455 Old cartridges'

455 · September 24, 2023, 08:37 PM

From 455 I purchased a Mark VI from an elderly gentleman about 15 years ago.
It belonged to his grandfather. This man was 72 at the time. He told me his grandfather who was an instructor in the first big war brought the gun home with him and it was never fired. He remembers going to the bush with his grandfather to shoot the gun. He took out a new box of shells and they fired 4 rounds. The man picked up the brass and they went home. We tore the place apart to find the box of shells , we found them at the back of an old closet , 46 new cartridge's and 4 brass, along with the holster and original gun cleaning kit. An amazing find, a 106 year old Webley Mark VI brand new never fired. I have been loading and range shooting it ever since. I am so curious to see what is in the old cartridges. I have taken bullets from loaded cartridge's before with the hammer style puller, I was wondering if I could do the same with one of these old vintage shells safely ? Any thoughts. Don

Jim Watson · September 24, 2023, 08:46 PM

I don’t see why not.
You might find chopped Cordite or Revolver Neonite.

455 · September 24, 2023, 08:57 PM

I was more interested in the bullet. I cast my own bullets for my 455 Webley and 2 455 Smith & Wesson's. Just wanted to compare. The old cartridge's are very heavily crimped . With inertia hammer, I would not like any sudden bangs.

zeke · September 25, 2023, 07:05 AM

Google search of old Webley cartridges will provide some info.

**44 AMP** · September 25, 2023, 12:47 PM

Just how do you think an inertia Hammer puller will fire the round??

With the one I have, and all the ones I've seen, nothing touches the primer, ever.

Paul B. · September 25, 2023, 01:44 PM

Some cartridges have a crimp so tight that an inertia hammer will not pull the bullet. I've run into some .38 Spl. loads with jacketed hollow point that were that way I apologize but it was a few years back and the brand name escapes me. I shot them in an S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman and recoil was quite stiff in that "N" framed revolver.
Paul B.

455 · September 25, 2023, 09:17 PM

455 I worked in a mine a mile and a half underground. We were mining Nickle. My job was blasting. We were taught take nothing for granted and know everything there is to know about the explosives' you are using. Some of the explosive material we used was exploded with impact pressure. If you put some on a rock and hit it with a hammer it would explode. My question was from my past experiences, I have never had any interaction with cordite or Neonite, not knowing its characteristics. But thanks for the answer. Don

September 24, 2023, 08:37 PM	#1
455 Member Join Date: August 21, 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 28	455 Old cartridges' From 455 I purchased a Mark VI from an elderly gentleman about 15 years ago. It belonged to his grandfather. This man was 72 at the time. He told me his grandfather who was an instructor in the first big war brought the gun home with him and it was never fired. He remembers going to the bush with his grandfather to shoot the gun. He took out a new box of shells and they fired 4 rounds. The man picked up the brass and they went home. We tore the place apart to find the box of shells , we found them at the back of an old closet , 46 new cartridge's and 4 brass, along with the holster and original gun cleaning kit. An amazing find, a 106 year old Webley Mark VI brand new never fired. I have been loading and range shooting it ever since. I am so curious to see what is in the old cartridges. I have taken bullets from loaded cartridge's before with the hammer style puller, I was wondering if I could do the same with one of these old vintage shells safely ? Any thoughts. Don

September 24, 2023, 08:57 PM	#3
455 Member Join Date: August 21, 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 28	455 I was more interested in the bullet. I cast my own bullets for my 455 Webley and 2 455 Smith & Wesson's. Just wanted to compare. The old cartridge's are very heavily crimped . With inertia hammer, I would not like any sudden bangs.

September 25, 2023, 12:47 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,013	Just how do you think an inertia Hammer puller will fire the round?? With the one I have, and all the ones I've seen, nothing touches the primer, ever. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 25, 2023, 01:44 PM	#6
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,811	Some cartridges have a crimp so tight that an inertia hammer will not pull the bullet. I've run into some .38 Spl. loads with jacketed hollow point that were that way I apologize but it was a few years back and the brand name escapes me. I shot them in an S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman and recoil was quite stiff in that "N" framed revolver. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

September 24, 2023, 08:46 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,614	I don’t see why not. You might find chopped Cordite or Revolver Neonite.

September 25, 2023, 09:17 PM	#7
455 Member Join Date: August 21, 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 28	455 I worked in a mine a mile and a half underground. We were mining Nickle. My job was blasting. We were taught take nothing for granted and know everything there is to know about the explosives' you are using. Some of the explosive material we used was exploded with impact pressure. If you put some on a rock and hit it with a hammer it would explode. My question was from my past experiences, I have never had any interaction with cordite or Neonite, not knowing its characteristics. But thanks for the answer. Don