Reaming out a webley cylinder

jethunter

jethunter

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My MkI has a .452 cylinder restriction and a .455 barrel. Has anyone reamed out a Webley .455 MkI or MKII cylinder to .455"?
 
I don't see how it could be anywhere near accurate unless you do ream those chambers, they should almost be the same or the barrel a bit smaller, not the other way around...Ben
 
Try using a hollow base bullet or very soft lead bullet first. Tjese arms were designed to use a pure lead hollow base bt. Your dimensions sound about right.
 
My navy marked mk-1 has a .4515 barrel and originally had .451 throats (which I made to be same as the barrel). Is your mk-1 marked .455/.476?
 
As pointed out, your dimensions are correct for a Webley. All of mine are similar. I would resist the temptation to change things unless you don't care about the value of the revolvers and are only interested in how well they shoot with non hollow based bullets.
 
cie said:
As pointed out, your dimensions are correct for a Webley. All of mine are similar. I would resist the temptation to change things unless you don't care about the value of the revolvers and are only interested in how well they shoot with non hollow based bullets.
Click to expand...

Sure OK.... but since the cylinder has already been cut to accept 45 acp i don't think we need to worry about destroying collector value on this one. Whaddaya think? :)
 
Well jethunter,
Like you I'm working on it.
Just finished opening mine from .4515" to .4535"(to match the bore). Used Vernon Smith's(LBT) info.. Various .454" slugs - 200 to 245gr swc. , unique and 2400, in acp and .45 win. mag. brass (1"trim).
Before and after opening, and only the one test done so far , showed a little improvement to the tune of an inch or so tighter groups at 25 yards. Am at 3 1/2 to 4" avg.. This with zero play in the hinge and a 5 thou. shim under the latch to snug up the cyl. lockup.
It's to the point now that either vert. or horz. groups will develop depending on my hold/grip/trigger/rest. They all string one way or the other so it's gotta be me.
The heavy S.A. trigger pull is a hindrance, or, more than likely I'm just a pee poor pistol shot!.
Would like to hear of your experiences to date.

Just how well can a good shape, 120 year old, service revolver be expected to shoot?.
Love my old warhorse, she's a keeper.
 
I have a .MkII .455 that shoots well with everything i tried so far. This MkI cut for .45acp is a different story. Not good with any bullets FB or HB. Bullets turn sideways occasionally at 25 yards and retrieved bullets have little to no rifling engraved. They are soft cast bullets. Hinge lockup has been tightened up and cylinder lockup and timing are good, barrel and rifling are decent and cylinder-barrel alignment is very good. Overall it should shoot but it doesn't.

I'd like to try opening up the cylinders to .455 and se if it helps, but I'm not sure how to go about it. What is Vernon Smith's info? Do you have a link? I'm not familiar with it.
 
I measured my unaltered mkII with original cylinder both chambers and barrel cone measure out at .450, my spare mkI cylinder also measures out at .450

I have had no problems with accuracy with the above.
 
jethunter said:
I have a .MkII .455 that shoots well with everything i tried so far. This MkI cut for .45acp is a different story. Not good with any bullets FB or HB. Bullets turn sideways occasionally at 25 yards and retrieved bullets have little to no rifling engraved. They are soft cast bullets. Hinge lockup has been tightened up and cylinder lockup and timing are good, barrel and rifling are decent and cylinder-barrel alignment is very good. Overall it should shoot but it doesn't.

I'd like to try opening up the cylinders to .455 and se if it helps, but I'm not sure how to go about it. What is Vernon Smith's info? Do you have a link? I'm not familiar with it.
Click to expand...

Have you tried a hollow-based bullet yet?
 
I have the same issue with my MKII. The only bullet it will shoot accurately is a Keith style SWC. Rifling is rather shallow in my case though and I'm begining to think that may be part of the issue.... Keep us posted though!
 
update

Update. Cylinder throat is now reamed to .455".

Results: It shoots much better - no more keyholing. It actually shoots groups now, whereas it used to pattern about improved cylinder. Flat base bullets shoot like a damn. Recovered bullets have definite rifling engraved the length of the bullet, which was not the case before.

Looks like it was the answer for this webley.
 
Last edited:
jethunter said:
Update. Cylinder throat is now reamed to .455".

Results: It shoots much better - no more keyholing. It actually shoots groups now, whereas it used to pattern about improved cylinder. Flat base bullets shoot like a damn. Recovered bullets have definite rifling engraved the length of the bullet, which was not the case before.

Looks like it was the answer for this webley.
Click to expand...


That's good news:D
Lost track of this thread 'til your update. Thanks for bringing it back.


Would like to know; ... What size are your typical groups now, after reaming?.
... And, where did you source your reamer?.

enquiring minds ................
 
I haven't done any precision shooting, just 3x5 shot groups from a "casual" rest at 15 yards. smallest was 1-7/8", largest just over 2-1/2". Very reasonable results in my mind.

The reamer is a .4550" decimal chucking reamer available at machine tool supply shops. A machinist friend sourced the reamer and did the work for me.
 
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