Venturing into antique revolvers

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(!)

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Hi,

Hoping to source information about antique revolvers.

Looking for my first, something I can actually shoot and source ammunition, not specific on any model in particular and open to suggestions.

Budget upto $3k, need it to be reliable and shootable. Keep hearing about Webleys that shoot 45acp, not sure how difficult to source those are or if they're worth it?

Any info would be appreciated!
 
Lots of nice shootable antique pistols on the market. I only got into them about 3 yrs. ago and what an education! I was originally looking for a Webley in the original .455 but I ended up with Smith & Wessons in .44 Russian for which I now reload. You'll be hard pressed in todays market to find a good shooter for your budget. Specifically, the .45ACP Webley revolvers can be problematic. The pre-1898 revolvers were produced when metallurgy was still evolving so some of the antique frames adapted to the modern cartridge can suffer catastrophic failure from over pressure. I'd be looking for at a Colt in .41 calibre. Dies, modern brass, and good lead bullets are available and I've seen some nice priced ones in the EE and #######.
 
If you find something converted to 45acp or other similar conversions you still need to handload and keep pressures way down. For most like 8mm French ordinance or 455 it's very little extra effort to get or convert some brass. You aren't going to be shooting thousands of rounds per weekend or anything.
This keeps the historical integrity of the gun intact and protects the status of the gun in case of changing interpretation of the antique classification. It also protects the gun and any future shooters from trying to use ammunition that might damage a very expensive pistol.

Look at the French 1892 (use trimmed 32-20 brass) or the German Reichrevolvers (identical to 44 Russian) for robust shooters in your budget.
 
second on reduced loads if it chambers a modern round, they were not designed for the pressure, I have a couple chambered in 44 bulldog, use shortened 44 rem mag brass, made my own casting die and cheap and fun to shoot.
 
my vote would be for something single action to reduce the problems of repairing it if one of the internal parts breaks or wears beyond usefulness. I would also recommend a gun with cylinder stops as opposed to some of the British guns which index on the hand only

cheers mooncoon
 
I would stay away from the 41 LC since brass is not available right now and will be for a long time. Same with dies. I had some dies and received so many "I want it" messages. The bullets shouldn't be too hard to source but even those sold in a minute. You would need heeled bullets. The Colt Thunderer in 41 are also not very solid guns, they are flimsy.

The same is starting to develop with the 44 Russian brass, nothing available and who knows when.

Your budget for a Webley MK1 or Mk2 is too low, they are very popular and US prices have been sky rocketing. Plus even if shaved for 45 ACP, you still need to reload.

The most simple right now seems to be a Webley RIC in .455 and those are still below 3 K.

I also agree with Mooncoon, the German Reichsrevolver are very solid guns and many people are shooting the 44 Russian which is not prefect but seems to work. There are many S&W on the market but I am not particular fond of those. I had a few of those but many have timing issues which is fixable with a dremel and a calm hand, lol.

If you plan on shooting, you have to reload, now way around it.
 
I wouldn't touch a rechambered piece at a high price.

If the rules change, the values of altered guns will tank, while all-original pieces will hold value better. And that is assuming that they aren't frozen as well.

Guns that were not much better than junk when originally made are commanding significant prices.

About the only cartridge antiques that haven't got crazy expensive are the pinfires - and they've gone up in price as well. Making pinfire cartridges is do-able, but more complex than centerfire.

I would suggest watching and waiting, wallet in hand. But the way things are going, waiting could be a problem.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why CBC hasn't put .32RF (and .41RF) back into production - they made it for Navy Arms. .25 and .38 as well. I believe the market is there, both sides of the border.
 
I wouldn't buy a shaved Webley mk1 or mk2 unless it was on the cheap end of the price range. I don't trust what may or may not have been done to it with too high a pressure loads in the past.
 
