Webley-Wilkinson 1888

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burnt45

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Hey guys,
I finally got my old 455 fixed and want to try it out. Do any of you know of someone in the Ottawa area that would have ammo for this? I'd like a box of 50 rounds...... what's the going price?... and, do I need to call my bank?:eek:

Thanks!
 
I'm not an expert on the old Webleys but I believe the gun you have will use the Mk I cartridge. The modern stuff being make by Fiochhi is the Mk II - its a shorter cartridge but runs at higher pressures. I think you'll really want to handload for the older guns. Also, the new Fiochhi ammo runs about $60 for a box of 50 so handloading will make sense from a financial point of view if you plan on shooting more than once a year.
 
You will also probably find that the original shape slugs with a long tapered nose and a hollow base will shoot considerably more accurately than ones with a round nose and solid base. If you are worried about pressure just load with 3F black powder.

cheers mooncoon
 
Thanks guys.
I'm not much of a loader but I do have a primative Lee machine. But I still need brass, bullets and dies.
I never realized there were 2 different versions for the 455, Mark I and II. Up to what vintage of gun would the Mark I be used?
Mooncoon: can I use 3F pyrodex?
 
burnt45 said:
Thanks guys.
I'm not much of a loader but I do have a primative Lee machine. But I still need brass, bullets and dies.
I never realized there were 2 different versions for the 455, Mark I and II. Up to what vintage of gun would the Mark I be used?
Mooncoon: can I use 3F pyrodex?
Click to expand...

Pyrodex can produce wicked presures if you dont know what your Doing.
Post a picture of the Wilkinson you have that would help ive had about 4 of them.
I agree Fiochhi 455 is to hot to risk in a wilkinson of ANY type thats Antique.

You can load fine with your Lee hand tool but id just shoot a 4 gr Unique load.
Its clean.

LEE stuff is all good ya dont need the Expensive equipment to reload.
But 4 grs of unique in the short or long Webley cases wont hurt your gun if the cylinder is in decent condition.
use about a 250 Gr to 265 HB bullet.

Keith type bullets or any lead .454 Dia Bullets will work to get ya started around 250 gr weight.

This is all based on your gun locking up decent and being in good condition ;)
 
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Thanks Dingus.
Here's a pic of the old fella... someone told me it was a 1888, ser # is 10,###.

455Webley002.jpg
[/IMG]
 
You can also use blue dot as it is slower than unique. I use 5.8grs -6.0grs of blue dot and a 255 gr bullet in the shorter MKII cases as it is hard to fire up in the longer ones and a good crimp.
 
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burnt45 said:
Thanks Dingus.
Here's a pic of the old fella... someone told me it was a 1888, ser # is 10,###.

455Webley002.jpg
[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Thats a Beauty mine were 1892s.
Dont be fooled into thinking that them Locking Arms arnt Strong they Are.
You can shoot either DEZs loads or 4.5 grs of unique in that gun if the guns locks up good and has pit free Chambers. (they all have a little play at the Latch and hinge) but there one of the best made Webleys.

Thats a Webley No 4 Frame bought from Webley by Wilkinson and Worked on by Wilkinson.
I have shot 5 grs of Trail boss in a shortened 45 Schofoield case in a Webley No 4 Pryse.
if ya use shortened 45 Colt / Schofield cases ya need to thin the forward side of the rims and shorten the Casses (but it works fine if you dont or cant get any 455 Cases ;)

Very nice gun!
 
It locks up solid as a bear-trap. There is a little play in the cylinder... maybe 1/32". The chambers are clean with a bit of 'frosting' for about 1/4" at the bullet end.
As for all this trimming and shortening cases,... well, I'm gonna have to leave that to you pro's, cause I'm a bit reloading-challenged. I guess I'll keep looking for the Mark I or II cases.
Thanks again guys.
 
Today, a buddy gave me a Dominion .455 Colt round,... the case is .883" long, and has the tapered bullet. Is this the Mark I or II?
Is the length of the case the only way to tell, or does the stamp mean anything; ie. Colt, Webley, Eley...?
 
Mk II cases should be fine, even if your gun has the Mk I chamber. I believe the Hornady brass is Mk II.

As for bullets, RCBS makes a mould duplicating the 265 grain bullet. For commercially available bullets, I would use cast bullets intended for .45 Colt, preferably sized to match your cylinder throat dimensions if you can find a caster who can do that.
 
A fellow gunnut gave me a handful of mixed ammo(thanks R.C) and I finally tried the old girl out..... pretty good thumper, all things considered.
Now, some of the ammo is milsurp, and I was wondering if it can be reloaded.... when you look into the empty case there's 2 flash-holes instead of one, so it can't be deprimed normally.
Is there a way I can re-use em? Drill them out?
 
I have a berdan primer extractor but if it is not set up just right, it buggers the shells up beyond use. Those berdan shells that I have reloaded, I used a small punch something like a miniature cold chisel or a engraving graver and drove it in to one side of center then popped the primer out. Your next problem however is that you have to have the correct primer to replace it with and they vary in both diameter and thickness. Your best bet is to scrap them.

cheers mooncoon
 
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