Webley & Scott Hurricane

I feel that I should be writing this in this typeface since it’s probably the oldest design of pistol to be reviewed here and it’s now a "collectible" since production has ceased.

Collectible or not it’s still a formidable piece of kit delivering just over 3.2 ft/lbs muzzle energy onto the target with accuracy and reliability.

My personal beast is “blinged” up with a Hawke Red Dot and a Perfectline trigger guard laser.

The original Webley was produced as the “Senior” if it was .22 or the “Junior” if it was .177 and started life back in 1924 as the Mk1 air pistol.

It was the first in several respects in that it had the barrel mounted over the cylinder and the piston moved back to the shooters hand.
It was this last effect which made it popular with firearms users as it mimicked the kick of a firearm and as such it was useful for maintaining the “feel” for a handgun without the problems of a safe range and cost of ammunition.

The build quality was superb from the outset, in fact, the build of the airgun was often claimed to be better than the firearms the firm produced.
I have the “Hurricane” in .22 and I love it. It sits in the fist and, since I shoot right handed, the gun feels “right” and adopts a natural position with the thumb lying snugly in the moulded thumb grip. The grips are plastic these days but it does not feel bad.
I have adjusted the two stage trigger to a single smooth pull as I prefer it that way.
The sights are good and have withstood the test of time with a shrouded foresight and a fully adjustable rear leaf, that is to say, windage and elevation.

Cocking has been criticised by many people and I freely admit that the first few times you try to load the gun, you wonder about it and if you squeeze the trigger with your hand round the barrel you are in danger of broken fingers as I have seen one of these pistols whip the barrel back at an unbelievable speed.
On a safety note it is not possible to put the safety catch on if the gun is NOT cocked so you always know that the gun is ready to fire because you should never dry fire a springer.

No matter how often I shoot the Hurricane it always makes me smile, well at least until I check my score.
I know from bench resting the gun that this is my fault since it has a twelve groove barrel.

Oddly enough it hates “Wasp” 5.56 pellets but does OK with “Bulldogs” but there is no accounting for taste.

The Hawke or the laser make me a passable shot with the gun. The Hawke being the better of the two simply because it’s easier to see the dot outside. It also has the advantage that the mount hangs back over the wrist and helps balance the gun.

So there you have it. Personal thoughts on the Hurricane

Jim (Target Bunny)