Webley Patriot Review

Overall Rating

This is a big rifle. This is a powerful rifle. This is an accurate rifle. If you put in the time, it will deliver the goods.

It does take outstanding effort to cock the rifle.

There is one word that adequately expresses the Webley Patriot's suitability as a hunting tool: HASENPFEFFER. The .25 cal. absolutely devastates game.

This air rifle has deservedly been labeled, "[M]ost powerful springier." It is clear that the Patriot is an air rifle for the experienced shooter. Anyone spending this much money without adequately researching the nuance of the product is betrayed by their own whining and complaining in the various online forums. This is a big rifle. This is a powerful rifle. This is an accurate rifle. Learn that there are special characteristics to shooting a springier before you purchase a springier. Recognize that information is readily available sufficient to properly educate any neophyte pre-purchase. Be a responsible shopper. Don't blame a tiger for weighing 450 pounds when you really want a domesticated, lap cat. Blame yourself for being foolish enough to spend this kind of money without doing adequate research.

I have owned my Patriot for over a year, and am still pleased that I purchased the rifle. Right out of the box, it is an impressive rifle. Make no mistake; it does take outstanding effort to cock the rifle, especially for the first time because there is no frame of reference to estimate the effort needed. I remember the first time I went to load the .25 cal., woof, it ended up taking two hands while bracing the stock against my torso. I did not have the luxury of trying one out before I purchased the rifle, but I did know what to expect. While sighting in the rifle, I found that I developed a different method of cycling this rifle's heaver spring as compared with other barrel-break rifles. Upon your first takedown, the annoyance of cocking becomes a minor part of the experience, not a defining element of the shot.

Take the time to sight in your scope, aside from user err, this rifle provides single-shot kills at a wide range of distances. It is noisy enough that if you rush or half-heartedly squeezes off your initial shot the game may scatter from the noise. Therefore, take your time and trust this rifle. If you put in the time, it will deliver the goods.