For obvious reasons I have had to buy an RCBS 3 die set for .455 Webley. Sizing/de-capping, expanding and bullet seating die. I have not done any reloading for twenty years and I would like to make up a press just for this calibre. I would like to know if anyone has advice recommendations on on what I should get to set up a press to keep my old Webley shooting?
Webley .455 RCBS Dies /reloading
- Thread starter DATAM
- Start date
Depends on your volume of shooting, time to load and budget.
A single stage will work for lower volumes, a turret for moderate volumes and a progressive for high volume. Cost goes in the same order from lowest to highest cost as production increases. Once this is established, there is good equipment available from several manufacturers including RCBS, which can be bought new or used depending on your preferences and budget.
A single stage will work for lower volumes, a turret for moderate volumes and a progressive for high volume. Cost goes in the same order from lowest to highest cost as production increases. Once this is established, there is good equipment available from several manufacturers including RCBS, which can be bought new or used depending on your preferences and budget.
I used to reload .455 Webley Mk. I and II brass and used Lee dies with no problems encountered. I also loaded for quite a few other hand-gun and rifle calibers, plus 12 gauge.
Having suddenly become older (76), my wife and I sold our house and down-sized, so I no longer have my basement and garage reloading benches but now only reload for 38Spl./357 and 9mm..
I use an inexpensive Lee Reloader single stage press mounted on a piece of plywood, which I C-clamp to a table. I also use the Lee Ram Prime. It makes a small unit, light, very portable and easy to store when not in use
It's slow reloading and a bit fiddly, but as I have lots of brass and shoot mainly at an outdoor range I've got lots of time over the coming winter to be ready for better shooting weather down the road.
Having suddenly become older (76), my wife and I sold our house and down-sized, so I no longer have my basement and garage reloading benches but now only reload for 38Spl./357 and 9mm..
I use an inexpensive Lee Reloader single stage press mounted on a piece of plywood, which I C-clamp to a table. I also use the Lee Ram Prime. It makes a small unit, light, very portable and easy to store when not in use
It's slow reloading and a bit fiddly, but as I have lots of brass and shoot mainly at an outdoor range I've got lots of time over the coming winter to be ready for better shooting weather down the road.
I probably shoot about 500 a year, I tend to use my .45 acp 1911 much more, and .38/357 but I can buy factory ammo for those much easier. Lately the commercial .455 ammo is harder to find, and very expensive. I have five hundred new .455 cases made from .45 Colt resized and trimmed down; and a few hundred Fiocchi cases, but they are weak brass and small pistol primers.
I like the idea of a turret style in case I get back into reloading other calibres; and was told that the RCBS die are compatible with all the brands of press. I'm getting older and don't want to be fiddling around with gear, I would prefer to get it as simple as possible. I don't have any preferences, but when I was reloading a lot I had a Dillon Square Deal B press that was excellent. I am getting older and not shooting as much so I buy commercial ammo for most pistol calibres, only .455 Webley is getting scarce and I need to keep feeding mine. Nostalgia and love of historical guns makes me hold on to the original calibre, I would never shave it. It is a 1916 Mark VI, RCN marked and in excellent condition. When I pass it on, the reloading gear will go with it so it remains functional.
I like the idea of a turret style in case I get back into reloading other calibres; and was told that the RCBS die are compatible with all the brands of press. I'm getting older and don't want to be fiddling around with gear, I would prefer to get it as simple as possible. I don't have any preferences, but when I was reloading a lot I had a Dillon Square Deal B press that was excellent. I am getting older and not shooting as much so I buy commercial ammo for most pistol calibres, only .455 Webley is getting scarce and I need to keep feeding mine. Nostalgia and love of historical guns makes me hold on to the original calibre, I would never shave it. It is a 1916 Mark VI, RCN marked and in excellent condition. When I pass it on, the reloading gear will go with it so it remains functional.
Sounds like a single stage or turret would work well for your needs. 500 rounds a year is easily handled by either, especially since you have enough brass to load your expected volume once a year per case, which means you can spread your loading out into sessions that can be managed with even just a single stage. Batch loading (processing through each step for all the cases in your lot before moving to the next stage) will probably be the easiest and keep it manageable. I’d look hard at a turret, but wouldn’t turn down using a single stage for your volumes.
Thanks TimberPig, I am leaning more that way, but also wondering about the future. I have enough ammo for my rifle shooting sports, but pistol ammo availability worries me, and .45 acp is getting more expensive. That's the dilemma, I am trying to get out on the range more often, and may need to expand reloading down the road; do I invest now, or later, sort of thing.
A turret press, so you can set up the dies in the turret and still able to remove turet/dies and keep out of harm's way when not in use. Plunk the turret back in when you want to reload. Lee Classic Cast Turret.
I used to do this, but really it's so easy to set up dies for these cartridges that I just set them up fresh when i want to reload, it's a 1 minute job. Storage for 20 turret mounted die sets is a PIA.
An interesting fact about the LEE 455 Webley dies: the seating die is same part# as 45 Colt, sizing and flaring dies are same part# as 45acp.
I second the Lee Classic Turret recommendation. It will do all you want and likely outlast you. - dan
