.455 Webley/Colt

[hunter64]

Picked up a .455 revolver and was wondering if I could use my .45 ACP dies to reload the cases, other than the shell holder? The dimentions are almost the same and do I need to buy .455 dies?

[KCSO]

Depends on what you are loading for. Most 45 ACP dies are made for a 451-452 bullet and My Webley really liked .456 bullets. I used a 45 Colt sizing die with a 454 expander plug and seated with a 45 ACP auto rim die. For a bullet i have a old Ideal 454190 mould that drops the bullets at just .456. These loads shot WAY better than any load with a smaller bullet. By the same token my 455 hand ejector had a 452 barrel and would shoot 454 bullets very well.

[Tom Herman]

I use the Lee 45 LC/.455 Webley dies. For a bullet, I cast the RCBS- 45-265-RN-HB... It's what the Webley wants to use. It casts about .455/.456, and I size/lubricate in the RCBS Lubricizer.
Use a soft alloy. My standard 50/50 wheel weights to lead with 2% Tin works great. I lube with my home made SPG.
Accuracy is GREAT, with zero leading. Works equally well in the New Service, Mark VI, or the S & W...
Whatever you do, DON'T load the Webley to .45 ACP levels! Keep loads mild, as the Webley max pressure is about 12,600 PSI, while .45 ACP runs around 18,000 PSI.

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[hunter64]

Tom: How do you lube a hb bullet in a Lyman 450, doesn't the lube get in the hollow base?

[3006guns]

You really didn't specify what type of revolver it is..both Smith and Wesson along with Colt made .455's principally for the Canadian trade. Large framed guns. I have a S&W in that chambering, however the gun was modified for .45 LC by cutting a recess in each chamber, as this was the only easy conversion at the time. It easily digests some pretty powerful loads, but it is strictly a handloading proposition as the bullets need to be slightly larger than for a normal LC.

If your gun is indeed a Webley, they are an excellent bit of work HOWEVER they don't take kindly to full house .45 acp loads. They will shake loose after a while, but reduced handloads to .455 pressures/performance will keep it tight.

[hunter64]

It is a Smith and Wesson HE .455 which is plent strong enough for the webley ammo. Isnt the .44 version of the S&W HE what Elmer Keith used to base the .44 magnum on or was that the .44 special version?

[3006guns]

Your revolver is more than adequate for the .455, which was my point. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

I believe Kieth's work was based on hotter and hotter loads of the .44 special cartridge in a standard HE. I think he also blew a couple up during his experimentation, but finally convinced both S&W and Remington that the combo had potential.

[Tom Herman]

Tom: How do you lube a hb bullet in a Lyman 450, doesn't the lube get in the hollow base?

Hi Hunter!

I don't know how the Lyman is set up, but in the RCBS, the base of the bullet sits flat on the arm that recedes into the body of the sizing/lubricating die and the downward pressure of the resizing stroke is enough to seal the base off and keep it from being filled with lube.
I'm actually pleasantly surprised at how well this works!

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[Tom Herman]

I nicknamed mine the "Smith & Webley", as it's a Canadian Contract S & W in the .455 Webley caliber.
This is a GRAND gun, in all original trim, and I won't load it to insane levels as I want to put as little wear on the 90+ year old gun as possible.
My load is 4.3 grains of Unique behind the RCBS 45-265-RN-HB bullet with my home made SPG lube. This is tops for the Mark VI, and that's how I load it for all my guns.

Happy Shootin'! -Tom



It is a Smith and Wesson HE .455 which is plent strong enough for the webley ammo. Isnt the .44 version of the S&W HE what Elmer Keith used to base the .44 magnum on or was that the .44 special version?

[The Virginian]

The cylinders on the older Colts, S&Ws and Webley's are not heat treated the same way as they are today, so I agree, take it easy on the older guns. My Webleys, S&Ws and Colts with .455 bores have done well with cast lead bullets in .454" diameter behind reasonable charges of powder having the bullet lumber along at 620-700 fps.