.44 Special or .455 Webley?
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silicosys4
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.44 special, because its just a better round than the webley.
mcb
Member
I spent years looking for an unshaved Webley Mark VI in 455 Webley. I lucked into one a couple years ago, made in 1916 and in very serviceable condition. I have been using Matt's Bullets to load a pretty accurate replicate of the MkII ammunition.
Colt's cylinder release goes the wrong way.
Colt's cylinder release goes the wrong way.
vanfunk
Member
In a New Service? .44 Special. BUT if a Webley like MCB’s should appear before my eyes in .455, I WILL buy it.
OP
OP
TTv2
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This is more a general caliber question, but figured I'd make an example by using a revolver that was chambered for both cartridges.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The .44 Special, hands down.
mcb
Member
My local gun shop where I bought my Webley has two or three boxes or relatively new Fiocchi 455 Webley on the shelf, but they wanted over $50 a box. I knew I was going to be reloading for mine so I passed on it. My intent was just to buy Starline brass and Matt's bullets (I already use Matt's bullet to load 38/200R for my Mk IV). But I actually lucked into a sale on Grafs and Sons for loaded 455 Webley from On Target Ammo for cheaper than I could get new Starline brass at the time. Bought four boxes and that should keep me in brass for a time. The bullet On Target Ammo used was a modern polymer coated flat-point round-shouldered bullet but it shot decently well in my gun. I then started loading the more correct hollow base round nose that Matt's sells. I would love to find someone selling or even just someone making the mold for the 455 Webley Mk III bullet but I have never found one yet.
As for 44 Special vs 455 Webley I have to admit the 44 Special is a much more capable cartridge but for me a Webley is a far more interesting revolver than anything Colt ever produced. I own two Webleys and zero Colts (anything). And its hard to find a S&W in 44 that is not a Magnum instead of just a special (they certainly made them in the past but they are just hard to find now). When I bought my Webley the store also had an old S&W triple lock in 455 Webley that was in beautiful condition and I was sorely tempted to buy it. But if I bought two revolvers at the same time the first thing shot with either of them would have been me, by the wife. So I bought the Webley and was happy. I do have a M29 but I have only ever fed it 44 Mag. -rambling.
Speedo66
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Webley, because break tops are cool.
horsemen61
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For me the .44 special hands down
WisBorn
Contributing Member
44 special because of the availability of factory ammo.
BobWright
Member
The .44 Special. It's not called "Special" for nothing.
I believe Elmer Keith declared it the "King of handgun cartridges."
Bob Wright
I believe Elmer Keith declared it the "King of handgun cartridges."
Bob Wright
Riomouse911
Member
I like the idea of obtaining a good gun in a new cartridge; fun to cook up loads, being one of the few at the range who have one, etc. 
But, after buying my SP 101 .327 a couple years ago it turned me off to adding rather obscure calibers to the fold. I was unable to find any loaded .327 ammo locally, and I was not wanting to go through the online Ca ammo hassles and fees just to order 25 of the rare, premium ammo for $3-$4 a shot. I ended up waiting a year (literally!) for .327 Mag brass to be made by Starline. (At least I had a bunch of .32 H&R brass to load and shoot in the meantime!)
After this, starting off from scratch with a rarely seen new caliber like the .455 Webley isn’t something I really want to do again.
So, with a couple of Folgers cans full of primed brass and an ammo can full of loaded rounds already, it would be the .44 Special for me.
Stay safe.
But, after buying my SP 101 .327 a couple years ago it turned me off to adding rather obscure calibers to the fold. I was unable to find any loaded .327 ammo locally, and I was not wanting to go through the online Ca ammo hassles and fees just to order 25 of the rare, premium ammo for $3-$4 a shot. I ended up waiting a year (literally!) for .327 Mag brass to be made by Starline. (At least I had a bunch of .32 H&R brass to load and shoot in the meantime!)
After this, starting off from scratch with a rarely seen new caliber like the .455 Webley isn’t something I really want to do again.
So, with a couple of Folgers cans full of primed brass and an ammo can full of loaded rounds already, it would be the .44 Special for me.
Stay safe.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
He was right then and still right today!
45 Dragoon
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I'm sorry, it's purely a "looks" thing to me!!
