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.455" Webley Revolver ammunition question.

Bockscar

Bockscar

Well-Known Member
Whilst doing some collection tidying up and examining this box of .455" Webley rounds , I decided to pull one of the projectiles from its case and found this hard plastic spacer inside. Taking apart another two rounds showed them to be empty. Does anyone have any ideas at all as to just what this plastic item actually is? It is shaped to the same form as the inside base of the case itself and even has the indents of the fireholes on its surface... the other end is concave in shape where the projectile sits upon it.

P1010031.jpgP1010032.jpgP1010037.jpgP1010038.jpg
Images show the box, the opened box and the plastic piece both ways up.
What I do not want to hear is that this is a "pill" of propellant thank you very much!!

Bockscar
 
I am suspicious that these rounds are not original to the packet. As pointed out, the rounds are Mark VIz yet the packet shows cordite loaded Mark VI.

I have never seen anything like the plastic insert before. As the other rounds were empty I think this was someone's attempt to inert the cartridge. Perhaps it is hot glue that has set?

In any case, I do not think it is original....but never say never!

Regards
TonyE
 
Tony, Glevum,

Thanks for you interest in this...your thoughts are appreciated.
Tony, if you look at the packet it certainly does say Mk VI but after that there is a faint black ink overstamp "Z"....I don't think I even saw this myself until you brought up the fact!
 
You are right, I did not see that either, so probably the contents are original to the packet.

I am still suspicious of the contents however!

Cheers
TonyE
 
Bockscar,
Was the box sealed when you got it?

I have seen several boxes of Canadian .455 Mk.VI z, and they have all used Mk.VI boxes with the additional rubber stamped "Z", so the rounds could well be original to the box.


Roger

PS, A Happy New Year to All!
 
Ydnum303,

The rounds were purchased some years ago as inert items and the box label was nicely cut with a sharp blade on the fold line, so all nice and tidy there.I have no reason to suspect that the rounds are not original to the box...the reason for purchase was the fact that it was a complete box. Sometimes when you open up a previously inserted item, you may find the odd flake of propellant or even a stick of cordite left in the case. ( happened to me with a 30/40 Krag years ago ). I am thinking of cutting a piece of this spacer and seeing how it reacts to a flame just to put my mind to rest over this.

Bockscar.
 
Hi

I think you will find its a resin substance been used for part of the inerting process.

In the good old days a few years back now when you could buy stuff like that on eBay with no problems, some eBay sellers seemed to go through a trend of filling the empty void in the case with resin, as part of the inerting process, claiming it prevents refilling.

It appears from the picture that's what you have.

from Bazooka Chris
 
Looking at the plastic inserts, they look purpose made, bit of an extravagance for making rounds inert. Maybe they are some form of pressed cordite propellant (looks the colour) part of a trial batch? The only way to prove this is to test a piece to see if it will burn like cordite.
 
Last edited:
BMG50
To make the resin bits there not custom made.
It takes seconds to do all you do is get your container of resin and simply pour it into the case job done.
They obviously take the form of the case perfectly hence when they fall out they look custom made.

from bazooka chris
 
Bazooka Chris, BMG50,

I can see where you are coming from with regards to the resin theory, it's just that I have never seen this form of inserting cases before...I am more used to the usual method of dumping the propellant and oiling the primer. Anyway in a straight sided case it doesn't work as the "insert" fell out easily upon removal of the projectile....obviously if it were a bottlenecked case things would be different! The way the piece has taken the shape and features of the inside of the case including the fire holes, leads me to believe that it is in fact resin at this point, although it is good to know that some people at least are thinking along the same lines as me in wondering if it is in fact some sort of propellant! I shall carry out a flame test and report back with the results in due time.

Bockscar.
 
In my experience dealing with resin it's usually there for good unless the case inside has a film of oil in it. The resin would also be stuck to the two primer holes in the case. Inserting in a bullet head in a resin filled case would create a kind of hydrologic force to keep the head down in place. Are there any marking on the plastic piece?
 
Thanks goodness for that! I've just checked all my posts to make sure it wasn't me who mentioned the " head " word!

off the hook.

Bockscar
 
That looks like me after the Christmas food fest!

I promise to try to be good in 2014, but......

Cheers
TonyE
 
Well the flame test on this insert was conclusive...it certainly wasn't some sort of cordite although it did indeed burn, albeit very slowly and with that pungent smell of plastic with attendant black smoke. I suppose that all it was in the end was some sort of resin infill used in an attempt to inert the case. Looking at the insert now it is easy to see how, as a liquid, it followed the contours of the base of the case and copied the fire holes exactly in relief.
Another one solved by BOCN!

Bockscar.
 
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