Mk. II Loads for a Classic Revolver.
Terry Wieland
The .455 Webley may be the champion among pistol cartridges for presenting the most potential problems for a handloader. It is the only cartridge, in my experience, with pitfalls related to every single aspect: cases, primers, bullets, powders, bore diameter and even the chambers of the guns that were made for it.
It has been around for more than 120 years in its various forms, and for at least 70 of those years, it was an official sidearm of Britain and the British Empire. To understand the .455 Webley, you need some insight into the workings of the British War Office.
The War Office – the cabinet department that oversaw the British Army – was chronically short of money. The bulk of the defense budget went to the Royal Navy, which left the army making do with crumbs. During times of peace, the Exchequer begrudged them every shilling. The second major consideration was the army’s role. It was seen, foremost, as a police force for the empire, from India to South Africa, from Australia to Egypt.
In between major wars, the army was constantly fighting border skirmishes against often fanatical opponents. A patrol in the Khyber Pass was likely to find itself under attack from Pathans who took a lot of killing. Like the Americans in the Philippines, the British wanted a pistol that would stop a sword-swinging attacker in his tracks. This is the major reason that, as the rest of the world was switching to semiautomatic military pistols and high-velocity, small-caliber cartridges, the British stuck with their trusty revolver and its 265-grain, .455-diameter lead bullet.
Denne historien er fra December - January 2017-utgaven av Handloader.
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Denne historien er fra December - January 2017-utgaven av Handloader.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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OEHLER's New System 89 Chronograph
Measuring Bullet Performance Downrange
The Problem with Low Pressure Loads
Bullets & Brass
Measurements for Rifle Handloading
Handy Techniques for Accurate Ammunition
THE BRASS RING
In Range
Semi-custom Bullet Moulds
Mike's Shoot in' Shack
REVISITING THE 6.5 -06 A-SQUARE
Loading New Bullets and Powders
Cimarron Stainless Frontier .45 Colt
From the Hip
9x18mm Makarov
Cartridge Board
Alliant 20/28
Propellant Profiles
.224 Clark
Wildcat Cartridges