Antique .455 Webleys or Smith+Wesson .44 Russian, which is more reliable to plink?

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Chps2

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With factory ammo?

Im wanting to build a collection of just 1 type for ammo sake. The webleys (some of them) are cheaper, and more common, but are also uglier to me.

The S&W russians are much nicer in aesthetics, but more expensive (usually) and harder to find (especially nice ones)

For reliability and not wanting it to explode while plinking sake, which do you think is more reliable?

Of course it depends on the condition of each individual one, but lets just say if all were averagely good condition.
 
If you don’t want them to explode start by not putting factory ammo in either.
With proper handloads the military Webleys will be able to tolerate a higher round count before you need to make some adjustments
 
I have a gorgeous nickel Colt 1889. Now that is a gun that’ll give the Thunderer a run for the “ fragility “ money.
I guess that’s a lit off of the OP’s question. I just saw his 1877 and wanted to raise him an 1889.
Seriously, I would go with the Webley in this case. If guns were women the Webley would be wife material ( cute, reliable and just a tad stout ) whereas the 1889 would be mistress material ( slender, gorgeous, high maintenance and a possible disaster )
Go with the Webley
 
how do you dare to shoot them as they are asking a ransom amount of money for them. I would like to have a few of the older guns but they are asking wayyyyyy to much money for them.
 
I have got to play with both at one time or another, the Webley is a tank compared to S&W. And I gotta agree with Cyclone; the 1877 is one finicky piece.
 
You have to avoid jacket ammo and modern loads.

Very problematic with the modified to take acp

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This site has an interesting discussion about loads although addressing primarily the 45 ACP failures.

Always useful to know.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/bri...evolvers-altered-to-shoot-45-acp-a-t9296.html

1. The operating pressure for the Mark VI Webley revolver (the last, and strongest, of the .455 Webley service revolvers) was a maximum of 13200PSI (i.e. six 'long tons' of 2200 lbs).

2. The standard operating pressure generated by milspec and full factory loads of .45 ACP ball ammunition is 19,000PSI.

3. The pressure of .45 ACP milspec and standard factory loads exceeds the proof load for the Mark VI Webley revolver.

4. The dimensions of the chamber throats on Webley service revolvers are a bit variable, but generally are smaller than bore diameter for some reason - but this system worked well with the original hollowbase bullet design, which was quite soft (20/1 lead/tin) and non-jacketed. These soft bullets swage down passing through the chamber throat (.... my own view is that this was intentional, to get the most out of the relatively small powder charge, and thus maximize the velocity produced ....) but then the base expands nicely to engage the rifling in the bore. However, the general consensus is that jacketed bullets (such as those loaded in most GI-spec .45ACP ammo) can work to dramatically increase the already excessive chamber pressure generated by such rounds.

5. Furthermore, the earlier models of .455 Webley service revolver were not as strong as the Mark VI. Indeed, the Mark I, Mark II and Mark III revolvers were in fact designed for black powder loads.
 
Also, S&W Hand Ejector and Colt New Service revolvers weren't heat treated until they were offered in .45 ACP for the M1917 contracts, so it's not a good idea to convert those, either.
 
To answer your question, it is my opinion that you would get more life out of a Webley in original 455 caliber than from a smith and wesson model 3 or double action 44. The DA 44's are pretty nice guns but will stop advancing properly and locking up, quicker than a Webley mark I, II, III.
 
Here’s my argument for the Webley. The fact that any Webley mark series survived being shot with modern acp means they should last quite awhile when only original spec 455 reloads. They cut Webleys because it was cheap and they survived enough shots to blow up in someone else’s hands. How many S&Ws have you heard of shooting rounds above proof pressure? There is a reason Elmer Keith didn’t use a No.3 in his experiments haha. If you want long term reliability my suggestion is a solid frame Webley (hence my name). Or if you have the money and want a break top get a WG series.
 
Typically the wheel guns from the 19th century were better built/engineered in Europe. Now the better salesmen could be found in America. Not always true, of course. But those prised Colts & Smiths didn't run better than those Tranters or Adams revolvers... But Hollywood made those "Murcan" guns famous.
 
Its just too bad they are so damn ugly! My S&W doubles have never given me grief, and they are awful quick to reload.
 
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