Anyone out there with reloading and hunting experience of this old thing?
Is Woodleigh the only available bullet?
Can brass be readily formed from .30-06?

I�m fighting the urge to buy one....help me lose.

Boha

Well

Yes, the aussie company makes bullets for it. But that is about it when it comes to bullet selection.

I have no clue regarding the cases, I guess Horneber makes then if you should need any

Good luck with fighting the urge
/ JOHAN

I really like the .318 WR. I do make cases from .30/06. Hawk makes a 200 gr. SOFTpoint for it, but I think Woodleigh may be the only 250 gr. maker. I have hunted very little with mine but expect to do more in the future.

Telly

Build a 338/284 on a light Mauser action and pretend that's what you're shooting.

I think this is a great cartridge, and few have more of a history. However, there are so many really good medium bores around this size and power level, you would have to justify it solely on the basis of having an odd gun (no disrespect intended).

Allow me to put my several cents worth in...quite a few years ago I picked up a Westley Richards in .318. It was a very plain working gun, and the guy who sold it didn't tell me it needed a new firing pin, but that was easy. I bought some RCBS forming dies and went to work. I don't know why, but it was a real pain in the you know what to form those cases. Anyway someone wanted the rifle more than I did, and it was gone.
My suggestion is that you get yourself a .338/06 Improved. You have a wide selection of .338 bullets from flat nose to boat tail and in a lot of weights. Also brass is very easy to form. I had one built on an m-70 action, and sold it also, as I want to build one using a 98 mauser action.
The ballistics are about equal and it even LOOKS like a .318 cartridge. Just a thought since when I had mine there were only a couple of bullets in .330 diameter available and they were quite expensive.
Hope this was of some help to you.

Hawk will make you 250 grain bullets on special order. They're inexpensive and come quickly. Forming the brass out of '06 requires a pass through the forming die and then turning the necks to proper length. If you have a power trimmer it's a lot easier.

As has been said, it won't do anything that a 338/06 won't do easier but if you can get the real thing for a good price it fairly screams Africa . . . with reserve and panache old bean, don'tcherknow. Beware, owning a .318 causes dreams of pith helmets, monocles and bushy mustaches. Cravings for claret and vintage port will follow along with a tendency to huff when you speak and the development of a funny accent. People will look at you strangely, your children will forget that they know you and your dog will go sleep on your wife's lap where it's safe. Next you will demand a .404 and eventually a double rifle. Beware, beware, you are wading in dangerous waters.

I've not taken anything but a wild pig with mine, yet, but the exit hole was awesome. It goes to Mozambique and RSA next year . . . along with my .404.

[ 05-10-2003, 17:21: Message edited by: Oldsarge ]

I got a Coswell, in 318 WR. I shot nothing but the 250 Gr Woodleighs. I bought 200 of the things and I still have enought to last a good bit of time. Out side of working up a load. I'm using RL-15. And zeroing it in. I shot it maybe 6 or 7 times in the field. At this rate, and I owned this rifle since the Mid 1990's Those bullets will last me well into the Mid 2000's. A .338-06 would be a better cartridge, due to the simple fact that just about everybody has .338 bullets. But should you fine yourself one, by all means buy it and shoot it. Yep bullets are few and far between and yea they cost a few bucks.But when ever I hunt with mine, it harkins back to the days when the Sun never set on the British Empire, and you could shoot game till you dropped in British East Africa. I also have a 6.5 x 54 MS and a 416 Rigby so Robert Ruark and Hemingway would approve. The only problem is that almost nobody takes three guns on Safari these days.

CH4-D makes bullet sizing dies. Run the bullet up into the successive dies and you'll size it down.

www.ch4d.com

George, you going to the Gunshow at the Patty Center this 04/26 and 27th?

[ 04-20-2003, 03:48: Message edited by: Roger Rothschild ]

Boha,
I agree everyone ought to have at least 1 450/400 3 inch in their collection! A wonderful round!
My is a wonderful rifle!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Boha, Abercrombie & Fitch used to carry pith helmets, and no safari (African, backyard, or anywhere else) is complete without one. - Dan

Boha,
Stiff upper lip, old chap, helmets are easy to come by. Pers'n'ly I favor the one's by www.tagsafari.com They're the proper shape for safari (or shikar in Inja, for that mattah) and they're the real goods. Proper cork construction, 100% cotton cover and made in Zimbabwe. Last time I looked, the range was right around $59.95 + the nuisance of shippin'. They've got an outlet in Texas, of all the strange places, so even colonists can get on simply.

