Webley Mark II ammo. for the Mark VI revolver

T

thtwit

Inactive
I have a Webley MK IV, an original un-cut revolver in very good condition. I've had it examined by a trusted gunsmith and he has given it clean bill of health. It had just about became a 'closet queen' due to the price of ammo. for the Webley.
That changed yesterday!
A buddy and I had gone to a gun show, looking to add to our military surplus rifles and parts. However I came across a fellow who was selling FIOCCHI Ammo. and asked if there was a remote chance that he might have some .455 ammo. for a MK. VI revolver? To my surpise he said "Yes I do and I need to get rid of it, I've been stuck with it for almost three years" Had he stopped talking after the first three words, he would have made several more dollars! :D I will not deliberately cheat anyone in a 'mule trade' but I have no problem at all in letting them cheat themseve's if they are so inclined? After several minutes of haggling back and forth over how many 50 rd. boxes he had and how many I wanted or would buy? With him plying his calculator at a dizzying pace constantly. I ended up buying all he had at a really attractive price. I didn't realize just how attactive until I re-checked prices on the web today. I was shocked as I had not looked in over a year. On top of that every site I found was "out of stock".
I now have more than enough brass to reload once I shoot this ammo up? Which will start tomorrow weather permitting.
I am looking for published reloading data for the webley MK. VI? Any help on where to find this information would be appreciated.
Thanks, thtwit
 
First of all, you've got conflicting information in your post. Is your revolver a Mk. IV (Mark Four) or Mk. VI (Mark Six)? If it's the later mark, it's perfectly fine to shoot the Fiocchi ammo in but if it's an earlier mark, you're best to stick with handloads using black powder. While the Mk. IV .455 was the first Webley of that caliber to be used with smokeless powder, it was really marginal in strength even for the primitive smokeless powders of the time (the Mk. IV was introduced in 1899). The only .455 military-issue Webleys that I would consider OK for a steady diet of smokeless powder are the Mk. V (introduced 1913) and the Mk. VI (introduced 1915).

Assuming your gun is suitable for smokeless powder, I think that Lee .455 Webley dies may come with some reloading data (I don't currently own or reload for this cartridge so I'm not entirely sure of that). If you still need help, you might see if you can't find something in an old loading manual or on one of the various fora dedicated to military surplus weapons, particularly those specializing in British guns.

I can also recommend a component bullet. Remington makes a 250gr LRN which is of the proper .455" diameter and also has a slightly concave base which will obturate to grip the rifling. This bullet will probably give you the best accuracy of anything readily available short of casting your own.
 
It is also possible to use and shoot .455 Colt ammuntion/brass in suitable .455 Webley revolvers- the .455 Colt is just shorter and typically has a lighter bullet, as it was made for pocket pistols.

I bought 400 pcs of .455 Colt Canuck brass made in Canada a while back...it was likely made in the 1950's or 1960's, as it had the original boxes with it. I shoot .455 in my S&W Canadian HE chambered for the cartridge.
 
Actually, .455 Colt is simply another name for the .455 Revolver Mk. I cartridge which is the older blackpowder cartridge used for, among others, Webley Mk. I-III revolvers (it's also sometimes called .455 Eley). Also, it is the Mk. II cartridge which was shortened, .455 Colt/Mk. I cases are approximately 1/10 of an inch longer.
 
I learned something new. All I knew was, it was shorter than the currently available Fiocchi .455 Webley, and there were several versions of the cartridge with minor differences.
 
Hornady now makes Mark 2 (the short ones if i messed up name) cartridges, brass and bullets. Graph and Sons carries them, as well as fiocchi. The bullets are soft hollow base 265 grainers if memory serves.
 
Webley "MARK SIX"

OOPS! I thought sure I had proof read accurately, it is definately a VI.
Thanks to all for your responses. Some good info.
thtwit
 
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