Yesterday evening i had the chance to shoot my .455 with Dani's special-made handloads. The bullet was very light and the diameter with .452 a bit to small for the throats, but FMJ in 454 would be a to big pill for the barrel of this old warhorse. The next loads will be made with heavier pure lead or synthetic coated lead bullets. But still in .452. With the heavier pill comes the point of impact up, and this is necessary. Then i will decide if i had to load .454 bullets.

Here the results of the first shooting. It's big fun to shoot that old iron.

The first shot was fired at the 50 meter-range


Then i let the frontsight a bit more over the fix rearsight and make another 3 shot serie.


The last rounds were fired at the 25 meter target. I did this supported to check the accuracy of the gun. I was really impressed what this gun can do. OK.... Dani will say that its the ammo, not the gun.

Standard-Primer and 4.6 grains of Accurate Arms Powder #2 - says Dani. Using of all datas is at your own risk.
Swissman

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Swissman: Great photography! Nice that you have a good place to shoot, and be able to document how that old warhorse works.

PJGP: Thanks for the info. I have a couple of the "British" marked guns, and since they were of the right serial numbers and lettered by Roy to England, I must have leaped (Lept?) to a conclusion unsupported by data. . My bad, and thanks for the correction!

MikeyL
S&WCA #2010

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. It's inherent value is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill

Great report and photos Swissman! Thank you for participating in this forum. It's always nice to read your posts.

Really neat thread! If anybody's interested in a really clean .455 HE shoot me an email and I'll give you the dealer that has one right now. It's in about 90% finish condition (or better) and mechanically, it's excellent.

Email: detwd114 at yahoo dot com

Wayne,
Is it a 1st or 2nd model? Have british proofs?
Thx,
Jim

The first handloads are finished. I plan to try them this sunday. I load them very carefull and hope, that i don't produce a stucking bullet. All bullets got the .452 diameter. I used CCI Large Pistol-Primers. Dani's work of changing the .45 Colt-cases into ".455 Webley long" in his shop, is well worth a small video. But hey, i got only two hands!!!





Swissman

Here are the first results. I think that the 300 grainer will be my first choice. But i'll try the 230 grain lead bullets anyway. The powderload was very very small for all combinations. I'll try .5 grain more the next time.









Swissman

Swissman, Thank you for very thorough report and interesting pictures. By the way, that's a very nice old S&W - shooting exactly as it was designed to do. Makes you kinda happy, doesn't it!

Thanks,

Jerry

Very nice! There's something aobut those old S&W that I love.


Here's my old warhorse. According to S&W it left the factory on march 29, 1916. She's still a heck of a good shooter as well.

quote:

and have a beer.

Swissman

What?? There's beer here? Who's holding out!??
Just kidding.

That really is a beautiful 455, and some pretty good shooting, too!

Here are the next ammo-tryouts.



Point of aim was always center. Except the first @25 Meters with Load#6. I hold the sight under the bullseye. The point of impact was close the the point of aim, so i changed to center. It look much better than the first series. The recoil was nice but not on the hard side. I see potential for the 300 grainer and the 311 grainer. The 230 grainer is not build for this gun.

All groups were made unsupported in standing position.



Swissman

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