I have just bought RCBS dies and a Lee Loader kit. I am interested in knowing what people with experience recommend for a bullet and powder combination for use in a RCN Webley Mark VI .455. (1916 in Excellent condition) I have .455 cases made from 45 Long Colt with large pistol primer pockets; and some Fiocchi cases with small pistol primer pockets.
Webley .455 Recommend a lead bullet and powder
- Thread starter DATAM
- Start date
I use Lyman mould 454190. 255 gr sized to 0.454. Unique with 5 grs and a heavy crimp. Hits point of aim at 25 m.
By site. You can see the amount the case mouth is turned into the bullets crimp groove. I have also tried my 45 a piece taper crimp die with good results. Your dealing with low amounts of unique which doesn’t burn well until it gets to a certain pressure, that’s why the crimp. It holds the bullet back letting the powder build more pressure giving more uniform loads and reducing the fouling on your cases.
I made my cases out of 45 Colt with a length of 0.980. The extra length allows me to us my 45 acp die set. I have close to 50 die sets and didn’t want to go buy another when I knew I could make something work. The problem was the crimp die was to long and not able to crimp the regular 455 cases. When I was roll crimping I used my Lyman 310 tong tool crimper in 45 colt. I now taper crimp my cases with the 45 acp die.
5 grs of unique I use with a 255 gr lead bullet. I consider this a max load.
You may have to experiment a little with your crimp to get conditions right. Start so you can just see the case mouth turn in. If your cases are really dirty you need more crimp.
I tried assorted cast bullets when I started casting and loading for .455 Webley back in the 1980s. Ultimately, I shelled out for the spendy RCBS hollow base bullet that seems to be a replica for the ball round for the .455 Webley. It has given the best results for my both of WWI revolvers in .455 Webley; a Webley and a S&W Triple Lock.
RCBS seems to only do small runs of their mould once in a while. Others apparently offer a similar copy of that bullet, for pretty much the same price. And commercial casters offering a hollow base bullet might be the best option if you don't shoot .455 Webley all that much.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010263378/
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/455-webley-mk2-hollow-base-4-cavity-mold/
This is the RCBS bullet out of the mould, in front of a WWII issue round and one of my reloads in .45 Schofield cases with the rims turned down from the front only as much as necessary, and case length shortened as little as necessary to fit both revolvers. Quite a difference in case length! To the right of the .455 Webley reload, a .40 S&W and 9mm.
The revolvers...
The recoil is sufficiently light enough that I haven't noticed any particular issues with how much crimp is required.
BTW, I abandoned my previous lube selection. Now it's just pure lead bullets, powder coated, loaded, and fired.
RCBS seems to only do small runs of their mould once in a while. Others apparently offer a similar copy of that bullet, for pretty much the same price. And commercial casters offering a hollow base bullet might be the best option if you don't shoot .455 Webley all that much.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010263378/
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/455-webley-mk2-hollow-base-4-cavity-mold/
This is the RCBS bullet out of the mould, in front of a WWII issue round and one of my reloads in .45 Schofield cases with the rims turned down from the front only as much as necessary, and case length shortened as little as necessary to fit both revolvers. Quite a difference in case length! To the right of the .455 Webley reload, a .40 S&W and 9mm.
The revolvers...
The recoil is sufficiently light enough that I haven't noticed any particular issues with how much crimp is required.
BTW, I abandoned my previous lube selection. Now it's just pure lead bullets, powder coated, loaded, and fired.