Long live the spirit of Khaki!

[ 04-27-2003, 07:41: Message edited by: Oldsarge ]

Oldsarge

I guess you are born 100 years too late, but I must agree that there is nothing like the good old day's

The link doesn't work that good. Would you be most kind and get it right so the rest of us can fill up the gift list for x-mas

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Corrected URL:

http://www.tagsafari.com/

(Oldsarge's link above accidentally had a period included in the URL after .com i.e.: ".com.")

I have no idea whether they still can supply .330 bullets, but I used to use Barnes .330's in my WR .318, until I sold it in 1976. They worked spendidly, when loaded in front of either Norma 203 or Gevelot RP3.

Another relatively inexpensive route (over the long haul) is to buy a Corbin or similar make of "pointing-up" die of proper diameter. Then run jacketed 8 m/m bullets into the die and "bump" them up to .330" diameter from .323". I prefer bumping up to sizing down, as there is no particular liklihood of the jackets loosening on bumped up bullets. (That can happen on sized down bullets.) Some 232 gr. 8 m/m bullets so done with TLC might make a pretty good, inexpensive, plinker for your .318 --

Good luck...it's a great old round. (And either an 8mm/06 Imp or .338/06 Imp with heavy bullets will likely be indistinguishable to you or the game.)

AC

boha:

A nice British-built .318 is very much worth having. I've wanted one for years but have been too occupied with doubles.

When you find one, it will usually be an older British rifle. When you get it, SLUG THE BORE. Such rifles are well known for significant variations in groove diameter and if significantly smaller or larger than standard, you're going to be stuck with bumping up or sizing down anyway, if you want the best results.

The Woodleigh is an excellent bullet and, as noted, Hawk will make any weight and diameter you want for a cheaper alternative. For the .318, a set of Corbin "bump-up" and "cut-down" dies makes a lot of sense and are easy to use. This would permit you to use any off-the-shelf .323 8m/m or .338 bullet you want (although I haven't tried them on any kind of homogenous bullet, and wouldn't).

In regard to sized-down jacketed bullets, as opposed to bumped-up, being prone to jacket/core separation - I've heard this since I was a kid, and someone else posted the same thing over on the Gunsmithing Forum not long ago. I've been trying to prove the truth of this for years - by sizing down instead of bumping up a variety of bullets for my British rifles with odd diameter grooves, which I use almost exclusively. I've never gotten anything but perfect results. I understand the technicana behind the argument and it makes sense in theory, but it's an old wives' tale. Personally, I believe that the likelihood of jacket/core separation due to resizing is slightly greater with bumping up than sizing down - which is to say, slim and none. Either way will work fine.
------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Well, it's possibly a good thing you don't make benchrest bullets for a living if you believe sizing down will not loosen jackets on bullets. I suggest you talk with Walt Berger or some of the other BR bullet makers about the phenomenon.

Anyway, the bullet makers I've talked with don't consider it an old wives tale...perhaps you might want to visit Richard Corbin's web-site. Am not absolutely sure I recall a commentary by him there, but certainly seem to. Anyway, Richard is quite good about answering questions of that sort...

Final analysis, though...if sizing down works well enough for you, then stick with it. I still prefer bumping up, which works well for me.

Best wishes,

AC

I like the name and history of this round. "318 Westley Richards" sounds fine in my ears. And back in the days men like Karamojo Bell and James Sutherland used it on elephant with success.

Just for fun I'll tell you about a 318 I saw for sale some weeks ago. It was a Rigby Mauser takedown in near perfect condition. Both gun and price tag took my breath away. I think they wanted $3500 US for it, if memory serves me. Awesome gun.

Live well.

While I'm at it, I'd like to ask your opinions on another gun I found for sale. It's an Oberndorf Mauser sporter in 10.75x68, all original. Not sure the type (A, African, or ?). They have been asking $3200 US for a long time, but the other day they said the first $2500 could have it. Is this price 'reasonable' for such a piece? All replies appreciated.