(I knooooow . . . I'm so superficial !!!!)
Mike
(I knooooow . . . I'm so superficial !!!!)
Mike
lee n. field
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.44 Special isn't easy to find on the shelf. Ammo last chambered in a new gun a century ago, doubly so.
.44 Special. At least I can find ammo for it.
(If it was a real Webley, for sure I'd be digging up brass, bullets and dies for .455.)
Highland Lofts
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I'll stick with the 44 special.
OP
OP
TTv2
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I dont think I've ever seen a box of .44 Spl in a store on a shelf, but I've never really looked for it. Same goes for .455. Both are really a reloaders proposition.
W.E.G.
Member
Ammo is available.
Webley caliber is more expensive by a factor of about three.
ammoseek.com
ammoseek.com
Maybe some people shoot the heck out of old guns.
But 98% owners gonna shoot maybe 100 rounds out of an old gun like that, then probably rarely ever shoot it again.
So, COST of ammo is probably not a real big deal either way.
I'm sure different people's circumstances dictate how they shop for ammo.
But the idea of going to the "LOCAL GUN STORE" to buy ammo is completely foreign to me.
I order everything.
Occasionally, I'll buy some ammo at the big gun show by the airport. But I always regret it. Usually end up paying the same I would have paid for online purchase. The guys that sell ammo at gun shows aren't dummies. They know how much they can get by with charging. Gun show price OTD is gonna be real close to the price I pay (including shipping) for online purchase. And I get to lug it around the show, or make a special trip out to the car to dump it (car parked a half-mile from the door), or try to "time it" for just as I'm leaving. That's when the seller will have four customers ahead of me, and his card-reader will be on the fritz.
I occasionally look at the price of ammo at the LGS. Usually ridiculous.
Because somebody buyng "a box of shells" at the same time they buy a Shield or an LCP is probably gonna pay whatever is the price for a box of ball ammo. $35 or some way-high such.
The idea that the LGS would have any "special" caliber besides 38, let alone Webley is not something I would even contemplate.
Now, if you happen to have ANOTHER gun in that caliber, and which you shoot A LOT, then there's a reason to consolidate caliber.
I'm in ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE on account of 45 ACP being popular across multiple platforms.
I believe OP is speaking of one type of gun - only question being selection of caliber.
So the "look" of the gun would be identical.
We're not talking about comparing Winston Churchill's personal Webley to an 8-shot Redhawk or some such.
Gun LOOKS like this either way.
If you "won it in a raffle" and had a choice of two obscure calibers, but can't afford ammo, you really can't afford to keep it.
Pick whatever caliber will be the easiest to sell to somebody who can afford to keep it.
I know that sounds a bit grim and jaded.
But considering the way the question is presented, that's the honest answer.
Webley caliber is more expensive by a factor of about three.
.455 Webley Ammo
In-stock best prices for 455 Webley Ammo | Best 455 Webley Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com
ammoseek.com
.44 S&W Special Ammo
In-stock best prices for 44 S&W Special Ammo | Bulk 44 S&W Special Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com
ammoseek.com
Maybe some people shoot the heck out of old guns.
But 98% owners gonna shoot maybe 100 rounds out of an old gun like that, then probably rarely ever shoot it again.
So, COST of ammo is probably not a real big deal either way.
I'm sure different people's circumstances dictate how they shop for ammo.
But the idea of going to the "LOCAL GUN STORE" to buy ammo is completely foreign to me.
I order everything.
Occasionally, I'll buy some ammo at the big gun show by the airport. But I always regret it. Usually end up paying the same I would have paid for online purchase. The guys that sell ammo at gun shows aren't dummies. They know how much they can get by with charging. Gun show price OTD is gonna be real close to the price I pay (including shipping) for online purchase. And I get to lug it around the show, or make a special trip out to the car to dump it (car parked a half-mile from the door), or try to "time it" for just as I'm leaving. That's when the seller will have four customers ahead of me, and his card-reader will be on the fritz.
I occasionally look at the price of ammo at the LGS. Usually ridiculous.
Because somebody buyng "a box of shells" at the same time they buy a Shield or an LCP is probably gonna pay whatever is the price for a box of ball ammo. $35 or some way-high such.
