For you air gun fans, the Webley Tempest needs no introduction. A spring-piston gun, it was one of the icons of the air gun world for decades. Alas, like many English manufacturers, Webley and Scott ran into financial troubles and went belly up about a decade ago. With them went my opportunity to buy that Tempest I had always wanted, but kept putting off.
That has all changed - again, like many English companies, they have risen from the ashes under new ownership. The Tempest is back, at least for awhile (it's marketed as a "limited edition"). It is no longer made in Birmingham (it is made in Turkey), but I actually see that as a good thing.
Compared to Birmingham Tempests I have had the pleasure of handling and shooting over the years, the Turkish one is hands-down better in just about every respect. Fit and finish are every bit as good but, more importantly, the mechanism feels much tighter and more precisely made. The trigger is head and shoulders above any of the Birmingham guns I've fired.
Mine is a .22 caliber (I hate fumbling with tiny .177 pellets). It's no powerhouse - it clocks right at 336 fps with 14.8 grain H&N field trophy pellets - but it is very, very accurate. Very fun little gun for basement target practice and/or backyard plinking.
