In need of shooting ammo until I get my own casting setup going.

TAXMAN6 · #1 08-24-2011, 04:58 PM

I have a question for the experienced handgun reloader. I have a .455" Webley Mark V1 that loves to shoot 265 GN RN HB bullets. This gun is unaltered. I have several hundred bullets that are perfect shape, right diameter, right hardness, but they range in weight from 270 gns to 315 gns. Several are 273 gns. My question is what range could this gun tolerate using the same powder load. I don't want to change load for every bullet weight fluctuation. For example is a range of 265 gns to 273 gns exceptable ? This is an 8 gn spread. I normally
use 4.3 gns of Unique or 4.5 gns of Herco powder. And would accuracy suffer ? thanks guys

Rule3 · #2 08-24-2011, 05:07 PM

Most ammo can be loaded to the next higher weigh bullet if info is not available for the lower weight

So for your example the load for the 315 gr bullet would be the one I would use. You will just gain more velocity with the lighter weight ones. As in most calibers the heavier bullets use a bit less powder than the lighter ones. For that weight(s) bullet I do not think 8grs is much.

Now as a disclaimer, I do not load this caliber so there may be some quirks I am not aware of.

I have loaded 45 ACP, 44 Mag and 45 Colt with data for heavy bullets for lighter ones.

Dragon88 · #3 08-24-2011, 06:08 PM

I would be comfortable with an eight grain spread in this case. Will that include most of your bullets? Accuracy may be slightly affected, but I doubt it will be too bad. Whatever your final spread of weights is, set your powder charge as if you are loading for the heaviest bullet.

TAXMAN6 · #4 08-24-2011, 08:56 PM

I intend to only use the 265 to 273 gn from the whole batch. The rest I intend to send back. So i will use all the bullets in the 265 to 273 gn range at my usual charge, I should be ok.

41 fan · #5 08-25-2011, 07:17 PM

I have been loading for a .455 for some time now. I use Remington 250 gr. swaged 45 Colt bullets with 4.5 gr. of Unique powder for 680 fps. The same bullet with 5.2 gr. of Unique gives 785 fps. Both were loaded ot an overall length of 1.114. I have loaded Action Bullets 250 gr. RNFP bullets with 3.4 gr. of Bullseye for 575 fps. These bullets were sized to .454.
The Hornady factory 455 cartridges made 575 fps and the Fiochi made 630. All loads were fired in my HE 455 with its 6.5 inch barrel. Dean