Finding .455 Webley MKII brass or even loaded ammo is almost impossible. Production is often a once a year event and is sold out ASAP. Cast lead bullets are a bit more plentiful. My question: can 45LC brass be cut down to fit the .455 Webley round. I know the 45LC is at .452-454 and .455 at .455-456. Anybody cut down brass or suggest a way to do this. Your thoughts.
.455 Webley Brass
- Thread starter delta-419
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"Grumpa", a "vendor sponsor" on the Cast Boolits Forum makes .455 from .45 Schofield. This gives a larger diameter rim. Reeds ammo in Tulsa Ok loads .455 commercially and has this brass for sale. Hope this helps..........
The quick answer is that it is possible, but time consuming. You have to cut the brass to length, shave the base from .058" to .035" and deepen the primer pocket. What gun are you looking to load for? The 455 Enfield/Colt bullet is .455" and it is reported that the 455 Webley bullet was .452". For plinking, it would probably work fine, but depending on your gun, the Colt case can split in the 455 S&W revolver, since the brass is slightly smaller diameter. The loaded 45 Colt case will show a perceptible bulge when the original 455 bullet is seated.
Another issue that might be considered is the bullet design. The original bullet was a hollow base variety and when shot the skirt sealed the bore. RCBS made a mould for this bullet, but it is getting hard to find them. I have three 455 S&Ws and all shoot better with the 265 grain HB bullets than .454 RN or WC. I have not tried any HB wad cutter bullets yet.
Another issue that might be considered is the bullet design. The original bullet was a hollow base variety and when shot the skirt sealed the bore. RCBS made a mould for this bullet, but it is getting hard to find them. I have three 455 S&Ws and all shoot better with the 265 grain HB bullets than .454 RN or WC. I have not tried any HB wad cutter bullets yet.
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DWalt
Member
"You have to cut the brass to length, shave the base from .058" to .035" and deepen the primer pocket. "
The standard procedure for thinning a rim under similar circumstances is to do it from the front, not the base, for obvious reasons. The recommended case to use is the .45 Auto Rim, not .45 Colt or Schofield, and the recommended final case rim thickness is 0.039". The recommended trimmed case length is 0.886". .45 ACP dies can be used to reload the reformed cases. However, there may be some problems with the strength of the thinned rim while full-length resizing and priming. I might consider using a manual Lee Loader for resizing and priming for that reason. It might also be a problem in finding a usable shell holder, I don't know about that.
Thinning the rim in the proper way is best done with a small lathe. Although some say it can be done with a drill press and a file, I use a lathe. Fairly easily done (if you have access to a lathe). I have thinned many hundreds of case rims that way.
The standard procedure for thinning a rim under similar circumstances is to do it from the front, not the base, for obvious reasons. The recommended case to use is the .45 Auto Rim, not .45 Colt or Schofield, and the recommended final case rim thickness is 0.039". The recommended trimmed case length is 0.886". .45 ACP dies can be used to reload the reformed cases. However, there may be some problems with the strength of the thinned rim while full-length resizing and priming. I might consider using a manual Lee Loader for resizing and priming for that reason. It might also be a problem in finding a usable shell holder, I don't know about that.
Thinning the rim in the proper way is best done with a small lathe. Although some say it can be done with a drill press and a file, I use a lathe. Fairly easily done (if you have access to a lathe). I have thinned many hundreds of case rims that way.
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OP
.455 Webley
Thanks for the information. I bought a S&W .455 Webley MKII on line and a MKII cylinder bored out to 45LC from a forum member. Finish on the cylinder matches the refinished blue on the Smith. I will be able to shoot both rounds without much effort. I did manage to find a small amount of .455 brass and some cast lead hollow base cone bullets. I also have a good supply of 45AR brass and a neighbor (fellow gun hawk) with a lath. Appreciate your input and comments. This will be a continuation of my long education is shooting!
Thanks for the information. I bought a S&W .455 Webley MKII on line and a MKII cylinder bored out to 45LC from a forum member. Finish on the cylinder matches the refinished blue on the Smith. I will be able to shoot both rounds without much effort. I did manage to find a small amount of .455 brass and some cast lead hollow base cone bullets. I also have a good supply of 45AR brass and a neighbor (fellow gun hawk) with a lath. Appreciate your input and comments. This will be a continuation of my long education is shooting!
scattershot
Member
Would .45 Cowboy brass work? It's a shortened .45 Colt case, and is the same length as a .45ACP. There are commercial vendors for it, although I can't recall any at the moment.
Qc Pistolero
Member
One of my friend bought 100 from Starline.He says that the rim is thinner than specs but otherwise they are fine.But expect a heavy premium$$ compared to say .45Colt brass.I've cast him some RN 230 bullets out of pure lead+2% SN that come out at .4545'' and it shoots POA at 20 yds.Groups are acceptable(3''to 4'' offhand) for such an old lady.
Qc
Qc
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