Revolver Showdown: S&W vs. Break Open Webley Revolver - Which Gun is Faster to Reload?

Published on February 27, 2018
Duration: 9:07

This review compares the reload speed of a Smith & Wesson swing-out cylinder revolver against a break-open Webley revolver, both in .38 S&W. Tests revealed nearly identical reload times between the two designs when using clean firearms. The Webley offers a unique selective ejection feature and better leverage for stuck cases, but the S&W M&P remains a preferred historical choice.

Quick Summary

Reload speeds between S&W swing-out and Webley break-open revolvers in .38 S&W are nearly identical. Tests showed 15.07s for S&W vs. 15.68s for Webley. The Webley offers selective ejection and better leverage for stuck cases, while the S&W M&P remains a preferred historical choice.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: S&W vs. Webley Revolver Comparison
  2. 00:38Mechanical Differences: Swing-Out vs. Break-Open
  3. 01:22Webley Reload Technique Demonstration
  4. 02:04S&W Reload Techniques Explained
  5. 03:42S&W M&P Shooting & Reload Test
  6. 04:59Webley Mark IV Shooting & Reload Test
  7. 06:09Webley's Selective Ejection Feature
  8. 07:46Conclusion: S&W vs. Webley Reload Speed

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the reload speed of a Smith & Wesson swing-out cylinder revolver compare to a break-open Webley revolver?

In clean conditions, the reload speeds are nearly identical. A 12-shot test showed the S&W M&P took 15.07 seconds, while the Webley Mark IV took 15.68 seconds, indicating very little practical difference between the two modern designs.

What unique feature does the Webley revolver offer over a Smith & Wesson?

The Webley possesses a 'selective ejection' feature. When opened gently, it can eject only spent casings while retaining live rounds, a capability that is much harder to achieve reliably with the S&W's star extractor system.

Which revolver design is better for extracting stuck cases?

The Webley's break-open design offers better leverage for extracting stuck cases in dirty conditions compared to the swing-out cylinder mechanism of the S&W.

Are gate-loading revolvers faster to reload than break-open or swing-out designs?

No, previous comparisons have shown that gate-loading revolvers are significantly slower to reload than both modern swing-out cylinder designs like the S&W and break-open designs like the Webley.

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