One of My 455s Goes To The Range

[470Evans]

I have been fortunate to pick up two Smith's and three Colt's in this caliber. I don't know why but for some reason I find it a great caliber to play with.

My goal with all of them is the same, to get them to shoot to POA and to shoot a reasonable group.

I have tried multiple bullets and several different powders and so far have been able to get them all to be respectable shooters.

I have had the best success with the Lyman 454424 and the RCBS SAA 270 SWC. I have tried the original Webley style bullet but they haven't worked very well.

I recently posted about my newest Smith acquisition a few weeks ago asking if the forum thought it had been refinished. It was a gun coming up in an auction and I was able to get it for a fair price.

When I got the gun I took it apart and cleaned it then proceeded to the range with several load combinations that have worked well for me with other ones.

I think I have settled on a decent load that shoots to the POA and is a reasonable group for this one.

One thing I edited this post to add is I believe it is important to size the bullets to the chamber. I measure the chambers with - pin gauges. The Smith's measure .457 and .458 respectively and the Colt's have all measured .456. I cast the bullets form 16-1 alloy, powder coat them and then size them to .456.

I USE A SUPPLY OF DOMINION 455 MKI CASES SO IF YOU ARE USING THE MORE COMMON, SHORTER 455 MKII CASES YOU WILL NEED TO REDUCE THE POWER CHARGE. AS ALWAYS, MY DATA WORKED IN MY GUNS, PLEASE CONSULT A LOADING MANUAL FOR YOUR RELOADING.

 

[Dave_n]

I do not know if they are still around bu about 3 years ago I was able to pick up the correct 265 calibre 0.455 bullets from Jet Bullets in Alberta, Canada. It might be worth checking and then if lucky, you could make the "correct cartridge for those "oldsters." Dave_n

 

[DGNY]

To the OP. Thank you for sharing this handsome .455 and your exceptionally skillful target. Wow, for an open sighted earlier model, that is fine work. Also appreciated your well articulated reloading journey to success.

Wish my (after-market) target sighted 1917 S&W or my Colt 1917 were that agreeable to high hopes and my modest talent.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Lovely .455.

 

[6string]

The 2nd model HE .455 that I had shot similarly, using much the same loads and techniques.
Yes, the 454424 bullet is a great choice. Mine did well with a 452383 (light target SWC) that I used at "as-cast" diameter .455-456", depending on alloy.
I also used Canadian-made Dominion brass (sold as .455 Colt).
But, I got just as good, or better, results using converted 45 Colt brass. I turned the rims to .044" and trimmed them so the case mouth was just shy of the chamber throats. This resulted in a cartridge that was a tad bit longer than the Dominion brass. The idea was to get the driving band of the bullet just started into the chamber throats. It worked very well.

I never found the Webley style hollow base bullet to shoot well at all.