For The 455 Webley Reloaders

[BruceHMX]

I am about to start loading for my 455 Webley.

I have a nice stocky of Fiocchi brass on hand. Ordered the dies this am. Found these bullets on line last night. They are referred to as a Navy Wadcutter. Will probably switch to Hornady brass as I hear the Fiocchi is hard to work with in several ways.

250gr lead. I'm planning on using 4.7 gr Unique or 5.2 of Trailboss as that's the rotors I have on hand. Duplicate factory load of 5gr Unique is listed. So I felt the 4.7 will work.

Now for the question for the more experienced reloaders. Could you turn this bullet around and load it with the open end forward? Sort of like a large hollow point. Or as the Brits referred to it as a Manstopper!

Any and all load data you can share would be appreciated.

 

[50 target]

Bruce, I believe loading a hollow base bullet backwards has been done with the 38 with no ill results. HOwever that bullet was all in the case, so don't know if that would have an effect or not. I never tried it as I just wasn't comfortable and figured that if anything could go wrong, for me it would and that skirt would get all out of kilter and I'd ruin a barrel or gun. I think your loads are OK. I was emailing with someone who has a Smith 455 for sale and he stated his reload was 4.5 gr of Unique and a 255 lead round nose and it shot to point of aim. He made mention that the Fiocchi was too warm. I am looking at getting a 2nd Model in 455. Like I need one, right?

Tell us the source of those bullets.

 

[BruceHMX]

Hi name is Bill Benny at [email protected]

That Fiocchi rumor has been going around for a few years on the 455 stuff. It actually comes out around 600 to 650fps. Very safe. The problem with it is the brass is thinner and it takes small primers.

But you do need that 455 haahaaa. Everyone needs one.

I could put the bullet into the case and do a roll crimp on it at the very end like a 38 Special wadcutter.

We'll see. Take Care Bruce

 

[41 fan]

I've got a 2nd model .455 and have been loading for it. Out of my gun, the Fiochi load makes 630 fps. The Hornady ammo makes 575 fps. Using the Remington .45 Colt bullet loaded with 4.5 gr of Unique oal 1.115, I get 680 fps. With 5.2 gr of Unique, I get 785 fps. Using a hard cast 250 LFP and 3.4 gr of Bullseye, I get 575 fps. I use Hornady brass only and Winchester large rifle primers. Dean

 

[Erich]

Neat thread, Bruce - I was reading up on Webleys yesterday and want one now. Good luck, right?

 

[BruceHMX]

Thanks Erich. Webley's & Enfield's are hit and miss. Sometimes there are plenty around a good prices other times well. Kinda like looking for a 38/44.

One good place to check daily is Joe Salter.com He has a Webley section on his website. The 38 S&W's are still the easiest to find. So I recommended to a friend if he needs an immediate fix that's the best bet. Uncut 455's are getting tough to find in really nice shape. But you can still load for one that's been cut to 45acp. Just remember don't shoot 45acp ball in one. Load it down to the 455 specs.

If you have any questions when you find one shoot me some mail. I've been messing with them for years. If I don't know the answer we can find someone who does. Good luck in the search.

 

[Erich]

Thanks, amigo - I don't have money I want to invest at the moment, but I like that Joe Salter lead. I will remember to pester you when I have one in hand!

 

[HKSmith]

I've been reloading .455 for 6 years now (since I picked up a really nice WW I 2nd Model HE from Jim Supica). I've only used Hornady brass and Remington 250 grain swaged bullets (.455 diameter).

Powders have been 4.3 grains W231 (most of my loads), 4.2 grains ZIP, or 4.7 grains Unique. All of these have about the same recoil and muzzle blast as Hornady factory loads, which is very little.

I usually shoot this revolver indoors at 50 feet. Using a 25 yard timed & rapid fire target, I can shoot 100's occasionally and 95-99 the rest of the time. The gun has the officers name engraved on it and I've been able to track down his service record and some other history, which greatly adds to my enjoyment of this piece.

Now I'll have to get some of those Navy wadcutters and give them a try. The one thing I'd be careful of with this round is seating depth - it's a very short case, so I would think pressures would be very sensitive to seating depth. If you invert those hollow base wadcutters, make sure you don't seat them any deeper than a conventional bullet.

 

[BruceHMX]

Got the bullets from Bill Benny. They are really nice, clean and well packaged. He was very prompt on shipping. Loaded them with 4.7gr's of Unique. Seated bullet to last lube ring and gave it a roll crimp.

Fired 5 off the deck and they are very accurate. I'm happy. Now to let my son load the rest over the weekend.

 

[cseatman]

455 webley mark VI revolver

reply to HKSmith i thank god i discovered your post. i will use your specs to reload my new 455 webley mark VI revolver. just purchased from dixiegunworks i found the hornady brass and will order very shortly. just need to get the bullets. i have reloaded for years. even brought back a 45/120 sharps black powder cartridge. brass was very expensive but i have it now. also a 50/70 government which i load also. they are shoulder busters. anyway getting back to your webley loads how long is overall length case and bullet? any info appreciated. thank you. DAVID CARLSON

 

[lebomm]

Bill;
FWIW, your load is a very good representation of the old "manstopper" load. Having the bullet reversed for a monster hollow point would NOT be correct.

Larry

 

[Jack Flash]

Hornady sells a .454" 255 grain lead bullet intended for Cowboy Loads. I bought a bunch of 'em before prices went up so I don't know what they go for now.

I bought a lot of .455 Mark I brass from Buffalo Arms that works really well. It is converted from .45 Colt by shortening it and thinning the rim. Case length is about 0.880" for the Mark I, so you can use a little more powder than you can in the shorter (0.770") Mark II.

Unique is the powder I use as it is the easiest to find load data for. I will not list a charge weight here out of concern that someone might erroneously use that much powder in a Mark II case.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Bill;
Having the bullet reversed for a monster hollow point would NOT be correct.

I'd put money that it would be EFFECTIVE at short range though!

Would someone let me know where to get said bullets or better yet, the mould?

I'd really like to get a mould of the original "manstopper" or "Webley expanding bullet" variety.
Here's an article on them: http://www.marrakai-adventure.com.au/Private/Manstopper_ACCAjournal_107-3_2006_p15_.gif