First 2020 gun and it’s a Smith. Unaltered cylinder still original 455. No caliber markings? Came with forced fit k frame grips? Any thoughts on reloading for 455? Serial #223xx

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Unless you are going to shoot this a lot Midway USA stocks these. If you do decide to reload keep it mild because of the lack of heat treatment. Starline has brass and Missouri Bullet Co. makes .455 bullets. My .455/45 Colt conversion doesn't shoot well with anything but the .455 diameter projectiles.

Very nice century old revolver (except the stocks).

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Nice, looks to be in very good condition. More pictures might help folks here provide more information. Serial number? Early guns, as I remember, didn't have caliber stamped on the barrel, my two do. Are there other stamps; right side of gun or back of grip frame? Sometimes those additional stamps allow identifying where the gun may have gone and what unit may have used it. Most of these went to Britain and some to Canada although since they served in two world wars many went to far flung reaches of the British Empire. One of mine is stamped with the 5th Military District of Australia indicating it was there for WWII. Can't help with the reloading question although I do have a few boxes of Fiocchi set aside for the range one of these days.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Starline has MkII brass. If you want the MkI brass that your gun was designed for , here you go:

455 Colt Cases∗ .890" - Buffalo Arms

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Fiocchi ammo is very good and a lightly loaded cartridge and will work fine in your revolver. Velocities average 622 fps out of my 455s. Forgort to mention that buying the Fiocchi ammo is the best option, even if reloading. Buffalo Arms cost $33 for 50 brass, so almost as much as the loaded ammo. The cartridge reloads fine and I have loaded mine several times.

I have an RCBS hollow-base 455 mold that throws original style bullets. They shoot much better than any solid-base bullet that I have tried.

As mentioned above, the stocks on your revolver are from the 1930s, up to WWII, but it would be interesting to know if they are serial numbered? I would assume that many 455s used in WWII might have been re-arsenaled before the war and maybe the stocks were changed at that time.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Buffalo arms also lists hollow based .45 bullets of 250 and 265gr wt.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

And so did this one, at least initially; looks like standard Enfield acceptance marks and crossed-pennant proof.

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Fiocci is not very accurate in mine. The jump to the throat is quite a bit with MkII. But they do go bang, although anemically.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

This thread will help you date when your 455 shipped based on its serial #. Go to post #223 for the latest updated database info:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...ch-thread.html

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Jim
S&WCA #819

[ No other stamps.

QUOTE=Absalom;140635346]And so did this one, at least initially; looks like standard Enfield acceptance marks and crossed-pennant proof.

[/QUOTE]

Great revolver, glad to hear you're interested in reloading for it. I got mine in 2005 from Jim Supica and have been reloading for it ever since. I use Hornady MK II brass (no longer available) and Remington 250 grain swaged lead bullets (intermittently available from Midway). These are 0.455 diameter and have a shallow hollow base. They are very accurate over 4.5 grains of HP-38 in my revolver. I've also used the Hornady 255 grain bullet which is 0.454 diameter. I'd use Starline brass if I were buying brass now. These bullets have the flat nose .45 Colt profile; if you want the traditional long round nose design several commercial casters offer it (Matt's and Western Bullets come to mind).

My revolver has the officers name engraved on it and I was able to track down his war record - very interesting bit of history. Enjoy your new find.

If I remember correctly the British military spec'ed all of the revolvers to have the chambers cut to MKI length even though that cartridge was replaced by the MKII in 1897 which was replaced by the MKIV in 1912 then resurrected in late 1914.

50 rounds of bullets/brass from Buffalo is just a few $ less than a box of factory ammo.

If you can find an old Lyman Reloading Manual from the early '60s, they have data on this round. Also see Ken Waters Pet Loads for a lot of information & data.

I like the Winchester .45 Colt cases modified to correct Mark I length and rim thickness I bought from Buffalo Arms a few years back. I see they use Starline cases now and they are a lot more expensive ($62/100). Then I found some boxes of NOS .455 Colt (Mark I length) made by Dominion in Canada at a gun show for $25/50. So you never know.

Midway's Starline Mark II cases have been mentioned, and I see they go for $47.50/100 + shipping. Probably the best deal if you don't insist on using the longer Mark I case.

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You're shy a few manners.

You remember exactly right!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The Cowboy ammo companies produce 45 Schofield with Starline and Black Hills Ammo cases. Both good cases. They only need to be trimmed ~.100" in length for MKI loading. And you won't get into the thick sidewall of the 45 Colt cases that can bulge when bullets are seated.

The rims are slightly larger in diameter than 45 Colt and depending on which brand shell holder one uses, may need a 44-40 shell holder. Or they can be trimmed back at the same time the rim is thinned for the 455 headspace.

The cases sold for 455 MKII are actually produced to that length, not cut down 45 Colt. They're head stamped 45 Colt because they're made for the 45 Colt Cowboy Special cartridges.

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Jim
S&WCA #819