.45 Auto Rim?

[Onty]

I came into possession of an old Webley Mk VI that my grandfather carried in Europe...The cylinder lockup on this thing is a bit looser than I'm comfortable with, or I'd probably still be shooting it. Maybe there's some work that could be done to bring it back into good order. Just haven't explored it.

Most likely old Webley is in good shape, better than you think. Before you start doing anything on .455 Webley, be aware that Webley locks cylinder similar way as Colt Python. So, to test is Webley in good order, cock the hammer, pull the trigger and hold it, while still holding hammer, and let hammer going slowly down. Still pulling the trigger with hammer down, now check cylinder lockup. Do that for each chamber. I bet you will find that cylinder locks solid on all chambers. I had a number of Webley revolvers, and handled even more, from very fine WG, to real WWI Mk VI clunkers, and none of them had a timing issue.

WARNING: NEVER SHOOT from Webley Mk VI standard ball 45 ACP ammo. I strongly suggest load your own ammo, using hollow base 455 bullets for Webley. For the best results, all bullets should be cast using soft lead, softer than wheel weight. See more on these two post:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...shaved-or-cut-Webleys-in-45-ACP-Auto-Rim*****

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/warning-for-shaved-or-cut-webleys-in-45-acp-auto-rim.447119/

 

[Tallball]

For casual range shooting I don't even bother with moon clips for my 625.

If I open the cylinder and bump the grip lightly on a shooting table, 5 of the 6 pieces of brass will generally fall out. The remaining one will probably be mostly out and just need a flick with my finger.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

If you post the serial number I might be able to help you out.

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th edition, published in 2016, says the Model 25-14 with Four Screw Frame, with serrated tang chambered for 45 ACP, was reintroduced in S&W's Classic Series in in 2006.

If you post a photo of the other side, we can determine how many screws.

Post the SN, replacing the last two digits with Xs, and I might be able to look it up for you.

 

[jski]

If you post the serial number I might be able to help you out.

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th edition, published in 2016, says the Model 25-14 with Four Screw Frame, with serrated tang chambered for 45 ACP, was reintroduced in S&W's Classic Series in in 2006.

If you post a photo of the other side, we can determine how many screws.

Post the SN, replacing the last two digits with Xs, and I might be able to look it up for you.

CLH02XX

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Well, this is a bit confusing.

SCSW has a bit of a problem identifying the dates of manufacture of the Triple Alpha serial numbers. Your CLH02XX is one of them.

Anyway, according to your description, you have a Model 25-14 with Four Screw Frame, with serrated tang chambered for 45 ACP, reintroduced in S&W's Classic Series in in 2006.

SCSW says the CLH serial number dates from 2004, which is before the above mentioned model made its debut, SCSW says that model first appeared in 2006.

How about the other side? How many screws can you count holding the side plate in place?

Three or four?

 

[CraigC]

I sure as hell wouldn't fool with moon clips unless I had to. If AR brass is readily available, which it usually is, it's a no brainer. Let the gamers mess with clips.

 

[jski]

I sure as hell wouldn't fool with moon clips unless I had to. If AR brass is readily available, which it usually is, it's a no brainer. Let the gamers mess with clips.

No longer available. I waited months on backorder till they send me an email saying: respond immediately or loose it.

 

[nofendertom]

I loaded .45AR for a while. Then when I discovered that my favorite .45ACP loads also were my favorite loads in both my 1911 and my Mod 25, I stopped loading .45AR.

 

[jski]

I loaded .45AR for a while. Then when I discovered that my favorite .45ACP loads also were my favorite loads in both my 1911 and my Mod 25, I stopped loading .45AR.

Don't have a 1911 or any other 45ACP autoloaders.

 

[jski]

That AR brass fits perfectly:

There’s almost no gap between the case heads and the recoil shield.

 

[BKS]

Starline shows 45AR to be available for back order. I read somewhere recently they were just finishing up setting everything up to run a large batch.

I have two S&W 625s, a -3, and a -6,(MY FAVORITE GUNS) along with several 45acp semis. I just bought 500 45AR cases on another forum to load heavier loads in for my revolvers if I ever wanted to use them for hunting, etc. I also purchased several HKS 25-2 speedloaders if I want to carry reloads for defense.

