The 455 Webley round

[Dead Dog Jack]

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Anyone shooting the .455 Webley any more? I've just come across a Colt New Service in that calibre. Just curious what you are using for printed reference for loads. All I can find are loads on the internet from individuals, or at Handloads.com. So far, I've checked (to no avail) the following:

• Lyman's newest manual
• Sierra's newest manual
• IMR/Hodgdon/Winchester website
• Alliant website
• circa 1980 Hornady manual
• Accurate website

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have a Mark VI.  I have altered .45 Colt cases to .455 by shortening with a small tubing cutter and trimming with a LEE hand trimmer for the.45 ACP.  The rims have to be thinned to .035 with a file (the hard way!) or get someone to lathe turn them (the easy way!) This approximates the Mark I case at .89".  .45 Cowboy Special cases with the rim thinned might be a better way to go.

HORNADY has made .455 Mark II cases, and you might ask around.  Mark I are the longer ones (.87") and Mark II the shorter (.82").  Fiocchi makes loaded ammo.  Military ammo is a waste of time! POOR accuracy and Berdan primed!

I have a heavy Keith type RCBS mould, about 270 gr. in W-W metal, which is close to the factory bullet, but I have used the 201 KT with some success.  The best was the Lyman 450229 155 gr hollow-base.  For a copy of the original heavy hollow base bullet look at NEI.

Cartridges of the World, 3d Edition, shows the following in the Mark II case;
250 gr bullet 454424 over 3.5 to 4.0 gr BULLSEYE (vel. 710 to 735 fps)
260 gr bullet over 5.0 to 6.0 gr. UNIQUE  (vel. 610 to 710 fps)

Rattlesnake Jack has a lot of old Imperial stuff and probably uses it a lot.  I got my old Wobbly talking, and then moved on to my competition guns.

As my revolver shot high, as they generally do, I like a lighter bullet over about 3.8 gr BULLSEYE in my .45ACP length cases.  For Blackpowder try about 21 gr. of FFFg

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I have a really dumb question ....

I have a .455 Webley Mk VI that was 'modified' to shoot  .45 ACP with moon clips.

Does this mean that I have to shoot .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rim, or do I have enough length in the cylinder to still shoot .455 Webley?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

WWE;  The cylinders are not really "chambered", just a long taper. (There is NO CHAMBER STEP as in a regular ACP.) That is why ACP length cases will work, but NOT LONGER, as the chamber tends to squeeze the case mouth on longer cases.

.455 cases have a .035 rim thickness as opposed to the much thicker .45 Auto rim, or ACP with moon clips.  Stick to .455 grade loads, but use Auto rim cases,, by preference.  .45 ACP factory or reloaded "major" loads will over stress these old girls.

[Dead Dog Jack]

Cartridges of the World, 3d Edition, shows the following in the Mark II case;
250 gr bullet 454424 over 3.5 to 4.0 gr BULLSEYE (vel. 710 to 735 fps)
260 gr bullet over 5.0 to 6.0 gr. UNIQUE  (vel. 610 to 710 fps)

Thanks, Sir Charles. My copy of COTW (11th ed.) only has the Unique load listed with factory stuff. Rest assured, I will be loading black powder rounds in addition to regular stuff!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I am not a reloader ... is there anyone with 'cowboy loads' for the .45 Auto Rim?

[Dead Dog Jack]

I am not a reloader ... is there anyone with 'cowboy loads' for the .45 Auto Rim?

Old Western Scrounger has some. Here is the URL: http://www.ows-ammo.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/923

Don't know if they are 'cowboy loads' or not, you'll have to ask them.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

From WWE:  "I am not a reloader ..."

At $35 per box plus shipping from OWS, there is no time like the present to start!

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1281468533.5788=/html/catalog/powhan1.html

LEE HAND PRESS;  Get the RAM PRIME set as well  Included in the LEE Hand Press Kit  $58.98  ($53.98 if you purchase dies.)
LEE 3-die set in .45 ACP, Carbide    $39.98  (available for .45ACP, Auto Rim and .455 Webley MkII {steel only @ $34.98})
LEE powder scoop set part #90100  $12.98
A Shell holder will be included.  Others may be had for $2.98 ea.

You can be set up for $108.00, and be able to store it all in a small toolbox, and you can work it all in your TV watching chair in your apartment.  None of this stuff will be surplus if you catch the bug and upgrade.

I hope you save fired cases!  If not you will have to score the appropriate cases.  .45 ACP are cheap and common and a few 1/2 moon clips or full moon clips should be easy to find.

[The Wizard]

Hornady also makes loaded .455 Mk II ammunition. Check this out http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/7167

[Jrw8214]

There's someone who advertises on Gunbroker that will convert your .45 ACP Webley cylinder back to its original .455 Webley form by resleeving the chambers.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=183733903

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Ken Waters wrote an extensive PET LOADS article on the .455 in 1985.  He called the round .455 Colt - Eley

HANDLOADER 114, Mar/Apr 1985, page 19

Reprinted in his PET LOADS books at Vol II, page 617

PM me if you want some data.  I don't feel like typing all that much!

ALL LOADS ARE IN MK I CASES