Webley & Scott sportsman 3 shot 410

[Essexsussex]

so it’s not a rifle or a calibre question.

I’ve just bought one of these for my 9yr old who loves it. But, we discovered quickly, the safety doesn’t work. It’s a sort of tab that you turn behind the bolt and it should lock it from firing. It doesn’t.

Having found an old manual it seems it should just automatically come on when the bolt is cycled. It doesn’t.

Does anyone have one and have any insight? Like is the bolt in wrong or something? This isn’t like the single shot where you turn the back of the bolt itself. If you have one you would know but otherwise it’s a random bit of kit!

We both love it but this will be going back to the gun shop and if they can’t work it out either we will need a back up plan. I’m hoping someone here can shed some light before I waste another couple of hours heading back to the gun shop.

Thanks in advance

ES

 

[enfieldspares]

Having found an old manual it seems it should just automatically come on when the bolt is cycled. It doesn’t.

Not on mine it didn't. And if it did that'd mean that you'd see two squirrels, shoot one, reload and...bother...the safety catch was now on and that second squirrel would be away on its toes.

 

[Essexsussex]

Thanks ES - is that right?

 

[enfieldspares]

From long ago memory, yes, it didn't come on to safe between shots such that you'd have to then put the safety off to fire a second, or third, shot. My advice is on an empty gun, as if you've loaded a cartridge in the barrel, put the safety ON and try and fire it. It should not fire. Then take the safety OFF and then try and fire it. Now cycle the action as if you are loading a follow up shot and put the safety ON. Try and fire it. It should not fire. Take the safety OFF and it should now fire when you pull the trigger.

 

[Essexsussex]

Even if I put the safety on, it fires. But am I somehow doing something wrong?!

 

[enfieldspares]

I'd worry that if you cycle the weapon (as if you were loading a cartridge) and then put the safety and and a pull on the trigger "fires" it then, yes, there's a problem. The only thing I can think is that the part of the bolt or striker that the safety engages isn't turned correctly? Or is defective?

 

[Essexsussex]

Thanks ES just been through all options and it always fires - back to the shop. Thanks for taking the time.
Will

 

[Bowland blades]

the Baikel single barrel 410 is widely available cheap but most important a lot safer than the bolt action or double etc . The safety is bomb proof dont need to pay more than £30-£40 normally !
Its hard to mess up with one shot ! Actually use one myself on some jobs and they take the 3" shell

 

[Essexsussex]

This takes 3” but it is a carry on! Baikals are always good and if I found one locally would be pleased to have it.

 

[bogtrotter]

No idea what's wrong with the safety but if you can find one a 28b is much better than a .410 for a youngster

 

[8x57]

the Baikel single barrel 410 is widely available cheap but most important a lot safer than the bolt action or double etc . The safety is bomb proof dont need to pay more than £30-£40 normally !
Its hard to mess up with one shot ! Actually use one myself on some jobs and they take the 3" shell

Sorry Sir but I will partly disagree with you there Bowland. I'm in total agreement with you regarding the Baikal being the better gun. However I can't really agree about the safety being totally bomb proof.

I am once again the proud owner of a single barrel Baikal (nostalgia on my part) thanks to the generosity of Finnbear270. Unfortunately there was a fault with the safety caused by wear and tear due to age, the gun being marked "Made in the USSR" so being quite old. The safety would block the trigger when un-cocked but was totally ineffective when the gun was cocked. It took me a couple of hours to repair it but being a Baikal was easily fixed.

It just goes to show that all guns wear and this is possibly the case with the Webley & Scott 3 shot that Essexsussex has. I am unfamiliar with the W&S 3 shot .410 only being slightly familiar with the single shot version, but would be somewhat sceptical regarding claims of an automatic safety.

 

[Bowland blades]

Sorry Sir but I will partly disagree with you there Bowland. I'm in total agreement with you regarding the Baikal being the better gun. However I can't really agree about the safety being totally bomb proof.

I am once again the proud owner of a single barrel Baikal (nostalgia on my part) thanks to the generosity of Finnbear270. Unfortunately there was a fault with the safety caused by wear and tear due to age, the gun being marked "Made in the USSR" so being quite old. The safety would block the trigger when un-cocked but was totally ineffective when the gun was cocked. It took me a couple of hours to repair it but being a Baikal was easily fixed.

It just goes to show that all guns wear and this is possibly the case with the Webley & Scott 3 shot that Essexsussex has. I am unfamiliar with the W&S 3 shot .410 only being slightly familiar with the single shot version, but would be somewhat sceptical regarding claims of an automatic safety.

A sear engagement issue it sound like more than the safety itself . Nothing mechanical is "total " anything of course . I actually had one of the bolt gun described, it was only 2 1/2" as i remember but it was in the 80s. Could only hit sitters with it ! I use the little single 410 baikel a quite a bit , claimed quite a fair tally it has ( think a allowed £20 for it in a trade , but its functional other than being ugly)

 

[enfieldspares]

Ah the Sportsman is a three inch chamber. And FWIW feeds better with such cartridges than with shorter length. That's not to say it doesn't work with shorter ones as indeed it does.

 

[Essexsussex]

It is indeed 3” and has a different bolt arrangement to the single shot. Nice to hear folks views, thank you.

 

[bullet chucker]

A picture of the offending item would be great if poss?

BC.

 

[8x57]

A sear engagement issue it sound like more than the safety itself . Nothing mechanical is "total " anything of course . I actually had one of the bolt gun described, it was only 2 1/2" as i remember but it was in the 80s. Could only hit sitters with it ! I use the little single 410 baikel a quite a bit , claimed quite a fair tally it has ( think a allowed £20 for it in a trade , but its functional other than being ugly)

No nothing wrong with sear engagement in this instance it was most definitely the cross bolt safety at fault. The cross bolt is in a separate housing pinned to the frame behind the trigger. Over time the hole through the housing had become elongated allowing it all to move.

 

[Bowland blades]

No nothing wrong with sear engagement in this instance it was most definitely the cross bolt safety at fault. The cross bolt is in a separate housing pinned to the frame behind the trigger. Over time the hole through the housing had become elongated allowing it all to move.

ok i can see that occuring, Just never seen it !must have done a heck of a lot of work without maintainace of any worth , best check mine out eh? While its rough looking i do maintain my guns and anything safety gets sorted

 

[Essexsussex]

A picture of the offending item would be great if poss?

BC.

I’m more and more convinced it’s just not set up right as I’ve discovered it actually locks the trigger when used after the pin has been fired (if that makes sense).

 

[Essexsussex]

Switching the safety on also locks the trigger when trying to slide the bolt in. Just not when it’s cocked and ready to go!

 

[Essexsussex]

Photos of the safety