Source for .455 Webley Boolits

[sfhogman]

An Anglophile friend just got a Webley revolver in .455 (455 Eley, I believe) and now wants to reload for the thing- we've sourced cases, recipes, etc. Everything he needs but lead bullets. He doesn't want to cast his own, and I ain't gonna do it for him.

Does anyone know of a source of lead bullets for these old guns? By the way, this gun has not been modified to shoot .45 ACP. It really is a neat old gun.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Jim Watson]

The Remington .45 Colt bullet is a swaged, hollowbase .454" that ought to give him a chance. I have tried to get my friend with the .455 W.G. to try them, but he has pretty much made that nice old gun a proverbial safe queen.

 

[rcmodel]

The .455 Webley used .454" dia bullets.
You should be fine with .454" 250 grain bullets for the .45 LC.
http://www.meisterbullets.com/asccustompages/products.asp?cartID=&affID=&categoryid=22&navParent=0

3.5 grains of Bullseye should give you about 710 fps with a 250 gr. bullet.

Factory load was a 265 @ 600 fps.

For that, you could load a 255 - 260 grain .45LC bullet over 5.0 grains Unique for 610 fps.

Don't try to hot-rod it in any way, as Webleys will not take any excess pressure without loosening up the henge & latch rather quickly!


rcmodel

 

[Jim Watson]

Agree with that last.
Webleys converted to .45 ACP/AR are being proof tested every shot; the ACP is that much higher pressure than .455. The Mk VI is a good stout gun but nothing is going to hold up to a steady diet of 30% overloads. And the earlier marks are not as strong.

 

[MikeG]

I handload for my converted Webley. Either .45ACP cases in half moon clips or .45 Auto Rim cases. Either one uses lead bullets and a load extrapolated down to safe levels. The .45 ACP has a SAAMI spec of 21,000cup, .45AR 15,000cup and the .455 Webley about 12,000cup. They're great revolvers, but their age and design has to be respected.

 

[sfhogman]

Thanks very much!

Jeff