Long Term The Reichrevolvers Always going to hold up the Best
I have "Had" WELL OVER 100 Antique's And my "Backyard Bush Carry Gun" Is always going to be a Reichrevolver.
44 Russian Ammo you can buy for Around $1.50 Per Round.
I just Restocked my ammo Supply from [FONT=&quot]theshootingcentre Last week.
[/FONT]

 
scianna54 said:
I would stay away from the 41 LC since brass is not available right now and will be for a long time. Same with dies. I had some dies and received so many "I want it" messages. The bullets shouldn't be too hard to source but even those sold in a minute. You would need heeled bullets. The Colt Thunderer in 41 are also not very solid guns, they are flimsy.

The same is starting to develop with the 44 Russian brass, nothing available and who knows when.

Your budget for a Webley MK1 or Mk2 is too low, they are very popular and US prices have been sky rocketing. Plus even if shaved for 45 ACP, you still need to reload.

The most simple right now seems to be a Webley RIC in .455 and those are still below 3 K.

I also agree with Mooncoon, the German Reichsrevolver are very solid guns and many people are shooting the 44 Russian which is not prefect but seems to work. There are many S&W on the market but I am not particular fond of those. I had a few of those but many have timing issues which is fixable with a dremel and a calm hand, lol.

If you plan on shooting, you have to reload, now way around it.
Click to expand...

I do like 44 Russian cartridge. Currently Budget Shooter store has dies, 44 Special Starline brass, large pistol primers and bullets (although, plated, which I don't recommend). You can easily trim 44 Special brass to 44 Russian. Black powder and cast bullets are available from other stores. That being said, even in the current times you can easily source all the tools and components you need to craft your reloads. And I have recently seen SW break barrel revolver on EE in that caliber.
 
There is no 44 Russian brass anywhere and I can't see 44 Special at budget shooter supply., but yes it can be converted by shortening the case.

Theshootingcentre sold out very quick last week of that 44 Russian.

I always found ways to make brass but the OP should know that it is not an easy walk in the park.
 
scianna54 said:
There is no 44 Russian brass anywhere and I can't see 44 Special at budget shooter supply., but yes it can be converted by shortening the case.

Theshootingcentre sold out very quick last week of that 44 Russian.

I always found ways to make brass but the OP should know that it is not an easy walk in the park.
Click to expand...

They had lots of it just a week ago. I guess someone grabbed all those 20 bags:
https://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=b...lang=en-US&w=uXuRB3SI8vuTS17pv0JPyk1ztjcfn045
 
I just bought 100 pcs. of .44 Russian brass off a really good guy here on CGN. He said he's going to post more on the EE. I get my bullets from Jet Bullets. They have the proper soft cast lead bullets in a few different weights and make bullets for many obsolete calibers.
 
44R, 44Spl and 44Mag are different only in length. All work for 44R if you trim a little or trim a lot. When I started loading for 44R there were no commercial cases available. I bought a big batch of 44Spl off the EE and made piles of brass shavings with my old Lyman trimmer. Where there's a will there's a way.
 
tiriaq said:
If the rules change, the values of altered guns will tank, while all-original pieces will hold value better. And that is assuming that they aren't frozen as well.

Guns that were not much better than junk when originally made are commanding significant prices.
Click to expand...

This. All trudeau needs to do is OIC the "regulations prescribing antique firearms" (which he can legally do without any waiting period via 117.15 of the criminal code) and those $1000 32 rimfire suicide specials and 44 webley british bulldogs won't even be worth the shipping cost to sell south of the border.
 
NorthWoods22 said:
This. All trudeau needs to do is OIC the "regulations prescribing antique firearms" (which he can legally do without any waiting period via 117.15 of the criminal code) and those $1000 32 rimfire suicide specials and 44 webley british bulldogs won't even be worth the shipping cost to sell south of the border.
Click to expand...

Looking at other countries, this is very unlikely.
 
BrotherRockeye said:
44R, 44Spl and 44Mag are different only in length. All work for 44R if you trim a little or trim a lot. When I started loading for 44R there were no commercial cases available. I bought a big batch of 44Spl off the EE and made piles of brass shavings with my old Lyman trimmer. Where there's a will there's a way.
Click to expand...

They do work...but does the brass not thicken as it goes toward the rim? That would make for tough crimping.
I did the same sorta thing with a box of Hornaday 45 Schofield. Presto...455 Eley
 
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