Smith and Wesson Revolver in 445 Webley/Colt/Eley - anybody?

oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Smith and Wesson Revolver in 445 Webley/Colt/Eley

Anybody have one of these by chance? Would be one of the WWI vintage guns, maybe little later.

I am told that the Colt 455s have a 454 groove, the orig Webleys have somewhere b/n 452/454-458.

I read where the Smiths that were in this (these) calibers had 458 grooves! Anybody have a Smith/slugged the bbl? OR even shooting one? If so, what size cast bullet. Thanx
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Far from an expert, but I once had a Second Model Hand Ejector serial numbered to 1916, and stamped with Canadian acceptance markings. Grooves were .458" and the charge holes had been bored/reamed to .45 Colt length.

I wouldn't mind having the gun back, along with a mould that dropped about .460". The barrel had been shorted to just in front of the sight, making it a right handy piece.
 
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
Cylinder throats on my S&W .455 Hand Ejector ran .456 and barrel groove was .458". Sold it as it "patterned" rather than grouped.

My 1914 Colt has .456 throats and .454 barrel groove, shoots well with Accurate 45-264D45-264D-D.png45-264H4grs452AABestLoad.jpg
 
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Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
oscarflytyer said:
Smith and Wesson Revolver in 445 Webley/Colt/Eley... Anybody have one of these by chance?...I read where the Smiths that were in this (these) calibers had 458 grooves! Anybody have a Smith/slugged the bbl? OR even shooting one? If so, what size cast bullet. Thanx
Click to expand...

If you already have the S&W, seek a US M1917 .45 ACP barrel and swap out the barrel. Ruins collector value, but the gun will then group with bullets which fit the cylinder throats, probably closer to .456" than .454".

If you have not bought the S&W yet, I would look instead for a Colt New Service. I have three, in .455 Eley, .45 ACP and .45 Colt. All have .456" cylinder throats and .454 groove diameter (even in the .45 ACP!) and shoot well with soft bullets which "fit."
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I've only had one chance at one of these revolvers, a Colt N/S for a decent price c. 2006. By that time The Weird Caliber Disease had gone into remission, and I gave the offer a "pass".
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
My 1917 vintage S&W has .456" throats and .458" barrel groove. It does OK with the Lyman 290 grain Webley bullet. However does very well with hollow base 45 Colt "Ness" bullet or any of the hollow base bullets for the cap and ball revolvers. Alloy must be very soft, fast powder with velocity about 600 f/s.
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Relying on the memory archivist to come forth with the correct information is often iffy, thus a major correction from my initial post: The barrel wasn't cut off in front of the sight, it was cut off in front of the ejector shroud and an undercut blade sight installed.

Ric,
Thanks for the picture. The archivist has a very red face.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
:rofl: That is why I write everything down and save it, can't remember crap anymore. Everything I try to do from memory doesn't do well, unless I look it up in written form.
 
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RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Only if I can find the journals! I an currently looking for the 1996-2016 match shooting journal for the "come ups" for one of my Springfields. I forgot where I put the book for safe keeping. So sad, :headscratch:
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Thanx guys! Saved me from buying something that would be cool bur frustrate the snout out of me! I have a S&W 1917 and it shoots great. Not picky at all. Think I will stay there.
 
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
oscarflytyer said:
Thanx guys! Saved me from buying something that would be cool bur frustrate the snout out of me! I have a S&W 1917 and it shoots great. Not picky at all. Think I will stay there.
Click to expand...

If you search GunBroker you can usually find unaltered, WW1-era .455 Eley which have not been rechambered, for affordable prices. Those which were rechambered to .45 Colt for import to the US in the 1960s go about $100 cheaper. The original .455 Eley chambering is far preferable and with the Starline MkII brass being readily available, the 45-264D Accurate bullet has a full-diameter band north of the crimp groove to reduce "jump" when using the shorter MkII cases in the longer .455 MkI or .455 Eley chamber. With Accurate 45-464D correct charge to shoot to the fixed sights is 3.5 grains of Bullseye or 4 grains of 452AA or WST.
 
Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Sorry not a 455, but, Speaking of 45's I picked up a new model 1950 S&W a 22-4, 45 ACP - 45 Auto Rim. A friend up the hill has a 455 Webley Colt he wants me to have. So far I've avoided a trade. Having this Smith was of more interest beening a 4" gun. The 290 grain slug that Ric in the High Steppes of Eastern Washington mention caught my attention. I have wanted to load heavy bullets in this gun at sleeper velocities. Somewhere from 260 to 300 grain range. I have a 276 gr wad cutter and a 265 WFN from NOE I'm wanting to try out, but, 290 could be fun.
image.jpeg
 
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Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
In the .455 and also in the .45 Auto Rim I shoot 3.5 grains of Bullseye with the Accurate 45-290H for about 630 fps in 5-1/2" revolver,
672 fps at 12,600 psi (Oehler M43) in Larry's 10-inch T/C Contender firing Starline .45 Schofield cases trimmed to 0.87" for pressure testing.
45-290H-D.png45-290HLoadData.jpg
 
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Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
That looks just about what I'm looking for. I was just on the NOE site and Al has a TL454-292 that is interesting as any grove could be used for a light crimp. But your Accurate 290 looks just right up my alley.. Thanks.
 
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
John G said:
That looks just about what I'm looking for. I was just on the NOE site and Al has a TL454-292 that is interesting as any grove could be used for a light crimp. But your Accurate 290 looks just right up my alley.. Thanks.
Click to expand...

When you order the mold, Tom can adjust driving band diameter to fit your cylinder throats and alloy. If you prefer a somewhat lighter bullet, this one is a good choice for the .45 Colt and Auto Rim45-264H-D.png
 
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