as well as feeling cheated of proof of our efforts for the landowner.
What I did gain from this afternoon was a real appreciation for a rifle I have wanted to dislike.

A lightweight, accurate low cost carbine.

  The price tag invites derision. Like a foreign exchange student in the playground waiting to be bullied, yet when you actually engage with it, get to know it, you find out that the two of you get on surprisingly well, despite some challenges and rough edges.
I can definitely picture this rifle slung in the back of a tractor or the 4x4 of a gamekeeper. The synthetic stock able to withstand the elements and abuse. The action delivering the accuracy required to do the job.
It most certainly lacks the refinement of the top end springers, to get specific; the trigger will never win competitions, BUT, it releases the spring that sends the pellet flying that kills the prey and it does it consistently. Job done. There is also a smile factor to be considered, as well as the challenge of competently shooting something that isn't tuned to the point it may as well be a pre-charged pneumatic. It has soul, character irrespective of the fact it may resemble Darth Vader's Baguette.

It is not the best rifle in the world, nor do I really believe it to offer the maximum value for the money as its name suggests when it faces such stiff opposition from the second hand market. But as far as brand new guns that you can walk into most gun shops tomorrow and pick out of the rack, you can certainly do a lot worse! I bought it as an inexpensive platform to explore tuning, test pellets etc to be passed on when I lost interest in it, but with each session we spend together, I can see this gun becoming a permanent fixture in my armoury as a knockabout all rounder I can pick up at any moment. If I remove the scope, I will have an excellent close-medium range rifle I don't have worry about knocking off zero! No, it has not threatened my oath to the Hunting Goddess Diana that one day I will get my mitts on a TX200 HC, but until then, she'll do a cracking job I'm sure.

Now to buy one from R&B Sporting in .20!

The Webley ValueMax .177 Partial Strip Down Guide and Introductory 'Review'

I have to admit, I've grown just a smidgeon bored of Weihrauchs. They are superb; they're German, so they are tools for a job and they fulfill their role very well indeed. As most German things do. They're darn efficient!
But they are very popular. So popular there are no surprises, few challenges that have not already been undertaken, scant opportunity to learn or tread a path that is not already very well trodden.
I fancied a change, and the marketplace is bulging with offerings and temptations. No, I couldn't really afford the indulgence, but you try telling a smoker his money is better spent on organic food/given to charity/on the car and see how far you get!
So off I went to my 'dealer'! This time, it was to R&B Sporting in Ross on Wye. Rob, the proprietor, sat as patiently as a psychiatrist as I blurted out my troubles and woes, my needs and desires and finally demanded he hand me a .177 Webley Valuemax from the rack.
When I turned the label I was startled!
£125 for a full power, adult rifle in a synthetic stock. VERY interesting! Now lets not beat about the bush, it says Webley on the gun, it says Webley on the box. It is NOT a true Webley, certain not a Webley 'as was'. In reality, I believe it is a re-badged Hatsan imported and distributed by Highland Outdoors. Time for another observation, them Turks are getting jolly hard to ignore! Superb marketing, competitive pricing, seemingly acceptable quality. All aided by clever features and additions such as adjustable cheek pieces, slings, bipods, stock options such as wood/plastic to colour and camo!! Ingenious, ruthless and eye catching sales ploys, all credit to them.

Lets roll on to the pics;

That's quite a claim on the box!

What's in the box.

Read and adhere to if you wish to preserve this warranty!

Arrestor block and resettable safety catch

2 Stage Adjustable Trigger

Read the small print and find a 1 year warranty.

A traditional, and tested method of ensuring main pins and pivot points don't shift. A nice touch.

Not a silencer, but an effective cocking aid.

'TRU-GLO' Iron sights are a pleasant and welcome feature.

The low cheek comb suggests that iron sights are what this rifle is designed to be shot with.

Well out of the box, this rifle was best described as the Webley 'Twangtastic'. Not uncommon for any spring rifle to behave as such as they are often very dry inside as can be expected, the manufacturer cannot risk deterioration and certainly cannot know how long the rifle will stored.

For the purposes of this article, I did not wish to engage in 'tuning' or anything in depth, so I limited myself to the manufacturers guidelines.

Main Stock retaining screw located inside the rear of the trigger guard.

Loosened (by me!) left stock screw.

Loosened right stock screw.

What star washers will do to plastic! (And wood for that matter).

Action separated from the stock.

Trigger unit.

Anti-Beartrap mechanism, another unexpected and welcome feature.

Cocking linkage

Mainspring is not devoid of grease, I've seen drier Weihrauchs, but more is required in my experience to combat 'twang'.

Rear of action displaying main stock screw, trigger assembly and resettable safety.

Note dab of manufacturers 'grease'/wax?!

We will follow Webley's guidelines, for now...

Relatively inexpensive molybdenum grease for the mainspring and cocking linkage.

Ideally, a full strip down would ensue and this expensive Molykote 33 Medium low temperature ball bearing silicone grease would be sparingly applied just behind the piston seal.

Best get messy! Wipe off the excess.

Few dabs of grease on the fulcrum pins as per manufactures instructions.

A potentially high impact, stress and wear point so best to keep well lubricated.

A lubricated anti-beartrap should keep 'noises' to a minimum when cocking.

Difficult to safely access, but carefully grease the breech detente to help keep a smooth, positive lock up.

So after some grease on the spring, she has quietened down a bit.

As I got some lead down the barrel to wear her in and adjust the irons, I couldn't help but hum Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" specifically the line where he describes fighting his dad as: "He kicked like a mule and bit like crocodile"! The plastic stock does the gun no favours on the recoil front, nor probably the noise. I had a HW 97 synthetic once that was loud too. That said, I do like synthetics for their 'knockabout' nature.

Bottom left was my best grouping

Now this barrel is tight. All german brand pellets bar RWS Superfield, even Webley's own Accupell were hellishly tight around the head, resulting in shotgun groups and a very sore forefinger! The only pellet to fit and therefore perform?

Get ready.


JSB Exact. How dull. Every darn gun I seem to shoot likes JSB/AA fields. I think the thin flared skirt and fractionally smaller head diameter is a winning formula.

I had the ValueMax over a friends F1 chrony, but as I only had RWS Hobbies on me, the 8 ft/lb reading could be on the low side owing to how damn tight they are in the barrel. The gun also needs to bed in, but if she doesn't smooth herself out, I will be forced to take this exploratory mission further into her belly and show you fellas a few tricks you can do at home to get your air gun shooting as sweet as a nut.

Time then my fellow addicts...