The idea that the LGS would have any "special" caliber besides 38, let alone Webley is not something I would even contemplate.
Now, if you happen to have ANOTHER gun in that caliber, and which you shoot A LOT, then there's a reason to consolidate caliber.
I'm in ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE on account of 45 ACP being popular across multiple platforms.
I believe OP is speaking of one type of gun - only question being selection of caliber.
So the "look" of the gun would be identical.
We're not talking about comparing Winston Churchill's personal Webley to an 8-shot Redhawk or some such.
Gun LOOKS like this either way.
If you "won it in a raffle" and had a choice of two obscure calibers, but can't afford ammo, you really can't afford to keep it.
Pick whatever caliber will be the easiest to sell to somebody who can afford to keep it.
I know that sounds a bit grim and jaded.
But considering the way the question is presented, that's the honest answer.
Last edited:
OP
OP
TTv2
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It's just a theoretical question, I wanted to see what others think about uncommon, expensive older revolver calibers would choose. I was originally thinking about choosing .44-40 instead of .44 Special, but I believe .44-40 is a bit more powerful than .455, so I didn't think it be fair; the .44 Spl and .455 seem to be similar in power.Ammo is available.
Webley caliber is more expensive by a factor of about three.
.455 Webley Ammo
In-stock best prices for 455 Webley Ammo | Best 455 Webley Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com
.44 S&W Special Ammo
In-stock best prices for 44 S&W Special Ammo | Bulk 44 S&W Special Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com
Maybe some people shoot the heck out of old guns.
But 98% owners gonna shoot maybe 100 rounds out of an old gun like that, then probably rarely ever shoot it again.
So, COST of ammo is probably not a real big deal either way.
I'm sure different people's circumstances dictate how they shop for ammo.
But the idea of going to the "LOCAL GUN STORE" to buy ammo is completely foreign to me.
I order everything.
Occasionally, I'll buy some ammo at the big gun show by the airport. But I always regret it. Usually end up paying the same I would have paid for online purchase. The guys that sell ammo at gun shows aren't dummies. They know how much they can get by with charging. Gun show price OTD is gonna be real close to the price I pay (including shipping) for online purchase. And I get to lug it around the show, or make a special trip out to the car to dump it (car parked a half-mile from the door), or try to "time it" for just as I'm leaving. That's when the seller will have four customers ahead of me, and his card-reader will be on the fritz.
I occasionally look at the price of ammo at the LGS. Usually ridiculous.
Because somebody buyng "a box of shells" at the same time they buy a Shield or an LCP is probably gonna pay whatever is the price for a box of ball ammo. $35 or some way-high such.
The idea that the LGS would have any "special" caliber besides 38, let alone Webley is not something I would even contemplate.
Now, if you happen to have ANOTHER gun in that caliber, and which you shoot A LOT, then there's a reason to consolidate caliber.
I'm in ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE on account of 45 ACP being popular across multiple platforms.
I believe OP is speaking of one type of gun - only question being selection of caliber.
So the "look" of the gun would be identical.
We're not talking about comparing Winston Churchill's personal Webley to an 8-shot Redhawk or some such.
Gun LOOKS like this either way.
If you "won it in a raffle" and had a choice of two obscure calibers, but can't afford ammo, you really can't afford to keep it.
Pick whatever caliber will be the easiest to sell to somebody who can afford to keep it.
I know that sounds a bit grim and jaded.
But considering the way the question is presented, that's the honest answer.
View attachment 1185820
I figured the .44 would be more popular due to .44 Magnum.
I can't really think of 100 year old revolvers in obscure chamberings like .455 that are equal in terms of availability, I guess .38 S&W could be comparable, but there are so many revolvers available in that caliber the ammo availability is much better. .32-20, 38-40, .44-40 are comparable in terms of ammo availability, but double action revolvers are not common in those calibers.
Ugly Sauce
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I chose the Webley. It made me dinner. (well...so has my .44spl Bulldog, and my SBH...but the Webley did it BLOODY WELL!) I don't think it matters which cartridge is "better", they are both great cartridges.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I have bought 44 Special off the self for my 44 mags.
I would actually prefer the Colt New Service in 45 colt, but it wasn't a choice....
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