.455 Webley reloading for New Service

wbaad

wbaad

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Hi All,
I recently purchased a Colt New Service in .455 from a fellow nutter and was wondering if anybody had some hand loads using unique. Not much data on this cartridge and the little bit I have found is for the webley revolvers.
Also doesn't seem like much brass around so if anybody has any sources for correct brass and bullets let me know. I ordered up a couple boxes of fiocchi to test out the colt. Will be tooling up for reloading this one for sure.
 
Unique has a very high power to weight ratio.

Using unique; I would only use three grains of powder in any old antique revolver.

For bullets; You can use the same projectiles as 45-ACP, or 45-LC.

For brass; Get some 45-LC brass, and buy yourself a case-trimmer.
 
Those older Colt's are beautifull revolvers. Congratulations.
As for Unique, many find a good load for more modern revolvers like your Colt, with 245-265gr bullets, at 5 grains +- a couple tenths.
Your Fiocchi stuff will soon enough be empty reloadable brass LoL!.
Check out Jethunter for projectiles, he's got what you need.
 
I forgot to mention;

For reloading hardware; You will need a combination of 45-ACP and 45-LC dies, shell-holders etc.

As Viking has said; You might be able to go up to 5 grains of Unique in that revolver. But I would start at 3 grains, and work your way up.

You'll need to "go with your gut", as to what your particular gun can handle.
 
Hornady does make .455 Mk.II brass. It's readily available from most of the CGN sponsors. North American manufacturers during both wars made .455 Colt, which was the same as .455 Webley, but a different length case. These don't exist except as war era relics. The differences are negligible from my research. You will be happy with proper 455 Mk.II brass. There is a guy on the EE that casts hollow based Webley style bullets. Good luck!
 
I'm of the opinion that anyone into handgun shooting,;) at some point in time, should own a .455:). To that end, I picked up a Webly Mk. VI a while back.



For brass, there's a fair amount of Fiocchi floating around but what I happened on is some by Hornady, stamped Mk. II. Slightly shorter but not a big deal. Dies, as for aother calibres, available through most manufacturers. Mine are RCBS, as is the #26 shell holder.

Most of the reload info I use or base my loads on comes from a 1st edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet handbook.



For bullets, what I use is a 260gr version or close facsimile of the # 457196 pictured above, and these I get from a friend locally that's into casting.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I see you can get .455 dies from lee, but will the .45 will work? I have a .45 acp as well so it would be cool to kill 2 birds with one stone.
 
wbaad said:
Thanks for the input guys. I see you can get .455 dies from lee, but will the .45 will work? I have a .45 acp as well so it would be cool to kill 2 birds with one stone.
Click to expand...

Yes, checking some of the measurements in question, you could probably get by with a set of 'mix & match'. I've used that approach on a few occasions when I was unable to get the dies required but I try and stay away from that approach unless absolutely necessary. For me, I've found it can open up more problems than it solves.
 
Hi
I reload and shoot the .455 Webley cartridge. If I were you I would buy the Lee Dies for the cartridge. It is true you can use the 45 ACP dies but you are going to work the brass to much and it won't last, as the 45 ACP is .452 and the webley is .455.

Someone made a comment that you can use 45 Colt brass and trim it down but I believe I looked into that and you also have to make the rim smaller as well but I am not positive about this.

Some guns will shoot 45 colt cast bullets well enough and others will not you will just have to try yours out with them.

Graydog
 
graydog said:
Hi
I reload and shoot the .455 Webley cartridge. If I were you I would buy the Lee Dies for the cartridge. It is true you can use the 45 ACP dies but you are going to work the brass to much and it won't last, as the 45 ACP is .452 and the webley is .455.

Someone made a comment that you can use 45 Colt brass and trim it down but I believe I looked into that and you also have to make the rim smaller as well but I am not positive about this.

Some guns will shoot 45 colt cast bullets well enough and others will not you will just have to try yours out with them.

Graydog
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Thanks for the info Graydog,
I thought there was a difference in diameter. If .455 brass is available there's no point trimming/turning expensive colt brass. I see budget has .455 specific bullets and dies, but no brass.
 
graydog said:
Hi
I reload and shoot the .455 Webley cartridge. If I were you I would buy the Lee Dies for the cartridge. It is true you can use the 45 ACP dies but you are going to work the brass to much and it won't last, as the 45 ACP is .452 and the webley is .455.

Someone made a comment that you can use 45 Colt brass and trim it down but I believe I looked into that and you also have to make the rim smaller as well but I am not positive about this.

Some guns will shoot 45 colt cast bullets well enough and others will not you will just have to try yours out with them.

Graydog
Click to expand...

Yes the rim must be trimmed as well
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Yes, checking some of the measurements in question, you could probably get by with a set of 'mix & match'. I've used that approach on a few occasions when I was unable to get the dies required but I try and stay away from that approach unless absolutely necessary. For me, I've found it can open up more problems than it solves.
Click to expand...

Seeing as a set of dies and a bag of bullets costs about the same as a box of loaded ammo I think I'll get the right stuff! Looking forward to playing with this interesting cartridge.
 
maxman1 said:
I've been wondering, why doesn't anyone offer the old "Manstopper" wadcutter rounds these days?
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Check with CGN "Jethunter" (Terry). Scroll down to the 45 cal. bullets. Pretty close (the original was 220 gr. IIRC)
The would-be home invader at 3:30 am won't know the difference :evil:

3. 250gr WC Hollow Base, lube-sized 0.452". (also .454")......$25/100; $45/200
Click to expand...
:)

Oops.... I just noticed that "vviking" already mentioned Jethunter. Between him and Johnn Peterson's "secret surce" you should be good to go, if you can find brass.
 
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I found 2 .45c cases in my random brass bag and trimmed them down with a pipe cutter with much success. Fit them in the gun and I definitely have to turn the rims... Play with it next week in the lathe at work while I wait for my ammo.
 
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