.455 and we need help!

[Drm50]

455 Eley
I have been loading 455 Eley for a S&W and a Colt NS. I use Colt 45 brass cut to
.870" , rim thinned to .042. I am using old Ideal 45/70 mould modified to 272 gr.
Sized to .457" and loaded with 4 1/2 gr. of Unique. This is about 725 fps. This makes
pleasant and accurate load for both guns. I shoot at 25 to 50 ft.
In pic from left is 45 Colt. my 455. 45 S&W .

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Waidmann]

I noticed the Canadian arrow C. A conversion to .45 Colt would slide past a casual look. Have you tried them? A thought, given the sight mod. ?

 

[DWalt]

I noticed the Canadian arrow C. A conversion to .45 Colt would slide past a casual look. Have you tried them? A thought, given the sight mod. ?

from OP's #1: I was given 1 45 Schofield brass and and found the rim thickness and length wrong. When I shortened the brass to 1.00 OAL it slides into the chamber nicely.

 

[Hondo44]

As you can see from the picture, someone filled off the front sight. My thought was to use a period correct blade sight after slotting the base and pinning it in place. What would you suggest?

I plan on pairing the front sight with a reproduction "wondersight".

I'm afraid it appears that your front sight has had more than the blade filed down when compared to the factory sight below. It looks like the sight base has also been lowered and perhaps slotted with a modified blade pressed into place:

 

[830singleshot]

Jim,
I think you are right on the front sight base height. However, there is no dovetail. This gun is strictly a shooter but I want it to look of the period. What front sight(and where can I get one) would you suggest to be paired with a wondersight?
Scott

 

[41 fan]

My Hornady brass measures .755. The case rim measures .034. Dean

 

[Hondo44]

Jim,
I think you are right on the front sight base height. However, there is no dovetail. This gun is strictly a shooter but I want it to look of the period. What front sight(and where can I get one) would you suggest to be paired with a wondersight?
Scott

I agree, no dovetail. It's probably had a slot (a mortise) milled in the remainder of the sight base. If it has a mortise, that will save you some money.

If it were mine I would restore it to the original base height and round blade. Here's how I've done it: Check the auctions for a bulged barrel or piece of cut off barrel with factory front sight. Check with gunsmiths in your area, many have a drawer full of cut off barrels.

I cut the front sight base and blade out of the junk piece of barrel. File off the amount of base that's left on your barrel leaving a tenon the size of the slot in your sight base. Leave the sight a little high. The 455 has one of the tallest blades on N frame hand ejectors. Install and pin in place.

Now sight in the gun with or w/o the Wonder sight. To adjust the front blade height, do not file down the blade, instead, remove from gun and file some more off the base. When it's right, install the pin for good with the ends of the pin polished flush. Polish the seam between existing base and new sight flush. Touch up with Oxpho blue from Brownells.

If done well, it won't even be noticed and will hardly show.

Hope this helps,