Guns 2011-11.pdf - Jeffersonian

KWIK-SITEhas taken Weaver®style rings to new heightsand new lengthsOur Caps Will NOTScratch Your Scope Or Rust• JEFF JOHN •.45 ACP WebleyI am thinking of buying aQ: Webley revolver convertedfrom .455 to .45 ACP. The ads usuallymention using half-moon clips withthese conversions. Will full-moonclips also work? Any problems Ishould look for when inspecting oneof these revolvers?Duane Starrvia e-mailIt’s best to buy a Webley madeA: in the 20th Century if it’s beenconverted to .45 ACP (usually Mk IV,V and VI, the Mk VI is the 6"-barreledversion, the others have 4" barrels).It was never a great idea because the.45 ACP is a higher-pressure roundthan the .455 Webley, but if you stickto cast bullet handloads at moderatevelocity (something like a 230-grainlead bullet at 700-750 fps) you’ll nothave any problems, except for a bit ofleading (the .45 ACP uses bullets of.451" and the .455 uses .455" bullets).A 250-grain .45 Colt bullet sized.454" in .45 ACP, or .45 Auto Rimbrass loaded to about 600 to 650 fpsshould shoot to the sights better thanthe lighter bullets. The use of AutoRim brass means you won’t need halforfull-moon clips.As for choosing one, look overthe conversion to see if it was donewell. Many were converted by localgunsmiths, so all can be a littledifferent. The cylinder needs to havebeen turned on a lathe. Don’t buy oneif the recoil shield has been modified,or if the barrel-to-frame fit is loose.You might put six A-Zoom dummiesin a full-moon clip and see if it worksOriginal Webley revolvers are fun to shoot andcollect, such as this 1896 Webley Green, anofficer’s private purchase retailed throughthe Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd andits Sam Brown holster and belt. Dies, brassand ammo are available through Graf & Sons,and the correct bullets are available fromHuntington Die Specialties.before buying. Full-moon clipsworked fine in a MK IV I once owned.However, don’t be turned off by a.455. A Webley in original conditionis much more collectible and willappreciate in value if you take care ofit. New ammo and brass is availablefrom Fiocchi and Hornady and Leemakes affordable dies (through Graf& Sons). A mold for the original265-grain hollowbase bullet isavailable from RCBS. The correctbullet, cast and dry-lubed is availablefrom Huntington Die Spec. Forgeneral plinking the 250-grain .454"Colt-style bullet works just as well in.455 brass, although it doesn’t lookquite as “right.” Be sure and orderthe No. 51 Hornady shellholder withthe Lee dies as it is designed for the.455’s thin rim and makes primingmuch easier.Graf & Sons, Inc.(Lee Dies, Hornady Ammo)4050 S. ClarkMexico, MO 65265(573) 581-2266www.GUNSMAGAZINE.com/ graf-SONS-INCHuntington Die Specialties1180 Oro dam blvd.Oroville, CA 95965(866) 735-6237www.GUNSMAGAZINE.com/huntington-DIE-SPECIALTIESRCBS605 Oro Dam Blvd.Oroville, CA 95965(800) 533-5000www.GUNSMAGAZINE.com/rcbsLeading U.S. Manufacturerof Scope Mounts Since 1967Due to the volume of mail received, GUNS cannotoffer a personal reply. Please e-mail your questionto ed@gunsmagazine.com or snail mail to: GUNSQ&A, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 9212838WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011