Shaved .455 Webley MK VI

[Baltimore Ed]

The shorter your case the more bullet jump you have to deal with in revolvers which usually is a bad thing but if your accuracy isn't affected that's great. The .45 acp as a target loading is one of the most accurate cartridges out there. The .45 cowboy special should also be accurate. Shot all Schofield loads in my '73/'76 winchester carbine, ASM Schofield revolver and 1860 conversion yesterday, 200gr RNFP in the rifle and 160 gr SWC in both revolvers. Clean for the first 3 stages but bad storms unfortunately ended the shoot. It did slack off enough to let us put our targets and gear away without anyone drowning.

[Major 2]

That is very nice unaltered Webley.... I'm guessing it will bring well into  4 figures ...I'm watching 

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/878725781

Final drop of the gavel  $2,126.00 

[Major 2]

Here's a shaved MK 1 that the seller has no clue.  https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879016748   I sent  him a note, bet I get a self righteous denial.  But it's easy to see in the  photo's, might scare off a lot of buyers.

The one above sold for $1380

this re-blued one had sold @ $916.... https://www.gunbroker.com/item/878884187

but now  https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/879973026    the buyer must have not followed through it has been relisted. 

[Drydock]

Curious: why do you think it's been refinished?

[Major 2]

the bluing is in all the stamped marks  nor does there appear to be any raised metal ...

Just an observation  I could be wrong

[Drydock]

OK, but no, that's the way the W&S finished them,  especially the pre ww1 .455s.

[Major 2]

I keep learning...thanks 

[Baltimore Ed]

Theres been some kind of refinishing at least on the cylinder because the rear of the cylinder would be bright naked steel after machining it off. The rest of the gun looks original to me.

[Major 2]

I had seen that .... 

[Major 2]

Just place another order for 45 Auto Rim ....Graf's is now out

[Dusty Tagalon]

Turns out I have 3x Shaved cylinders, a Mk5 & 2x New Service. May try 1 of the New Service weekend.
Brian

[Major 2]

Update on my Webley adventure 

It took 12 days for Graf's to get the 45 AR Starline brass shipped   ,  and 4 days to arrive after that  , but it did arrive.
( just an observation , not really a complaint , but that said additional brass is in route from Buffalo Arms and will arrive within the first week )

In the mean time my Chronograph arrived and I set about to work up my load...

I have also purchased Bear Creek Supply   .454  260 grain hollow base Webley bullets (see photos) BTW 2 days shipping 

I'm impressed with the consistency and quality of Bear Creek's product  ( moly coated bullets )

They are  .80 thou shorter than Springfield Slim cast bullets , set at the same depth it makes the OAL of the final bullet .80 shorter
than the SS bullet when it is crimped at original .455 cartridge OAL

Note: the point of crimp <---- in 3rd & 4th. photos  However the shape is blunter

Powder is the same weight of Trail Boss

Slims bullets chronograph average -  662 FPS
The Bear Creek - 626 FPS      ( which I allude to the slicker moly coat )


Springfield Slim also ships fast ...2 days ( I also like the historic shape of his bullets )
FYI  SS bullets are  .452  @  262 grains  ( recovered bullets show they bump to .454 and engage rifling nicely )

* all shots at 7 yards with the chrono at  10ft out from the muzzle

[Dusty Tagalon]

I have been experimenting with shaved cylinders. My Mk5 with 45 Cowboy Special, OK. My Colt New Service, failed. 1st Stage with 45 Cowboy Special BP failed, primer blowout/lockup. Stage 2, shift to autorim smokeless, squib, even after driving bullet back into cylinder, primer blowout signafant enough, gun is no longer functional! 
Brian

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Is it too late to resurrect this thread?  I have a nice, shaved cylinder MK VI .455/.45 AR revolver I have been loading for.  I may have a .455 cylinder lined up.  I load .45 AR and .455 both with the same dies, bullets and powder charge: 4.3 grains WW231 and a 260 grain MK II bullet.

[Major 2]

Not at all, there is some good information here though most of the posted links are no longer working.
I'd still like a Pritchard Pistol Bayonet.
But a rare original at up to 3X the actual pistol cost, or $500 for a replica it's not likely.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I recently had a Colt New service .455 with British proofs, but sold it for a really clean and tight MK VI with a shaved cylinder.  I use the same .455 Dies and 260 grain hollow base .454 Bear Creek moly coated bullets to load the .45 Auto Rim.  I originally used 5.0 of Unique, but accuracy was dismal.  Switched to 4.3 grains of WW 231, and bingo.  The Webley is a hoot.  Looking for an unshaved cylinder, since I have 300 rounds of .455 brass.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Before I found this thread, I came to the same conclusion as others here:  The .45 AR case is so darn close to a .455 MK I case, I was essentially duplicating a MK I, in a nearly identical case, except for the rim thickness!  I used my .455 LEE dies, and a .45 AR shell holder.  With the LEE, I have had good luck using the roll crimp.  Most other calibers I reload I use LEE factory crimp dies.

I tried the link for the thicker recoil shield, but with both Windows and MAC, would not log in, saying infected web site.  That would be a great idea, though.  Anyone have newer info on that?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Here's my "shaved" Webley MK VI in .45 Auto Rim.  The lanyard is original, and came with the pistol.  Holsterand ammo popuch are repos.



Here's .455s I loaded for my Colt New Service.  Starline brass and Bear Creek 260 RNHB bullets. 



This year, Steve at Bear Creek improved the 260 grain Webley bullets by giving the hollow base a thinner skirt for better obturation into the bore.  I have some of the earlier ones, too, but the skirt is twice as thick on the earlier ones.  My powder charge is 4.3 grains of WW231, for 640-650 FPS from the Webley.

[DeaconKC]

Best of luck with this project.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Left:  .45 auto Rime with 260 grain RNHB Bear Creek
Middle: Webley MK II
Right:  .455 Starline with 260 grain RNHB Bear Creek