Webley Mk VI question

[218bee]

Been pondering a Webley I came across, its a MkVI and its been cut for 45acp/auto rim. Anyone have experience with these and what would be a typical bore dia.??? I would be just shooting cast in the old gal if I did pick it up. I know many were converted but was wondering if the "typical" goove is .452 or .454.
I know someone here shoots them so what say ye??

[Grapeshot]

Been pondering a Webley I came across, its a MkVI and its been cut for 45acp/auto rim. Anyone have experience with these and what would be a typical bore dia.??? I would be just shooting cast in the old gal if I did pick it up. I know many were converted but was wondering if the "typical" goove is .452 or .454.
I know someone here shoots them so what say ye??

I'm glad you are not shooting factory .45 ACP out of this old war horse. Bullet diameter is a **** shoot. I suggest you slug your bore, you might find that the .454 inch diameter will work the best. IIRC RCBS had a mold for the .455 Webly, 265 grains and .454 diameter. The best boolits were soft lead with a hollow base. I imagine 20:1 Lead Tin allow would work well. Good luck and keep the powder charges in the starting end of .45 ACP loads. Those old Webly's were not made to be shot with blue pill loads as a constant diet.:cbpour:

[218bee]

I dont have it yet....but if I did pick it up would slug bore and go from there.
Just wonderin if a couple guys have one what their bores turned out to be.
Yeah, I'm not gonna magnamize it thats for sure.
I think a 250gr at 700-800 would be about right.

[atr]

Man O Man !
I passed up a beauty a few years back and wish I hadn't. If you don't buy it send the seller over in my direction.

[Dutchman]

Just wonderin if a couple guys have one what their bores turned out to be.

I shot Hornady Cowboy 255 gr .454" swaged in mine. I also shot cast .452".



Yeah, I'm not gonna magnamize it thats for sure.
I think a 250gr at 700-800 would be about right.

You're already into magnum territory with those numbers in a Webley.

The MkVI cartridge of 1939 was a 265 gr jacketed bullet @ 620 fps. That was the standard service load. This info from "The Webley Story" by Dowd.

http://images28.fotki.com/v1004/photos/2/28344/157842/webley2-vi.jpg

http://images38.fotki.com/v1278/photos/2/28344/157842/Britishbullets2-vi.jpg

[218bee]

Dutchman...thanks for the above pics..I could not find the dia. of an original boolit.
I was thinkin my velocity was in ball park but looks like I may be wrong.
What powder did you use and what velocity were you getting??

[Dutchman]

I used Unique. Don't know the velocity as I never chronographed it.

With firearms of questionable strength I don't share load data with people I don't know. It's not good policy.

Dutch

[Dave_n]

In my cut Webley and Enfield MkVIs (yes there were 26000 Enfields made in 0.455), I use 0.454 255 grain lead FPs that run at just about 630 fps out of 0.45 AR cases, and the same bullet, speed out of 0.455 Hornady cases for uncut SW MkII and Webley MkVI. Do not use regular 0.45 ACP loads, they are close to proof loads for these Webleys. Dave_n

[218bee]

If I do get it I'd use the auto rim cases also..I understand not using factory 45acp.
I may try and work a load with TrailBoss as I use that a lot in my older Colt and Smith 32's and 38's. I would set my Ideal velocity around 600 or so and see if it shoots to sights. I would only use cast boolits and have an older Ideal mould that I use in my 45Colt that drops boolits at 454. 250gr. round nose.

[KCSO]

Mine measure .456 and I had to cast a slug from an old Ideal mould from soft lead to get it to shoot with cast. If I remember right the mould dropped a 457 255 grain bullet meant to be sized for a 45 Colt.