Help a noob reload 455 webley?

SquidMeister

SquidMeister

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Hey all,

So I recent got this very nice Canadian issue antique webley mk. 2 in unaltered 455 calibre. However, the price of factory fiocchi makes me cry, and I want to start handloading for it. Anybody here reload 455 for the antique revolvers, and if so, what loads/powder/etc would you recommend?

Edit to original post:

I have received my reloading gear and made 11 rounds (was gonna make 12 but I messed one round up and need to re-do it.)

Using the load data with the dies, I used 3.9 gr of unique with a 265 grn bullet, seated w/ a crimp at between 1.229 to 1.240" ish OAL between all of them (was dialing in dies to be roughly 1.235-1.240" OAL, which is what the fiocchi OALs averages). Any issues or did I do good?
 
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Most 455,s will shoot the MK1 round. I have a S/W British issue. I have lots of 45 Colt brass so I use it. Mine is longer than the MK1
round. Cases are trimmed to 0.980. I use 45 ACP dies to resize. The MK1 case can't be crimped due to being too short. I am using
5 grs of Unique with any bullet from 200 grs to 255grs. Currently using a 45acp 230 gr TC which really surprised me with its accuracy. Just takes some time to make the cases. The longer case works in my revolver it may not in yours. I tried a 45 Colt in my
cylinder, measured and gave some wiggle room. The rims also need to be thinned from the front not where the head stamp is or primers will be high. Or you could so the easy route and pay 75 to 100 for a hundred cases. I choose the cheap route. 45 Colt is a stronger case compared to MK1 or MK2 cases.
A power trimmer and a lathe are nice toys to own.
Rob
 
In the last several years I have shot many old Webleys using the longer .455 Colt brass by Dominion .
With 200 gr. cast lead I load 6.5 gr. of Unique with Fed.- 150 primers , which gives me 700 f/s .

With original style 260 gr. HB cast lead I load 5 gr. of Unique & same primmer , which gives me 600 f/s.

Slow bullets but lots of fun ,,,,,,,,,,,,, .
 
Mystic Precision can bring in the Brass. I bought 200 pieces I think it was around $180. Taxes in delivered! I also have a couple boxes of Fiocchi .455 good stuff but very expensive nowadays, 100 rounds will usually run you $200. Taxes in delivered.
 
SquidMeister said:
Another question, are you guys using smokeless powder in your antique guns?
Click to expand...

Yes. Smokeless powder loaded to black powder pressure levels is no issue whatsoever. And of course Dominion, Federal, Winchester, Remington etc.etc. have been making original black powder cartridges with smokeless powder for over a century now - including 455 webley, so it's not like it's new/controversial.
 
Be careful with 455 Webley load data that you find on the web. It's not all created equal.

When you find web-based reloading data, try to identify which brass the data was used in: 455 MKI or 455 MKII or 45ACP. Reload data that doesn't specify the case is like using 30-06 data in a 308 - they're both 30 caliber, what could go wrong?

Case capacity makes a difference in pressure, especially in small, low pressure cases like the 455. Most reloading data floating around the web doesn't identify the case length because most 455 webley reloaders don't know the difference.

A safe load in MKI brass can be overpressure by 50% if used in the MKII case in the same gun.

The MKI case is longer with more capacity - Dominion ammo and brass.
The MKII case is shorter with less powder capacity - Hornady, Fiocchi, Starline.
45ACP brass is about the same length as the MK1 brass.

EXAMPLE: with bullet seated 0.2" deep:
MKI brass / 5gr Unique / 250gr RN = 11,000 pis
MKII brass / 5gr Unique / 250gr RN = 16,500 psi

455 Webley service revolvers were designed for a maximum pressure level of 13,000 psi. I would avoid shooting 16K psi loads in antique 125 year old, soft iron revolvers but that's just me.
 
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