.455 Webley Brass

Thanks for the heads up. Neglected to invest in Hornady brass when they made it.
 
This is great!

Now if I could only find a mold for that 262 grain long nosed bullet for that round, I would be in business. I have load data for it as well as two Colt New service revolvers chambered for it.
 
How about that!
I contacted Starline almost 20 years ago to try and convince them to make 455 brass.
But, honestly,
I find the best stuff is that you make yourself. S&W 2nd model Hand Ejectors have fairly long chambers, even a bit long for the 455 Colt ammo that C.I.L. Dominion made in Canada. (Note: this was the best factory brass for 455 I've personally used, even with the balloon head.)
I find it best to determine chamber length, then cut down 45 Colt brass to perhaps .010-.020" under that length. Of course, you have to account for the amount needed to thin the rim in the process. Standard specs state the 455 uses a .040" rim, but I find .045" gives enough clearance and probably gives a bit of a benefit accuracy-wise by tightening up headspace.
Anyhow, it's a lot of extra work, but you can customize your brass to fit your cylinder.

Nonetheless, it'll be nice to see some good factory 455 brass. I hope they use a large primer pocket and don't repeat Fiocchi's mistake of using a small primer.

Thanks for the note!
Jim
 
Now if I could only find a mold for that 262 grain long nosed bullet for that round, I would be in business. I have load data for it as well as two Colt New service revolvers chambered for it.

RCBS makes one. Midway has it in stock. I got one when the last time RCBS made a batch. It is a hollow base bullet and it works well in all my .455 revolvers. BTW the Starline brass has the large primer pockets.

RCBS 1-Cavity Bullet Mold 45-265-RN-HB 455 Webley (455 - MPN: 57947
 
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.455 Brass

Thanks for the "heads up"! I ordered a box of 250 to add some extra brass to the 200 rounds of factory ammo from Midway USA that I bought last month. A Forum member suggested that Starline Brass in .45 Schofield would also work for the MKII. It does! I just made up 50 rounds and they cycle thru the MKII without issue. 262 gr cast lead bullets are available from Lee's Ammo in OK. Now to the range.
 
My Bad

Old Tanker beat me to it. I had to go search my records. I must have been having a "Senior Moment" when I said Lee's. Sorry about that! The bullets are well done with hollow base as they were in WWI. Good shooting!
 
Much thanks to you two gentlemen.

Old tanker and Delta. lately I have only been able to shoot my two Colt new service revolvers very sparingly. The Fiochi loaded ammo is pretty pricey. That will change now.

I got these two New services a few years ago. They are a lot nicer than they look in the photo although I guess that they were nickel plated at some point. The firearms owners permit circa 1951 in the UK. It also has the receipt for the purchase of the guns from an "Iron monger" for the princely sum of four pounds Sterling.
 

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I have no .455 revolvers, and so do not reload that caliber. But if I did, am I correct in assuming that .45 ACP or .45 Colt dies would work?
 
I have no .455 revolvers, and so do not reload that caliber. But if I did, am I correct in assuming that .45 ACP or .45 Colt dies would work?

It would be a mix and match affair for best results. I'd stick with the 45 colt for the sizer die. The ACP is a few thousandths smaller at the base. Expanding, seating, and crimp dies can be 45 acp/ar.

I believe this is what Lee 455 webley die sets are.
 
Jet Bullets in Alberta sell the 265 bullet and they are quite reasonable. Works out at ~0.30 US per head. They come in 200 head packets and the major cost is the shipping. I ordered some four weeks ago and they came from Alberta to PA in under a week. The cases I have a reasonable stock of (Hornady, Fiocchi and some Australian). A few years ago I picked up three circular shims that were 0.028" thick and had six holes for the cases, plus a centre hole. These fit over the rear of a cut 0.455 cylinder and allow shooting 0.455 cases in a cut Webley. Since only one of my four Webley MK VIs and two Enfield MK VIs are "pristine" these help. Normally I use 0.45 AR cases plus a 0.454" 250 grain lead flat point head. Will be nice to have those old warhorses with "proper ammo again!" Dave_n
 
RCBS periodically sells die sets for .455 Webley.

I have a set. It is RCBS part # 56585

Group H, and uses shell holder #31

Hope this helps.
 
It has been a while so I am not sure if it was Brownells or Midway.

But it was one of the two. They only do limited runs of them so they are not always available. Funny that you mention the Lee dies as being inferior. I only have one set of Lee dies. I use them for .300 H&H magnum which I shoot quite a bit of. I have never had any problems with them that were not caused by operator error.
 

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