Webley revolver

[Pistolero]

I've had this old, cosmetically worn, but mechanically sound Webley & Scott Mark II. I have some converted
brass and some original Fiocci ammo and Hornady loaded brass, dies on the way.

Any advice from Webley shooters? I know not to soup it up, but from what I have read on the web,
the Mk IIs are nitro proofed, so OK for monderate (like 750 fps and down) smokeless loads. I shot some loads
that came with it, which proved to be BP, cleaned up the brass and gun, will pull one down just to see
what it is, exactly. Grouped real well, although POI was about 8" from POA, high and left, at 15 yds.

Neat gun, strong as a bulldozer, it would seem, although not for souping up load pressures. Seems like
treating it like any other 1898 quality-built revolver should be OK. Have not measured cyl throats, saw an old
admonition from Dromia that many had the throats opened up for solid bullets, so checking cyl throats
is in order before I try loading for it.

Bill

 

[RicinYakima]

Bill,

Was really into the Webleys back when they were cheap, as in $50 for a nice one, and had II, IV, V and kept the Mark VI. The revolver will be stamped Mark II, do not get confused because there is also .455 Webley Mark II ammo that was always cordite powered. Not all II's were nitro proofed as they were out of production when smokeless cordite powder was first loaded, but private purchase may have been proofed. If it does not have the NP stamped it, it is not. First, has the cylinder been cut for 45 AR's? If it has, no other brass will work.

While they were made for pure lead 265 grain bullets, I got all of mine to shoot the to sights only with 200 grain SWC's (Lyman 452460) with light loads of Red Dot. They were all loaded to the minimum 45 AR spec's as that is what brass I had to use. Heavy bullets always shot high for me. The Mark VI has the original chambering, so uses the 0.040" rimmed cases. I shoot the 295 grain HB bullets from a Lyman mould. Good groups, but always high.

Ask any other questions, and I will tell you what little I know. There are several good web sites out there.

Ric

 

[Pistolero]

Thanks. I have no problem with shooting smokeless in BP guns of this class, but
absolutely NOT hotrodding. Using slowish powders to get to original velocities with
original wt bullets seems perfectly safe to me. Pushing velocities, and using really
fast powders do not seem smart. I have shot smokeless carefully in a number ol
old BP guns, just have to keep pressures down.

Well, from what I read online, all Mk IIs were nitro proofed, perhaps not correct. That
source said Mk II guns were in manufacture when Mk II ammo came out
and all Mk IIs were proofed for it, some reproofed, some at birth.

Markings are extremely worn, most of them are very nearly gone, and a few
marks which could be nitro proofs are just illegible blobs - clearly not accidental,
but I sure can't make out any idea what they are, even with modest magnification. Maybe, maybe, if I knew
exactly what that era nitro proof mark should look like, might be able to decide that there is one. It says
Webley & Scott, under a neat cross section drawing of a hollow based bullet with lube grooves. SN 55XXX range,
mechanically really nice condition, minor pitting here and there, looks like it was heavily sand/bead blasted
at some point, probably to remove a lot of rust. Bore is at least very good, as are cylinder interiors. Action
is smooth and nice. Gun is solid and sound, just has had a hard life on the outside.

Not cut for .45 ACP, works find with normal ammo, at least 6 BP handloads that I fired that came with
it. I gave $200 with three boxes of ammo, seemed fair. Two are handloads, one in converted .45 Colt cases, one with
Hornady cases and a factory untouched box of Fiocci, which was marked $40, and costs more than that
today if you could find one, from what I have seen. Apparently there was a short period where Hornady
and Fiocci supported .455 Webley in the USA, but from what I can see, no more ammo or unconverted brass
is available.

First thing is find out if throats are .450 or larger, and what groove diam is. Reports are unmodified guns should
have .450ish throats and larger groove diam, so need HB for accy. Don't know but that sure sounds right
from my revolver experience.

As it sits now, I wouldn't feel bad using it for self defense if nothing else was handy.

 

[RicinYakima]

This is the nitro proof mark.

 

[Pistolero]

Thanks, I'll get out the jeweler's loupe and see what I can see.

OK, nothing like the nitro proof marks you showed, but two marks on barrel, one
on each side, and one on frame that are crossed somethings, swords or arrows or
pikes, one with an 8 or B on left side, some sort of 'circular' letters right and bottom and
maybe a crown on top. Circular letters like G, O, C, D perhaps.

Looking on the web, the Birmingham BP proof looks like a match, not sure why
twice on barrel and once on frame, although there is an inspection mark that is the
same crossed impliments + crown but only a V on bottom, maybe inspection and proof marks,
nearly identical and with the age, sandblasting and corrosion, nearly impossible to
distinguish, the only difference being the letters. BP proof has B on left, C on right
and P - with short stem - on bottom, matches my "circular letters" comments above
pretty well.

Will look more closely over all, the occasional small rust pit, now cleaned out makes
it a bit more difficult as a small pit can look, at first glance, like a small mark worn and
corroded for more than 120 years.

Reading the NRA Museum site on their Mk II, they mention that Webley and Sons
merged with W&C Scott and Sons in 1897 and formed Webley and Scott. Mine actually says
"W&S" under a cross section drawing of a bullet with a large hollow base and lube grooves.
So, Webley and Sons is likely what the W&S stands for rather than Webley and Scott,
since they first made the Mk IV.

Bill

 

[RicinYakima]

Keep us updated on how it is going.

 

[Pistolero]

Will do, letting it lay for a while.

 

[Steve in Micco]

I never seem to be able to hang on to one of these critters. ...friends keep throwing money and guns at me to selfishly enjoy by themselves.

Last one I owned came with a box and a half of Fiiochi .450 rounds (made in the 80s or 90s, I believe). Akin to shooting a .22 CB cap on steroids.