View source for .455 Webley

{{Short description|British handgun cartridge}}
{{Infobox firearm cartridge
| name = .455 Webley
| image = 455 Webley Revolver.jpg | image_size = 300px
| caption = A variety of .455 Webley cartridges
| origin = [[United Kingdom]]
| type = [[Revolver]]
<!-- Service history -->
| service = 
| used_by = 
| wars = 
<!-- Production history -->
| designer = 
| design_date = 
| manufacturer = [[Royal Arsenal|Royal Laboratory Woolwich Arsenal]], [[Birmingham Small Arms Company]], [[Eley Brothers]], [[Kynoch]] Limited, Grenfell & Accles, Kings Norton Metal Company, Dominion Cartridge Company.
| production_date = 
| number = 
| variants = Mk I / Mk II<ref>Donnelly, John J. and Donnelly, Judy, ''The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversion'', (Skyhorse Publishing, NY/NY, 2011), pp. 371,372.</ref>
<!-- Specifications Mk I / Mk II-->
| is_SI_specs = 
| version = 
| case_type = Straight, [[Rim (firearms)|rimmed]]
| bullet = 0.454 / 0.454
| neck = 0.473 / 0.476
| shoulder = na / na
| base = 0.478 / 0.480
| rim_dia = 0.530 / 0.535
| rim_thick = 0.039 / 0.045
| case_length = 0.886 / 0.770
| length = 1.460 / 1.230
| case_capacity= 23.23 / 18.30
| rifling = 
| primer = Large pistol (Small pistol in modern Fiocchi loadings)
| max_pressure=13000
| max_cup = 
| filling = 
| filling_weight = 
| detonation = 
| yield = 
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
| is_SI_ballistics = 
| bwunit = 
| bw1 = 265
| btype1 = FMJ<ref>Mark I factory load, [[Kynoch]] [[black powder]]. Barnes, Frank C., ed. Amber, John T. ''Cartridges of the World'' (DBI, 1972), p. 174, ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt".</ref>
| vel1 = 700
| en1 = 289
| bw2 = 265
| btype2 = 
| vel2 = 600
| en2 = 212
| bw3 = 265
| btype3 = 
| vel3 = 757
| en3 = 337
| bw4 = 265
| btype4 = 
| vel4 = 600&nbsp;ft/s (180&nbsp;m/s)<ref name="enfield175"/>
| en4 = 220
| bw5 = 200
| btype5 = 
| vel5 = 900
| en5 = 360
| test_barrel_length = 
| balsrc = 
}}

'''.455 Webley'''  is a British [[handgun]] [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]], most commonly used in the [[Webley Revolver|Webley top break revolvers]] Marks I through VI. It is also known as "'''.455 Eley'''" and "'''.455 Colt'''".

The .455 cartridge was a [[Service pistol|service revolver]] cartridge, featuring a rimmed cartridge firing a .455 in (11.5 mm) [[bullet]] at the relatively low velocity of 650&nbsp;ft/s (190&nbsp;m/s). The result was a cartridge and handgun combination with comparatively mild recoil. The .455 MK III "cupped" cartridge was rated superior to the [[.45 Colt]] in stopping power in the disputed United States [[Thompson-LaGarde Tests]] of 1904 that resulted in the adoption by the U.S. of the [[.45 ACP]] cartridge.

The .455 Webley cartridge remained in service with British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces until the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]].

==Variants==
Six main types of .455 ammunition were produced:

