"...The bullets head space on there noses...." Bullets do not headspace at all. Cartridges headspace and none do it on the bullet. The .45 ACP headspaces on the case mouth.
"...455 Fiochhi...happen to fit perfect..." You should look into what that revolver is actually chambered for. There's no such thing as a .455 Fiochhi. They do load .455 Webley(that headspaces on the rim) though. If it chambers, the .45 ACP is likely the wrong cartridge.
Slug the bore. If it comes out as a .455, then it's definitely not chambered for .45 ACP. The ACP uses a .451" or .452" bullet.
Don't even think about using jacketed bullets either.
Maby that didnt come out right
Anyway the things reamed for 45 ACP
Fiochhi make 455 Webley MKII ammo i had a couple boxes of it they use the proper 455 Dia bullet with a hollow base they make a 450 Corto RD as well i have some of them.
What i dont have is a loaded rd of 45 acp to drop in the thing!
The empty cases of 45 ACP fall into the chamber to far but a loaded rd stops at the perfect depth. So i asume the bullet sets the seated depth. Theres no bump in the forward part of the chamber just a slightly tapered perfectly smooth chamber.
These guns never used Moon Clips like 45 ACP webleys.
From my reading they were reamed just so a loaded rd stoped so the back of the case stuck out far enough for the hammer to strike it.
It sounds weird but were talking french here eh!
BUT it has and area for rims from the orignal 11 mil Rd and the rims of any 455 case fit the thing perfect. So i guess i should just load some .452 dia bullets in Webley cases.
455 Domion cases are a tad long tho.
I was just hopeing to find a couple boxes of 45 ACP but i reload 455 so i guess i will just use some .452 dia bullets in it.
I have had 3 of these French revolvers 2 in the 1873 and now this officers gun of 1874 model.
The two 1873s were reamed to shoot 455 webley and did it just great! They were not reamed to shoot the 45 ACP like this officers gun! There bores were about .454 so slightly worn.
This officers guns bore is like mint and about .452
Orignal rd was a Crappy hard to load for French 11 Mil CF cartridge.
LOL and no im not jokeing heres a picture. These guns were used up untill WWII by french Resistance to kill Germans.
They were reamed because of the 45 ACP cause i guess there was alot of it around and then the guns had some real knock down power.
They are one of the best made guns you will ever find.
Click on pic to enlarge
