.455" Bisley

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h.letourneau

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I own a Bisley mkVI in .455". I decided to reload my own ammo. I have some powder(Unique), primers and brass but no bullets.
Buying the recommended 265 grs hollow base bullet is rather costly.
I have tought about paper patching some .45" ACP or .45 Colt lead bullets (that are more available)to take them from .452" to 454" .
I never done that. Some of you had tried it and had good result?
Thanks
 
h.letourneau said:
I own a Bisley mkVI in .455". I decided to reload my own ammo. I have some powder(Unique), primers and brass but no bullets.
Buying the recommended 265 grs hollow base bullet is rather costly.
I have tought about paper patching some .45" ACP or .45 Colt lead bullets (that are more available)to take them from .452" to 454" .
I never done that. Some of you had tried it and had good result?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I've posted this info previously as I have a somewhat similar Webley Mark VI that I load for.

455WebleyMarkVI.jpg


The following info is what I've scanned from my very tattered copy of the 1st Edition Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullets.

455Webleyloadinfobullet.jpg


The bullet I use and get from a friend locally is very much like the one I've circled in the above photo. It's weight is 260gr and checking with a vernier micrometer, it measures out at 0.4548". It seems to work well in my Webley:D and I've been using primarily Unique although I've started also playing around trying to develop loads using Trail Boss.

I've never tried paper patching but apparently it is an acceptable option in similar situations to yours. I have an article of a patching 'method' I recieved from hs4570. Patching Cast Bullets with Teflon by Curtis L. Wilson from a 1986 issue of the Handloader. Basically the patching is done by wrapping the bullet with a Teflon that plumbers commonly use. I didn't try it with the 455 and although I haven't slugged the bore, the bullets I'm using perform well so no real need. I have tried Teflon patching in a couple of other calibers, seems to work OK:redface: but it's a little too time consuming for my liking.

If you're interested, I could scan the article and send it. If so, PM me your e-mail address.
 
There are a bunch of options.

I have used cast .454 flat base 255 gr (.45 colt) bullets to great effect in several webleys. Try them and see. I got several thousand from Ben Hunchak. These bullets are .455" as cast (not sized).

The .452" bullets work Ok in some webleys, depending on how restricted the throat is on your webley - there is great variation - I have measured throats from .451" to .455". You can imagine that using a .455" bullet doesn't meant anything when you have to squeeze it through a .451" throat before it gets to the bore. Hence the FB (flat base) bullets work better in some revolvers than others. There is also considerable variation in bore diameter - I have measured from .452" to .455" in MKI/II/II revolvers. You would do well to slug your cylinder and barrel to find out what you are up against.

The .455" 265 gr HB bullets are quite costly, $75/200 plus shipping IIRC from OMA Products in BC.

You can order the RCBS .455" 265 gr HB (Hollow Base) mould from Buffalo Arms in the USA. Cost is approx US$120 plus shipping and Canada Post will collect GST/HST upon delivery.

Generally speaking, the HB bullets are a no-brainer - they will shoot well in everything. The hollow base expands to fit the bore, period. Getting good results from other bullets is more trial and error and depends on the dimensions of your particular webley.
 
Last edited:
jethunter:
Thanks a lot for the judicious info. I will certainly mesure the throat and the bore as you mention before making a bullet choice.
The next step will be in buying the right mold.
 
h.letourneau said:
Dan: I would like to find the right mould. If you know where I could buy
one please send info. Thanks.


Johnn: pm sent
Click to expand...

There is currently a "group buy" going on at the castboolits site for molds for a .455 hollow base round suitable for the Webley and others, if you want to cast your own. Go to the site and check out the group buy forum, I think the buy is still open.

If not I have used the following commercial bullets in my Webley:

#22897 Remmington 45 Colt .455 (can be sized to your bore dia. if needed, although it is not a true hollow base round)

Hornady .45 cal .454 255gr GR FP Cowboy (not hollow base, flat base)

As for accuracy they meet my needs, no keyholing etc. but may not satify all.

Hope this helps, PM me if you can't find the group buy info on castboolits.

M.
 
You can phone Rick at R & R cast bullets. 613 320-0155 He can sell you 45ACP 200 gr Semi wad cutters or 250 gr 45 Colt bullets and size them larger than 452 Bullets are large coming out of the mold and can be sized down to .455 or .454 instead of .452.

I am guessing bullets would cost around $45/500.
 
I have sent a small sample of the lyman 454190 flat base bullets to you to try out. Ihey are cast soft, 30-1 mixture I believe. ben Hunchak made them up for me. They work well in all my webleys - except for one that has .452" throat and .455" bore. That one only shoots well with the hollow base bullets.

I have reamed out a couple .45acp webley MKI throats to bring the throat up to bore size. That will really make them shoot a lot better most of the time.
 
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