* .455 Webley Mk I [11.55×21.7mmR]: Introduced in 1891. 265 [[Grain (measure)|grain]] (17.2&nbsp;g) solid lead round-nosed bullet propelled by [[black powder]]. All subsequent .455 designs used [[cordite]] propellant. In 1894 some Mark I cartridges were loaded with cordite (identified by a case cannelure and "C" headstamp) but it was found combustion was more efficient in a shorter case.
* .455 Webley Mk II [11.55×19.3mmR]:<ref name="Maze">{{cite book | title=The Webley Service Revolver | publisher=Osprey Publishing | author=Maze, Robert | year=2012 | pages=21, 40 | isbn=9781780968865}}</ref> Introduced in 1897. 265 grain (17.2&nbsp;g) solid lead round-nosed bullet propelled by {{convert|6.5|gr|g|abbr=on}}<ref name="enfield175">Barnes, p. 175, ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3".</ref> [[cordite]]. With the change to cordite propellant, case lengths were reduced. There are minor differences between the Mk I and II bullet shape, though these concern the internal dimensions and so are not immediately apparent.
** (1900-1912) Replaced the Mk III until it was replaced by the Mk IV. The bullet is made of a 12:1 ratio lead-tin alloy.
** (1914-1939) Replaced the Mk V until it was replaced by the Mk VI. The bullet is made of a 99% lead and 1% antimony alloy.
* .455 Webley Mk III [11.55×19.3mmR]: Introduced in 1898. The famous "[[Manstopper]]" bullet intended for police, civilian and [[British Empire|colonial]] use. Essentially, the Mk III was a 218 grain lead "[[hollowpoint]]" design, propelled by cordite. The cylindrical bullet had hemispherical hollows at each end: one to seal the barrel, the other to deform on impact. This bullet was soon prohibited for use by the military because it was not compliant with the [[Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)|Hague Convention of 1899]]. The Mark III was withdrawn from service in 1900 and the Mark II was reintroduced.
* .455 Webley Mk IV [11.55×19.3mmR]: Introduced in 1912. 220 grain, flat-nosed [[wadcutter]] with cordite propellant. Designed with the goal of producing a more effective bullet than the Mark II without violating the terms of the Hague Convention.
* .455 Webley Mk V [11.55×19.3mmR]: Introduced in 1914. Identical to the Mk IV bullet,<ref>Chamberlain, W.H.J. and Taylerson, A.W.F. ''Revolvers of the British Services 1854–1954'' (Bloomfield, Ont,: Museum Restoration Service, 1989), p. 33.</ref><ref>Harris, Lynn H. ''Notes on .455 Webley Revolver Cartridges'' (Wellington, NZ: self-published, 1987), p. 12.</ref> but cast from a harder lead-alloy containing more [[antimony]] with cordite propellant. This cartridge was only in use from April to November 1914. Upon its withdrawal the Mark II cartridge was returned to service. Remaining stocks were designated for target practice and unloaded cases were loaded with Mark II bullets.
* .455 Webley Mk VI [11.55×19.3mmR]: Introduced in 1939. A 265-grain [[Full metal jacket bullet|full-metal-jacketed]] bullet intended for military purposes, designed to comply with the Hague Conventions. This cartridge was used during World War II. The propellant was {{convert|5.5|-|7.5|gr|g|abbr=on}} cordite or {{convert|5.5|gr|g|abbr=on}} [[nitro-cellulose]].<ref name="enfield175"/> Cordite-loaded cartridges bear a "VI" on the headstamp while nitrocellulose-loaded cartridges are indicated with a "VIz".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cartridgecollector.net/cartridge/455-webley-mkii-vi/ | title=455 WEBLEY Mk.II – VI | accessdate=11 January 2025}}</ref>

In addition to the Webley revolvers, the British and Canadian armies also ordered several thousand [[Smith & Wesson]] [[Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector First Model|.44 Hand Ejector]] revolvers, chambered in .455 Webley,<ref>{{cite book | title=Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson | publisher=Gun Digest Books | author=Supica, Jim | year=2016 | location=Iola, WI | pages=195, 500 | isbn=978-1440245633}}</ref> in a rush to equip their troops for the [[World War I|Great War]]. The urgency was such that the earliest of these were converted from revolvers already completed and chambered for [[.44 Special]]. Approximately 60,000 [[Colt New Service]] revolvers were also purchased, in .455.

Commercial manufacturers [[Fiocchi]], [[Prvi Partizan|PPU]], Steinel, and [[Hornady]] currently produce the .455 Webley cartridge (in Mk II).

