Fun with a Webley Mark IV 38 S&W
I’ve always wanted a Webley. Not sure why, but I’ve always wanted one.
I reckoned I wasn’t getting any younger so I might as well order one up!! I perused Gunbroker for a while and found one that looked to be in good condition (all things considered), made a bid, and walked away to do cool stuff. A couple days later and I got the email that I was high bidder!! Yippee!! What I ended up with is an Israel contract revolver manufactured between 1968-1970 according to this site: http://www.armsresearch.co.uk/The%20...20Archive.html
Attachment 104739
Now the search was on for reloading components. I ended up getting some Lee 9mm Mak dies (work very well for the 38 S&W), new Starline brass, 200 boolits of the 200 gr variety from Matt’s Bullets, 50 factory PPU loaded ammo, and I was off to the races!!
Once I picked up the revolver I completely tore it down using this site: http://leolani.net/relics/webleyIV.html I made it through the disassembly process, cleaned it really well, deburred a lot of spots, and reassembled it. I put grease where it seemed fitting. I didn’t have any parts left over so off to the range I went with the 50 Factory PPU loaded with 148 LRN bullets. I fired off hand from 15-25 yds. I was actually pretty impressed. That large hole in the bullseye is from 7 yrds (six shots) standing. Recoil was minimal and fun factor was high. Below is my PPU target:
Attachment 104740
I fired all my factory ammo so now it was reloading time. Below is my experience reloading the cartridge, some measurements, targets, etc.
Here is a picture of the kit used to put it all together:
Attachment 104741
The LEE 9mm MAK dies worked splendidly. IME, loading small charges is much easier using a dipper. What I do is fill the trickler up, dip from it, and trickle in whatever may be necessary.
Now to targets. All groups are 9 shot groups. All groups are fired at 15 yds from the sitting position. No powder info is listed due to the start charge I used showing max case expansion (.001 over SAAMI).
1.7 gr:
Attachment 104742
2.0 gr
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2.2 gr
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2.5 gr
Attachment 104750
Recovered boolits:
Attachment 104751
Summary: I will pick another powder to play with. At the end of the day, accuracy and POA/POI came with more powder (speed?), but unfortunately all cases had expanded to .387 at the case head with all loads. No other high pressure signs were noted. As you can though, this gun with this load combo will put a bunny in the frying pan!!