455 Webley MkII or 450 Adams in a 45 Colt?

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Moe

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I am acquiring a 45 Colt SAA clone (Pietta). I already reload for some antiques in 455 Webley MkII and 450 Adams. These have the same bore dimensions and same chamber diameter as 45 Colt. The European cases are just shorter and perhaps a bit more rim diameter. Is there any reason one couldn't shoot the European cartridge in a 45 Colt? I could see some loss of accuracy due to the extra cylinder travel of the projectile or the rims not allowing the cartridge to seat. All that comes to mind so far. Please chime in.

Cheers
Moe
 
.455 rim is a lot thinner than .45C. This would create an excess headspace condition. Might result in ignition issues if the firing pin doesn't strike the primer firmly. One way to find out.
 
tiriaq said:
.455 rim is a lot thinner than .45C. This would create an excess headspace condition. Might result in ignition issues if the firing pin doesn't strike the primer firmly. One way to find out.
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Thanks. I don't have my hands on the SAA yet and I don't have any 45 Colt ammo on hand yet. Was just speculating and had this thought in my head. I read that the rims on 45 Colt were miniscule so I am surprised to learn from you that the 455 rims would be thinner.

Thanks
Moe
 
I don't know if the larger diameter of the .455 rim would be a problem. SAAs were made in .45, .450 and .455, so diameter probably is not an issue, as long as the chamber is not cut with a rim recess.
 
Moe said:
... I read that the rims on 45 Colt were miniscule so I am surprised to learn from you that the 455 rims would be thinner.
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I shoot a lot of both .45 Colt and .455 Webley. Sounds like you are confusing "rim thickness" with "rim diameter" ...

While .45 Colt rims are relatively thick (.060") their diameter (0.512") is not much more than the diameter of the casing just ahead of the rim - which is what you have read about. On the other hand, .455 rims are thinner (0.039") but their diameter (0.530") is significantly greater than the case body diameter than the .45 Colt rim ...

It is not the rim diameter which would be likely to cause difficulties ... rather, the difference in rim thickness might be a problem. The thinner rims of ,455 cartridges, if loaded in a .45 Colt revolver, would possibly result in "excessive headspace" between the rear cylinder face and the recoil shield - or at least the possibility of too much "back and forth movement". If the revolver is held at such an angle that the rim is resting right up against the rear cylinder face, the firing pin might not reach far enough to strike the primer with sufficient force for consistent ignition ... on the other hand, if the base of the cartridge is fully back against the recoil shield, the firing pin strike will tend to drive the cartridge forward a little bit instead of fully indenting the primer ... with the same possibility of inconsistent ignition.
 
Are you just speculating about what else it would run? I would just go with the .45 Colt and be done with it, the reload kit isn't that much$!
 
Moe said:
Thanks. I don't have my hands on the SAA yet and I don't have any 45 Colt ammo on hand yet. Was just speculating and had this thought in my head. I read that the rims on 45 Colt were miniscule so I am surprised to learn from you that the 455 rims would be thinner.

Thanks
Moe
Click to expand...

I read a lot of crap in the internet as well, Maybe you should get some 45 long colt cases, I would not call the rim miniscule.
 
Thanks guys. I went ahead and bought a set of 45 colt dies, shell holders, brass, and bullets. Was just poking around at a thought that's all.

Cheers
Moe
 
HI; I have used 45 schofield cases BUT the rims need a 44/40 shell holder as the diameter is larger and often the rim will hit the star on the cylinder of a Ruger single action and not chamber.
 
I seem to remember an article with pictures showing that straight chambers in a Colt 1873 would not allow .455 cases, unless you loaded every other one. Colt would have cut .455 chambers at a slight angle to solve the problem.
 
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