==.455 Webley Auto==
The .455 Webley Auto Mk I cartridge was produced from 1913 to about the middle of World War II. This is a semi-rimmed cartridge for the [[Webley Self-Loading Pistol|Webley & Scott Self Loading pistol]]s.<ref name="Maze"/>

The early version of the cartridge (c.1904) had a shorter{{clarifyme|date=December 2023|than what?}} {{convert|21.7|mm|abbr=on}} semi-rimmed case with a narrow rim and a pointed bullet. A later improved version of the cartridge (c.1910) was similar except it had a {{convert|23.54|mm|2|abbr=on}} long case and a round-nosed bullet. The Mk 1 service round (c.1913) was identical to the 1910 version of the cartridge except it had a thicker rim.

The Mk 1 cartridge's bullet [[Headspace (firearms)|headspaced]] on the rim.  It was loaded with a {{convert|224|gr|g oz|abbr=on|lk=on}} cupro-nickel-jacketed bullet with a [[muzzle velocity]] of {{convert|700|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.<ref>Wilson (1943) p.228</ref>

Various [[Submachine gun|submachine-guns]] were tested using this cartridge, however none were adopted.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

===First World War===
The Webley & Scott pistol was sold to the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and [[Royal Navy]] during World War I. There were also some [[M1911 pistol|Colt M1911 pistols]] chambered in .455 Auto purchased by the Royal Navy. Although not a standard sidearm or a standard service cartridge, a few Colt M1911 "British service models" chambered in .455 Auto were sold commercially to British navy and army officers through outfitters.<ref>McCollum, Ian (27 October 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkBgj9nMWQ Forgotten Weapons</ref> The service ammunition came packed in seven-round boxes stamped "not for revolvers" to prevent confusion.

==.476 Enfield==
Despite the difference in caliber names, [[.476 Enfield]] was quite similar to the .455 Webley. They both feature .455" bullets, the ".476" designation referring to the diameter of the cartridge case, not the diameter of the bullet. Although the Webley Mk I revolver was adopted in 1887, the .455 Webley cartridge wasn't introduced until 1891. In the interim, the new revolvers were loaded with the previous service pistol cartridge, .476 Enfield. Even after .455 Webley ammunition became available, and the casing was shortened in the changeover from the Mk I to Mk II load, all Webley military revolvers, from Mks I though VI, were produced with .455 Webley Mk I case-length chambers. While the .476 Enfield has a cartridge case longer than Webley Mk II, it's shorter than Webley Mk I, therefore .476 Enfield ammunition can be chambered and fired in any Webley military revolver chambered for .455 Webley, in much that same way that .38 Special may be fired in revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum, and .44 Special may be fired in revolvers chambered for .44 Magnum - though in the case of the .476 Enfield and .455 Webley, they both feature the same low velocities.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:WebleyCartridges.jpg|From left to right: .450 Adams, .455 Webley Mk I, .455 Webley Mk II cartridges
File:455 Webley auto cartridge.JPG|.455 Webley Auto Mk I cartridge
File:Colt 1911 Cal. 455.JPG|[[M1911 pistol]] "British Service Model", which uses the Webley Auto Mk I cartridge. The weapon is stamped with ".455" on the slide and the underside of the magazine
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of rimmed cartridges]]
* [[Table of handgun and rifle cartridges]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".476 Eley/.476 Enfield Mk-3", in ''Cartridges of the World'', pp.&nbsp;175 & 178. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. {{ISBN|978-0-695-80326-1}}.
* Maze, Robert J. ''Howdah to High Power''. Tucson, AZ: Excalibur Publications, 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-880677-17-9}}.
* Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pistols'', p.&nbsp;228. Plantersville, SC: Small Arms Technical Publishing Company, 1943.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://cartridgecollectors.org/455/introto455.htm "Those Confusing .455s" by Chris Punnett]{{dead link|date=January 2025}} — Additional information on the .455 Webley cartridge

{{WWI British Empire small arms}}
{{Rimmed cartridges}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:455 Webley}}
[[Category:Military cartridges]]
[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:British firearm cartridges]]
[[Category:Rimmed cartridges]]