 

[jski]

Update:
I asked Starline:

Just got 500 pieces of your (Starline) Auto Rim brass. I'm assuming,
especially with its thick case head, that it'll easily handle .45 Auto
+P loads?

To which I recieved:

It should hold up just fine to +P pressure levels.

 

[CraigC]

Difference is only 2000psi.

 

[shoobe01]

As we've seen in some responses, loading the clip is another step. Before the early 90s or so, clips were even a bit hard to come by sometimes (long periods where they were rare and expensive, people even repaired bent ones!), there were no clip loading tools you could go buy, etc. So the clips were reserved for the (rarer then) competitions, or for duty/defensive use, and often with factory (even issued) ACP. Range time was hand-loaded Auto-rim for ease and cheapness.

Aside from revolvers being less and less popular, I think that the increased availability and ease of use of clips is why it's more rare to find auto-rim now.

 

[jski]

Difference is only 2000psi.

Starline does offer both .45 ACP brass and .45 ACP +P brass; so you might think there's a difference?

 

[CraigC]

Starline does offer both .45 ACP brass and .45 ACP +P brass; so you might think there's a difference?

The head stamp.

 

[tark]

my dad and I loaded up some light .45 Autorim loads for it.

Webley's are a bit loosie-goosey but you must remember that part of their lockup involves pressure on the trigger. If you just cock the hammer without pressure on the trigger the cylinder will wobble all over the place. Pull the trigger and the thing tightens up quite a bit before the hammer falls.

We are not 30 miles apart, I live near Geneseo.

 

[UncleEd]

I sure as hell wouldn't fool with moon clips unless I had to. If AR brass is readily available, which it usually is, it's a no brainer. Let the gamers mess with clips.

And if you really wish to increase
your loading speed, get HKS
25-M speed loaders designed
for the .45AR.

Now I have it on good authority
that the chief proponent of
moon clips on this board,
MCB, has spent
at least 25 percent of his awake
hours loading and unloading
those infernal gadgets.

 

[cfullgraf]

If I were in the OP's position, I'd lay in a good supply of 45 AR cases and reload, shoot and repeat.

Personally, I like moon clips. I have 45 ACP revolvers, a 10mm revolver, 9x19 revolvers, and several 38 Special J-frames that all use moon clips.

But, a good moon clip loading/unloading tool is a must. I like BMT Equipped tools (http://bmtequipped.com/index.php) but some will feel they are a bit pricey.

As they say, different strokes for different folks.

 

[mcb]

45 ACP on moonclips is one of the easier moonclips to get rounds on and off. You can make an nice de-mooner from an old hollow golf club handle. I spent years putting rounds on moonclips with an old pair of channel locks. A good moonclip tool is nice to have but you can make those tools for very little money if you want. Decent moonclip tools are no more expensive than many of the magazine loaders that are popular on the market.

 

[nofendertom]

^^^ agree^^^---I made my de-mooner out of a 6in piece of copper tubing. It took me 10 minutes, been using it for years.

 

[jski]

If I were in the OP's position, I'd lay in a good supply of 45 AR cases and reload, shoot and repeat.

Personally, I like moon clips. I have 45 ACP revolvers, a 10mm revolver, 9x19 revolvers, and several 38 Special J-frames that all use moon clips.

But, a good moon clip loading/unloading tool is a must. I like BMT Equipped tools (http://bmtequipped.com/index.php) but some will feel they are a bit pricey.

As they, different strokes for different folks.

Exactly! The AR brass just seems like an obvious way to avoid a problem.

 

[mcb]

Exactly! The AR brass just seems like an obvious way to avoid a problem.

But also discards one of the greatest strengths of a 45ACP revolver, the full moonclip.

 

[CraigC]

Now I have it on good authority
that the chief proponent of
moon clips on this board,
MCB, has spent
at least 25 percent of his awake
hours loading and unloading
those infernal gadgets.

At least!

But also discards one of the greatest strengths of a 45ACP revolver, the full moonclip.

I know you're obsessed with them but you have to concede, for folks who are not playing gun games that require reloading DA's on the clock, they're an unnecessary hassle.

 

[Reinz]

Moon Clips may take some prep time, which is fine at home. But boy do they SAVE time at the range. That means more shooting time, and I’m not a gamer. And shooting is what it’s all about, right?