I'm beginning to make some progress on the 425 Westley Richards Imp. Improved usually means blowing out the case to increase capacity. Not this time. All the improving is going to be curing the feeding issues.

From what I have been able to find out, the 425 WR came out shortly after the 404J in 1909.

WR had a really cheap design staff. They wanted to try and cut corners on the case.

READ: not pay Mauser extra for a true magnum action, or even a magnum bolt face.

They cut the 404J case length from 2.85" to 2.64" and heavily rebated the rim from .532" to the standard .473". The round had such feeding issues WR ended up placing a set of "ears" at the rear of the box to help lift the case out of the magazine and chamber it. Sometimes it worked, but only the factory got it to do so satisfactorily/consistently. I guess it did keep anyone else from copying it.

Fast forward from 1909 to last month. I had some contact with a factory 425 WR bolt rifle owner/shooter.

He fixed the problems by using 404J brass and fitting a second bolt to the rifle. Magnum bolt face and 404J brass, cured the problem.
375 RUM brass works almost as well, but I had to run it thru a 41 Magnum FL die before the 404J and then the 425 WR.

I planned on using one of the new LEE trimmers, but they don't make them for the WR. Since a custom trimmer die is only about $25, I figured to go that route.

New Problem: LEE trimmer custom dies require the shooter to send two fired/FL cases and a trim length. The case forming die set from RCBS includes both form and trim dies, but the absolute minimum length they will trim a case to is 2.64". I'd like to trim to .003" shorter than factory, leaving a 2.61" length to load from.

Stay tuned, I know I can make this work.

Rich

Ran into much the same problems with my 8mm x 425 x 2'5" wildcat. Opened the bolt face and switch to .375 Ultra mag cases. had to lap the chamber a bit to fit. still have about 50 of the 8mm x 425 x 2'5" cases gathering dust. Got the reamer as well roger