.357 Magnum Webley for $$$$

[NoirFan]

I've just stumbled upon what is literally my dream handgun: a top-break 7-shot Webley in .357 Magnum. I've always liked the looks, operation and historic value of the Webley but didn't like the underpowered and hard-to-find calibers it was chambered in. This gun solves that problem.

http://www.andersonwheeler.co.uk/revolver

The catch? It costs more than my last car. But I thought some of you fellow revolver aficionados might like to know about it anyway.

 

[25-5]

10 Grand is a bit steep for something with no history, seven round cylinder, and the wrong caliber. They intend to make 50 per year. Doubt they will sell that many.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Expensive but mighty fine looking!

 

[Slamfire]

I wish I could afford one. I think the concept a great one!

 

[yugorpk]

I could think of about 42,000 things I'd take for 10 grand.

 

[200Apples]

I thought some of you fellow revolver aficionados might like to know about it anyway.

Indeed, my good man. And we thank you.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Now have the Italians make one for $700 or less and all will be well.

 

[bannockburn]

NoirFan

Thanks for the link. Interesting but way out of my price range.

 

[gotboostvr]

Man, I would love to see a regular production version of this.

 

[Skribs]

Now have the Italians make one for $700 or less and all will be well.

I read this as "for $700 less" and thought "what difference will that make?" Then I reread it.

 

[Dframe]

I'd love to have one but could never afford that kind of money. I'd also prefer a 44 special.

 

[Coyote3855]

I'd take one in .45 Colt. For $700 though. Someone inform Beretta.

 

[DPris]

I can't see the Italians being interested, insufficient market.
And the British repros are sold out for several years in advance at the moment.
Denis

 

[Shaq]

10 Grand is a bit steep for something with no history, seven round cylinder, and the wrong caliber. They intend to make 50 per year. Doubt they will sell that many.

Especially for a gun that probably won't last very long. The top break action is unsuitable for high-pressure cartridges.

 

[Monac]

Especially for a gun that probably won't last very long. The top break action is unsuitable for high-pressure cartridges.

People keep saying that, but Smith & Wesson was making revolvers for 44 Russian back in the 1870's, which is now 140 years ago. There's not a nickle's worth of difference between 44 Russian and 45 ACP, as far as I can tell. While 357 Magnum is in a different ballpark, so are the steels of today compared to the steels of 1875.

It would be VERY interesting to see one of these Anderson 357 Magnums subjected to a 5,000 round test. Right now, all we have is opinions (some much better informed than mine, I admit). What we need are facts and actual experience.

 

[Swing]

Insanely neat-o. But those figures are in transferable burp-gun range, so pass. Still, damn.

 

[tark]

I can't tell what the stirrup latch looks like, but that top strap looks like it has been beefed up considerably, to take the extra pressures.

As for a nickel's worth of difference between a 44 Russian and a 45 ACP; how about 50 cents worth of difference? The Russian round operated at about half the pressure of the ACP. An old top break Schofield modified to shoot ACP ammo would probably not survive one round. The metallurgy 140 years ago wasn't that good.

If they could get the price down to $2000 they might sell more than the handful they probably WILL sell.

 

[Monac]

See, tark is what I meant by better informed. What I remembered was roughly this:

44 Russian = 246 grain bullet at 750 feet per second
45 ACP = 230 grain bullet at 830 feet per second.

To me, these are pretty comparable.

What I did not realize was that somehow 44 Russian obtained its performance from 14,500 psi, whereas it took 21,000 psi for the 45 ACP, according to online sources. This is nearly a 50% difference, at tark points out.

Cartridge loading will forever be a mystery to me. Consider me squelched.

 

[Shaq]

People keep saying that, but Smith & Wesson was making revolvers for 44 Russian back in the 1870's, which is now 140 years ago. There's not a nickle's worth of difference between 44 Russian and 45 ACP, as far as I can tell. While 357 Magnum is in a different ballpark, so are the steels of today compared to the steels of 1875.

It would be VERY interesting to see one of these Anderson 357 Magnums subjected to a 5,000 round test. Right now, all we have is opinions (some much better informed than mine, I admit). What we need are facts and actual experience.

44 Russian and 45 ACP are both low-pressure cartridges. Pressure has little to do with bullet diameter.