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Question for Webley owners; Which/Who's .45 blanks
Topic Started: Sep 8 2009, 01:10 PM (255 Views)
Marcus
Unteroffizier
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For those of you out there that have a Webley MKVI, can you tell me what blanks you recommend? Mine is a chopped down version with the .45 cylinder. I have moon clips, but wanted to know if there are any differences between Atlantik Wall or Swanson. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Marcus Holt
JR 23
GWHS
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42nd_CEF_RHC
Sergeant
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Hello Marcus,

Either source will do if they have them. I was reloading my own for awhile with .45 Long Colt Brass.

If you go outside either of the sources you named be sure what the source is loading them with, I got some that were loaded with Black Powder which I do no prefer in centerfire blanks.

A/Cpl. Richard Moncrief
#15 Platoon/D Coy./42nd Canadian Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
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Marcus
Unteroffizier
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I guess that is another question. To be sure, I should be ordering regular .45 ACP correct? I've never fired this pistol so I'm new to it completely. I noticed that Atlantik had few different types of .45.
Marcus Holt
JR 23
GWHS
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Tuckahoe Doughboy
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Second Lieutenant
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The Webley Mk VI and the models that came before the Mk VI were chambered for the .455 Webley cartidge. The .455 Webley is a rimmed cartridge with the spent casings ejected on the breaking open of the frame and then the chambers individually reloaded. The .45acp cartridge is a rimless cartridge and for use as revolver ammunition, the use of "moon" and "half-moon" clips is required -- the rim of a rimmed cartridge keeps the cartridge in place in a revolver chamber, whereas a half-moon clips holds the rimless cartridge in place and keeps it from falling through the chamber.

As I understand it, the Mk VI was converted to use .45acp and half-moon clips by American importers because that cartridge was so easy to purchase compared to the .455 Webley cartidge. (Follow this link and see the third pistol down the page, which is a Mk VI converted to .45acp).

I would suspect that your pistol is a Mk VI that has been converted to .45acp as is the case with most of these pistols in America. The pistol in .455 Webley is just so much harder to come by. HOWEVER, I strongly recommend that you have this comfirmed by a gunsmith. As such, you will want to purchase .45acp blanks and use the clips.

Another option though is to look into the .45 "Auto Rim" cartridge and see if a blank is available. The Auto Rim was developed for use in .45acp chambered revolvers to remove the need for half-moon clips. It would allow the use of the Webley in the correct manner, without the need for the clips.

ETA -- if you look at the link I included you will see there is a big difference in the price between a converted and originally chambered pistol.
Edited by Tuckahoe Doughboy, Sep 8 2009, 07:23 PM.
Vincent Petty

"I pressed forward with the others to watch the United States physically entering the War, so god-like, so magnificent, so splendidly unimpaired in comparison with the tired nerve-racked men of the British Army. So these were our deliverers at last." British Nurse Vera Brittain

318th Infantry, 80th Division AEF
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42nd_CEF_RHC
Sergeant
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Hello Vincent and Marcus,

For a Webley in .45 ACP, commercial blanks made with either .45 Auto Rim Brass or .45 Long Colt Brass will work. .45 Long Colt brass typically has to go through an additional re-sizing process to get them to chamber in a Webley, S&W, etc.

Only two things to consider: Cut Webleys are not always consistent in terms of how the grinding was done - one of mine cycles fine, one does not. Be sure what you order can work in a Webley, lots of the .45 Long Colt blanks go to Indian Wars / Cowboy reenactors and they do not typically require resizing.

I have not had good luck using half moon or full moon clips in mine as the cylinder just will not close but this is only my experience.

My advise - contact either Atlantic Wall or Swanson and just let them know what pistol / configuration you have - they are blank specialists and will know what you need.

I have reloaded blanks in the past for my Webleys and it is just not worth the aggravation.

Cheers!
A/Cpl. Richard Moncrief
#15 Platoon/D Coy./42nd Canadian Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
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CanuckCarney13
Private
Marcus,
As rich suggested.... I contact Rob at Atlantic wall blanks when I purchused my .455 webley. He was very helpful. He ended up starting a production of blanks and I test several through the webley.

Bryan
42nd RHC

Bryan Carney
42nd Battalion Black Watch Of Canada
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Verdun_Hadji
Vize-Feldwebel
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I have a MKII, not a MKVI and I have just started researching the type of ammo I'd like to use. It was converted and .45ACP in half moon clips function smoothly in it. For live rounds I'd like to use something a little lighter.
The .45 Auto Rim was developed in 1920 and originally it had a lead 230 grain bullet and a velocity of 855 fps. I understand it uses a lighter load. It is supposed to be available from Remington, and I found a lead to some place called "Black Hills" that I haven't looked into.
One would think that for blanks .45 ACP would work safely, and yes there seems to be some differences in the quality of conversions done so you may have to actually test various rounds to see which work better.
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Ed
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Edgar Macionga
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Tuckahoe Doughboy
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Second Lieutenant
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Here is a link to an article about current production auto rim -- http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon%2045%20AR%20DPX%20Ammo%20Test.htm

230 grains and 800 fps is pretty standard for .45acp performance and auto rim would be the same. I have used a hollw point ammo that was 117 grains.

I have not used Black Hills ammo, but they have a good reputation and do make a lot of old calibers and ammunition.

But back to blanks, Gopher Munitions might be another possible source.
Vincent Petty

"I pressed forward with the others to watch the United States physically entering the War, so god-like, so magnificent, so splendidly unimpaired in comparison with the tired nerve-racked men of the British Army. So these were our deliverers at last." British Nurse Vera Brittain

318th Infantry, 80th Division AEF
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42nd_CEF_RHC
Sergeant
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I use some Black Hills rifle ammo for work and it is great stuff. Also check out Hornady, they started doing some Classic military loads last year, not sure if this is one of them.
A/Cpl. Richard Moncrief
#15 Platoon/D Coy./42nd Canadian Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
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