.455 Webley HE 2d Model

[JP@AK]

I have a chance to play around with a Second Model HE .455. Serial number is 44xxx. It is in pretty decent shape, all original except someone has cut the front sight so it has a square notch on the back side, more or less giving it a Patridge type sight picture. Also, the lanyard loop is missing (hole not plugged). I'm not sure of the proof markings, but my guess is it was in one of the Canadian shipments. It does not appear to be one that was surplussed from England.
Now, here's where I need some help.
My friend supplied some ammo, but it is a mixed bag. In the eleven or so reloading manuals I own, there is no loading data at all for the Webley cartridge. I'm wondering if any of you can help identify some cartridges for this revolver.
Here is a breakdown of what I have in front of me:

Headstamp = DC 44 455 VI (I assume Mil Spec MK VI from 1944)
OAL = 1.24"
CL = .75"
no extractor groove, very thin rim
Bullet = 266 gr, hollow base, fmj
Powder = very fine flake, grey in color
(The odd thing here is the powder appears to be nitro-cellulose, but one source I found said the headstamp should be VIz, unless the ammo was loaded with cordite. Perhaps later in the war they were less meticulous about this. Also, the weight of the bullet seems to be off by one grain.)

Headstamp = Dominion 455 Colt
OAL = 1.355"
CL = .88"
no extractor groove, very thin rim
Bullet = 265 gr, hollow base, LRN (swaged)
Powder = very fine flake, grey w/ distinct greenish tinge

Headstamp = Dominion 455 Colt
OAL = 1.34"
CL = .875"
no extractor groove, very thin rim
Bullet = 253.5 gr, flat base, flat round nose (cast w/ two lube grooves)
Powder = large flat flakes, dark grey
I suspect these are someone's handloads. The powder appears to be newer, the bullet is cast and lubed, and the primer cup is silver in color, not bronze in color like the first two cartridges I've listed above. Moreover, the inside of the case shows evidence of powder having been burned in it at one time. This is different than the other two rounds. Those cases appeared to be virgin, once the bullet was pulled and the powder removed.

Any feedback would be gratefully received.
Thanks,
Jack

PS - I know everyone wants photos. If I decide to try to become the new owner of this gun, perhaps I can take some pics and post them for you. But right now, I'm more focused on getting some lead down the barrel. I'd like to know a bit more about this ammo before I go any farther.

 

[Jack Flash]

If you post the markings, someone here can help decipher them. But since the ammo is your main concern, I will address that as best I can. All the headstamps are Canadian.

Taking the last one first:
I'll bet that you are right about those with the cast bullet being someone else's handloads. The standard rule is do not shoot handloads of unknown origin, which I would advise you to follow. You obviously know how to break them down, and that's just what I would do. Break them down and salvage the components if you want to. Or give them back to your friend with a "thanks but no thanks!"

Now the first one:
Headstamp = DC 44 455 VI (I assume Mil Spec MK VI from 1944)
OAL = 1.24"
CL = .75"
That is the shorter case length that first appeared as the .455 Revolver Mark II cartridge. The "DC" indicates it was produced at the Dominion Cartridge Co. Ltd., Brownsburg, Québec, Canada. (I found this on this website: Headstamp Codes - International Ammunition Association )

Why it is VI and not VIz I can only speculate:
Since the cartridge was produced in Canada, not England, perhaps the Canadians did not follow the same conventions(?) and just developed a suitable load using their own indigenous powder(?)

I would not be surprised that the bullet weight is off by a gram. I'm sure that is well within the manufacturing tolerances for ammo produced today, let alone for war-time production.

The second one:
Headstamp = Dominion 455 Colt
OAL = 1.355"
CL = .88"
Produced at Dominion Ammunition Division, Canadian Industries Ltd, Montreal, Quebec Canada.

That is the Mark I case length. Commercial production of this round was known as ".455 Colt" in Canada and the US, so I would assume this was made for the civilian market.

Fiocchi and Hornady (I believe) currently manufacture Mk II ammunition. Components are also available, if a little hard to find. You can find loading information in old Lyman Manuals (I have one from the early '60s). I can go into hand loading a little more if you are interested.