.455 colt /eley

[floridaboy]

I was lucky enough to get a Colt New Service in .455 Eley for Christmas. It is original and in great shape. Still chambered for .455, not cut to fire 45 acp or reamed for 45 colt. I've been loading 255 gr swc's with 5.5 grs unique, and 265 hollow bases over 4.2 grs of bullseye and getting around 800 fps according to my chrony. Very accurate and no signs of high pressures. This is in 45 colt cases cut to .890" Does anyone have any reliable data for this old timer of a cartridge?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One the one hand, the Colt New Service is quite strong -- the cylinder stop cuts are off-center and beginning in 1903, the cylinders were heat-treated. On the other hand, there is no reason to abuse this fine old revolver.

At a length of 0.890, what you have is a case virtually identical to the .45 ACP, and I think you're right on the money with your current load. I would stick with .45 ACP loads in this revolver. Enjoy it!

 

[jondar]

Did you have to thin the rims on the .45 Colt brass? I know on the ones chambered for the .455 Webley you have to.

 

[floridaboy]

re:455 eley

I have a box of original Dominion brand cases, and a few hundred cut down 45 colt cases. I thought you had to thin the rims too, so I bought some from Buffalo Arms. Then I just took a tubimg cutter to some colt cases and they seem to work fine. As an aside, the thinned rim cases do not fire reliably in a 45 ruger blackhawk.

 

[Onmilo]

Cartridges of the World lists velocities of between 600 and 850 feet per second depending on the load, blackpowder, cordite, or smokeless.

The loads you are using are comparable to the factory smokeless loads.

I load .45 Auto Rim with 255 grain semi wadcutters and 250 grain truncated flatnose "Cowboy" bullets over 4.5 grains of Winchester 231 or 5.0 grains of Unique and acheive similar results to what you are getting.HTH

 

[jondar]

Yes, that's because the rim is thicker in the .45 Colt. I have some U.S. made rounds stamped .455 Colt. These will chamber in my .45 Colt SAA but will not fire. The firing pin seems not to reach them. The .455 Colt is a longer round than the .455 Webley by quite a bit but I believe both have the same thinner rims.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ken Waters did a Pet Loads article on the .455 Colt.
He used loads a bit heavier than yours, but got lower velocity.
Your gun is tighter? I would not try to soup them up.

 

[floridaboy]

I've never read Water's Pet Loads. I have read that the older New Services had tight throats and large bores (.455-.456) Mine was made in 1914 and has British proof marks. But, it shoots cast bullets sized to .452 into about 2" at 25 yards. If I do my part. The velocities I mentioned are correct, according to my Chrony.
Fiocchi 455 mk11 webley does 560fps for comparison purposes.