Webley & Scott Vantage

In the sub-£1,200 new shotgun market, most guns look either very vanilla or their designs and style derive from more expensive brands on the market. When I saw the new Webley & Scott Vantage, it was clear that they were being brave and trying something new, and that should always be celebrated.

A close look at the Webley & Scott Vantage

The stock is where we start. At the back there is a rubber recoil pad, the wood is plain but has a little more figuring than many other lower-grade walnuts. The stock also features a cheek piece — this is a bold move. Raised cheek pieces are more often found on rifles and on Continental shotguns, having never been a popular feature in the UK. Times have changed, however, and people are more willing than ever to try something different, so I can see the raised cheek piece appealing to some.

It is profiled nicely and fits my face well enough. It took a few shots to get used to the larger face contact, but after that, one doesn’t notice it. Looks-wise, the cut of the cheek piece leaves an aggressive and modern edge that catches the light well. The stock is finished with laser chequering to a good standard that provides just the right amount of grip.

Where the stock meets the action is a little different too, being angled forward like the 900 Series Webleys. The wood-to-metal fit is done better than many other guns at this price. The action is less conventional as well. It is styled with large bolsters, unlike anything else on the market. Its closest relative would be a Merkel or SKB, but it’s much more modern-looking than that. They flow nicely into the detonation which is delicately carved as well. The metal-to-metal fit on this whole gun is great, especially where the barrels meet the breech face.

Into the silver action is set just the right amount of scroll-styled laser engraving, with the maker’s mark and model name laid out on the bottom. The trigger-guard, fore-end iron and the raised bolsters are all unengraved but have a nice even brushed finish.

The fore-end is unusual as well, and has a slight Schnabel lip, but also an angled finger choil like a semi-beavertail. Its lines are aesthetically pleasing, and it feels good in the hand, so it gets a thumbs up.

The barrels are built on a monobloc design, are multichoked and come in all the usual sizes. The top rib is vented, is parallel and has a great machined finish. Each side of the monobloc is laser-engraved with a pattern that leaves a nice finish and should also hold oil well. The ejectors are similar to some others out there and worked flawlessly. The barrels pivot around two hinge pins and are locked up by a large Browning-style bite that sits at the bottom of the action. It’s hard to test metal quality without serious tech, but from the way it opens, closes and feels, the materials seem good.

As I said, this gun is a bold move. To guarantee easy sales, most entry-level gun brands look up a rung or two in the sales ladder and ask: “How can we copy that?” Webley, in this instance, has taken a step back and started with a clean slate. The result is very smart indeed, although it might take the market a month or two to get their heads around it.

Need to know

• Manufacturer: Webley & Scott
• Model: Vantage
• Calibre: 12-bore
• Barrel: 28” and 30” (30” on review)
• Chamber: 3”
• Chokes: Multichoke (set of five)
• Grip: Pistol grip
• Importer: Highland Outdoors, 0345 099 0252
•  Note: the gun I had was a pre-production model, therefore weights and specs are not final

Conclusion

I took the gun out for a bash at clays to see what it was all about. From the larger action design and sporty looks, I had assumed it was going to be a bit ‘dead’. This is not the case, and the gun is very lively indeed. The barrels are not too heavy and the extra weight of the action makes for a fast but predictable gun.

The recoil was very manageable, with a little bit of muzzle flip as you may expect with more gamey dimensions on the stock. The grip is a decent size, but could be a little bit more open and gamey to match how it moves. (More on recoil here.)

As I shot more and more, I started to get a little frustrated that a gun that looks so bold was so non-committal in its shooting. This isn’t a bad thing; it did everything I asked of it very well, which is probably exactly what Webley had planned, but I think I secretly wanted this new bold design to be matched by a really epic game gun.

The upside is that this gun was easy to learn to shoot. It may look different but it follows the handling recipe of many of the greats, I even ‘straighted’ a few stands, which is pretty rare for me at the moment. I did struggle with a few of the longer and more technical targets but, if you want an out-and-out competition clay gun, you probably aren’t looking at this anyway.

This was an enjoyable gun to shoot but it was refreshing to see such a different approach to the action. I really look forward to seeing what Shots think of them and how they sell when they hit the shelves.

Scores

• Action and barrels  13/20 The action could do with a little more refinement
• Handling  15/20 Versatile for a heavier gun and a joy to shoot
• Trigger  14/20 Not bad compared to the price point
• Stock 14/20 The cheek piece is a bold move
• Value 17/20 This gun is certainly bolder than the competition