455 Webley Brass
- Thread starter Ganderite
- Start date
It's not that bad...kill's an afternoon though. I wonder if 45 LC brass is thicker than the Webley, that would be an added benefit to going to the trouble. I'm referring to the body, not the rim, I know all about that.
measuring mine shows no difference between the hornady and the colt 45 starline. about .31mm for brass thickness. the 45 will have to be sized to chamber in the webley as the fired round only goes about 3/4 in the cyliner chamber. The brass maybe thicker near the rim, if it is that may pose a problem for fitting the proper size projectile.
The .45LC rim is significantly thicker - and my Mk. VI is quite finicky about rim thickness. A little too thick, the cylinder won't turn - and stock .45LC rim, it won't even close.
You'll need to shave the rim (from the front, not the headspace or you'll run into exposed primers). The .455 chamber is rather long, so custom sizing cartridges to fit the chambers should improve performance by placing the bullet closer to the forcing cone.
I made a lifetime supply for my Triple Lock and Webley from 200 pieces of 45 Schofield brass. Looked at all the specs and decided that aside from case length, it was the closest. Did the usual facing the rim down from the front, and then trimmed to length. To speed things up made a mandrel and kind of production lined the work on a lathe.
The advantage is you are custom making brass for your revolver(s). I faced the rims down just enough that they didn't drag during cylinder rotation, and I trimmed length just enough that none of the cases stood proud in the chambers - meaning, there's a bit more meat in the brass than there would be with factory brass.
Quite pleased with how things worked out. Did that back about 1993 and the brass is still going strong - will no doubt outlive me.
The advantage is you are custom making brass for your revolver(s). I faced the rims down just enough that they didn't drag during cylinder rotation, and I trimmed length just enough that none of the cases stood proud in the chambers - meaning, there's a bit more meat in the brass than there would be with factory brass.
Quite pleased with how things worked out. Did that back about 1993 and the brass is still going strong - will no doubt outlive me.
This ^^^^
I did the same with Hornady Schofield brass, only with a drill press, a file, a digital caliper and tubing cutter.
I weighed them, but my 45 Schofield is cut to Eley length...can't compare the 455 Webley to it accurately.
I did the same with 45 Auto Rim brass. Haven't used it a lot but they work fine.
As an aside to the topic, about 35+ years ago revolvers in .455 were not popular, although fairly common and very inexpensive, mostly due to the lack of readily available ammunition. As they were so cheap I ended up with a couple of Webleys and an S&W.
There was a company, Mountain and Sowden Engineering, just outside Halifax, England (my home town), manufacturing new .455 Mk. II brass as well as other hand-gun and rifle brass, all boxer primed. It was excellent brass.
One trip back to visit my folks, I bought a couple of thousand rounds of .455 brass to bring back to Canada with me, and arranged for future shipments to me here as required, figuring there should be a market for it. Little did I know.
I advertised in The Gunrunner newspaper out of Lethbridge (remember that?) and in Shotgun News in the US of A, both with little to no response. I sold some through word-of-mouth, and at local gun shows, and kept a few hundred for my own use, but it was like selling ice to Eskimos, so once they were gone, that was it.
Fast-forward to 1997, after the draconian U.K. handgun ban, and Mountain and Sowden goes out of business.
Fast-forward again and there is some demand for the brass, but no ready supply of it.
That's life.
There was a company, Mountain and Sowden Engineering, just outside Halifax, England (my home town), manufacturing new .455 Mk. II brass as well as other hand-gun and rifle brass, all boxer primed. It was excellent brass.
One trip back to visit my folks, I bought a couple of thousand rounds of .455 brass to bring back to Canada with me, and arranged for future shipments to me here as required, figuring there should be a market for it. Little did I know.
I advertised in The Gunrunner newspaper out of Lethbridge (remember that?) and in Shotgun News in the US of A, both with little to no response. I sold some through word-of-mouth, and at local gun shows, and kept a few hundred for my own use, but it was like selling ice to Eskimos, so once they were gone, that was it.
Fast-forward to 1997, after the draconian U.K. handgun ban, and Mountain and Sowden goes out of business.
Fast-forward again and there is some demand for the brass, but no ready supply of it.
That's life.
Last night I loaded a few rounds using brass made from cut down 45Colt (Starline) and some old Dominion cases.
The Dominion are much thinner in the wall. The Starline tend to bulge a bit and if bullets are seated too deep, the bulge prevents chambering.
I have a box of Dominion somewhere, but can't find it.
I still need to buy brass. I have found three sources - all about 90 cents a case.
The Dominion are much thinner in the wall. The Starline tend to bulge a bit and if bullets are seated too deep, the bulge prevents chambering.
I have a box of Dominion somewhere, but can't find it.
I still need to buy brass. I have found three sources - all about 90 cents a case.
I've got a supply of Dominion .455 cases, most unfired in original boxes. I've also got some made from cut down .45 Colt brass. Done the same with .44 Russian made from .44 Spl. before you could buy .44 Russian.
I've been hoarding the .455 brass as I still have a MK VI pattern revolver made by Enfield in 1924, that last to be made in that calibre, and a .450 Tranter "antique".
Once I find a buyer for the Enfield, I'll be selling off some of the brass.
I've been hoarding the .455 brass as I still have a MK VI pattern revolver made by Enfield in 1924, that last to be made in that calibre, and a .450 Tranter "antique".
Once I find a buyer for the Enfield, I'll be selling off some of the brass.
