Webley & Scott Rebel .177 Cal Finale Review and Fix

[Dick Tracey]

 Edited to add link to The first Review Gate Link
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,36319.0.html



As promised in my VI part review of this rifle I am concluding my review here because it did require some work to get this rifle to perform with acceptable accuracy.  I put this in the China Gate because I have discovered that this is the Innova rifle that was offered a couple of years ago.  This platform seems to surface from time to time in different Liscensed manufactoring and I have seen some very good accuracy results in various airgun forums.

I sent an eMail to Webley inquireing about the accuracy of this rifle when it was only getting 2" to 3" groups at 60'.  Actually I sent two eMails to Webley and did not receive a response after about two weeks for the first eMail, I sent a second eMail and I think this is the one I received a response to.  I want it understood that I am not bashing Webley in any way.  I like their products and am pleased with this rifle.  I am only presenting the facts as I see them.  The rest of this post is a cut and paste of my reply to Webley's response and I will also send a copy to AOA (where I purchased the rifle).  The Pictures will be added here because I didn't know if there would be enough room to include them in the eMail.  I will also add a link to this posting in the eMail so he can see the pictures of the groups.


Mr. Williams,

I thank you for your response to my accuracy inquiry of my Rebel air rifle.  In the time waiting for your response  I decided to try some of the normal things I do to improve the condition of the barrel of my air rifles.
1. Clean the barrel with Goo Gone passing several patches soaked with the product through the barrel. 
2. Then run several dry clean patches through the barrel until they come out clean.
3. Run several patches through the barrel using JB Non-Embedding Bore Cleaning Compound.  Each patch is run the length of the Bore from the muzzle to the breach at least three or four times.  I ran three patches this way.
4. Run several clean patches through the barrel to clean out the JB Compound.
5. Repeat step three using Simichrome Polish to further clean and polish the barrel.
6. Run several clean patches through the barrel to clean up the Simichrome.
7. Final step is to run a patch with a drop of air rifle oil through the barrel followed by a couple of clean patches wipe out the excess oil.

I then tried 5 test shots Bench Rest at 60 feet using JSB Exact RS 7.33 Gr pellets.  Results approximately 3/4" spread.

Added Picture  Target squares are 1"



  I find this a more acceptable accuracy but still a little to open.  I repeated the process mentioned above and tried again with JSB Exact's with a little larger spread of about 1 1/4". 

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I then tried various different pellets H&N Silver Arrow 11.57,

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 H&N Crow Magnum 8.80

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 and Beeman no. 1222 Hollow Point Special Coating

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 all with more than 1" spreads.  The one pellet that gave outstanding results was  Predator Polymag 8.0

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 with a group of about 3/4" with one flyer of about 3".  The flyer was the first shot and I had problems closing the bolt which could have damage the pellet.  I found out that after inserting the pellet in the breach opening I had to point the muzzle to the ground and lightly shake the rifle to let the pellet fall into the breach chamber.  Then the bolt would close without any real problems.  If you try to close the bolt while pushing the pellet into the breach the pellet will tilt and bind the bolt.


This is the eMail I received from Webley included for information only

Dear Sir,
 
The accuracy of the Rebel you have correctly gauged.  I am sorry that you are disappointed but I do not believe there is anything you can do to improve this.  As with most quality-priced products, there are compromises that are necessary to meet price.  It is not a hunting rifle nor does it have the power to shoot long distance.  It is however, simple and easy to use with a great tactile feel and balance that can be used for friendly competitive target shooting in the garden.
 
regards,
 
Roger
Roger P Williams
Director
Webley & Scott Limited
www.webley.co.uk
cell +44 7747 105885

It is a condition of trade with Webley & Scott Ltd that products manufactured and sold using the trade marks: Webley & Scott; Webley; Accupell; Verminpell; Matchpell or AGS or know how, that any new designs, configurations or inventions of products supplied to us or sold by us, inclusive of your collaboration in development, shall not be supplied to others and in the event that patents, registered designs or similar protection may be available that ownership thereof belongs exclusively to Webley & Scott Ltd.

[LAalex]

D/T--Thanks for the honest and comprehensive review.  Based on your results and the reply from Webley,  it seems like this rifle would make a good informal plinker and back yard pest rifle. Definitely a step up from the Crosman 2100 and Daisy rifles.  It appears easier to mount optics than the Benji's, though the Benji's probably have an edge in accuracy given equal optics.  I think it is a positive that Webley has chosen to put another pumper on the market, even though it is not a new design.  Maybe if they have success with it they might introduce a "Deluxe" model with wood furniture, .22 cal. etc.  I think the sport benefits from the introduction of products like this and I salute Webley for doing it.  Nice job, and thanks again for the review.

Scotty

[Dick Tracey]

Webley does offer a .22 version on their web site.  I also would like to see wood stock as there was an Innova delux with wood stock.

The following is the response from Webley from this eMail I sent.

"Hi Dick,
 
Thank-you for your detailed explanation of how you improved the accuracy of the Rebel, off-the-shelf.  Your knowledge and persistence is a credit to you.  I would be grateful for your postal address.  Moreover, I would like your permission to post your procedure on our web-site www.webley.co.uk which we are in the process of re-structuring.
 
regards,
 
Roger
 
Roger P Williams
Director
Webley & Scott Limited 
www.webley.co.uk
cell +44 7747 105885"

I did give him permission to post The procedure.  I would like to thank all everyone on GTA and other Airgun forums that I frequent as this procedure was picked of these forums.

DT

[northern lights]

Great review thanks for doing this. I enjoy pumpers an was interested in this gun an you gave me a lot of good info. wood would be nice on the rebel an still be light weight. An you still might find the magic pellet.

[ten.ring]

i wish i could get a response from webely.  i have emailed them 3x and called several times but no one answers their phone or responds to my messages.

why did you not try a 10.5 premier or jbs. i have found that a precharged air gun over 12fpe does better with a heavier pellet. i have yet to find a gun that shoots silver arrows well.

mark

[thekid]

That is great you have received emails from webley, also great you are getting acceptable accuracy as you would say...for the garden.

It is however not great, that the company wants to use your method to improve upon the accuracy of this gun, at the customer level.
This will be posted on their site...as to what the customer can do to improve upon the accuracy of the gun.... ( to me not acceptable).

As stated, it is a credit to you, for not giving up.....Great work!