Live well

[ 04-30-2003, 06:28: Message edited by: Big Redhead ]

Big Redhead
The 318 WR is a classic for sure.
I think the 10.75x68 Mauser would make an excellent rifle for all big game short of buff.
I am suprised more people do not make one up on the abundant military Mauser actions around. It would seem to be a most excellent bigbore Especially for North American big game with minimal action work required. It seems a good combination of power, recoil and rifle weight. If I was Bolt Rifle Trash I would have to have one.

Big Redhead,
the price for the 10,75x68 is O.K.
I have a new build 10,75 Mauser rifle and the price was nearly 5000.- Euro (1998).
It�s a excellent round for shooting and reloading.
My rifle shoots groups under 1" at 100 meters with the FMJ and the soft point.

I've seen prices here in Sweden for original Mauser Oberndorf with octagonal barrel 10.75x68 around 1000USD and above. But they are very rare.

If RWS could start producing ammo for it again it would be a nice moose and bear gun. And perhaps it could even see some light in Africa to. The great hunter James Sutherland used it sometimes on elephant!

Johan take a look at this side

http://www.mamut.com/homepages/Sweden/1/18/vapenstallet/subdet13.htm

Perhaps I had wrong about the price of original Oberndorf. But some nice rifle there is.

About $1500 to $2000 will get you a Mauser Obendorf 10.75x68 and btw you can get 2300 fps plus little more with a 350 gr. BarnesX with it and if thats not a Buff gun then I don't know what is.....The problem until recently was brass but now Horneber is making 10.75 x 68 brass and its good stuff...I like the caliber.

I have one but I had John Ricks install a Blackburn wide 404 box and rechamber it to a 404 Jefferys..I really like this light nice gun and it churns up enough recoil to cause a lip flutter factor that last about 15 minutes after each shot, but it a dandy to pack...

The .318 shooting the Woodleigh .330 bullet weighing 250 grs has a SD of .328 and will penitrate like the dickens..enough to make it famous.

Guys,

I looked at the Mauser 10.75x68 again this week. It is definitely an Oberndorf action but it has the left side thumb cut and clip slot in the bridge. Does this mean it's a custom from a military action, or were sporters made with these features?

By the way, the rifle is actually pictured in John Speed's book on Mauser rifles - not one like it, but this very rifle, as identified by serial number. Interesting. Might this make it more desireable or valuable on the collector market?

Live well.

Elmer Keith liked the .318 so well the he decided to copy it, or at least its performance. That's where the .333 OKH comes from. Since .333 Winchester bullets in 250+ grains were a lot more available on this side of the pond back then, he sort of combined the bullet diameter of the .333 Jeffery with the case of the .318 and voila!, an allegedly new idea. And it worked just fine and dandy. A little heavy in the bullet for lil' whitetail, perhaps, but the absolute bee's knees for elk and old Elmer was first and foremost an elk hunter. So if you just want a good hunting caliber then Westley Richards', Elmer's or whotheheck's idea of the .338/06 are all grand. But if y' want somethin' that calls forth the sundowner's of the mind, than nothin' but the original will do, lads, nothin'!

I say, Boha, didjer ever succomb to the temptation or was the double 400 so temptin' that y'went the whole route march? Like to hear what further progress y've made, what?

[ 05-19-2003, 08:25: Message edited by: Oldsarge ]

Big Redhead,
The problem with the 10.75 is Bertrum brass, worthless stuff but that's about it, Now, supposedly Horneber is coming out with some brass but its not out yet and how long will the supply last and you can't make that brass out of any other cartridge I don' think...that is why I finally rechambered mine...something I have never regretted..I can load my 404 down to a 10.75 or up to the monster mash of a 400 gr. bullet at 2600 FPS...

The 10.75x 68 was never popular and never will be, It is nothing more than a giant size headache...I like them simply because they are s different, no other reason is applicable. and when all the brass disapears it can be rechamber to only one cartridge if a sho nuff gunsmith does the work...Only the 404 will clean the chamber and thats risky close.

Well, you know, Oldsarge, I got hold of my senses, and decided not to, although it was tempting; the rifle had a new stock, made by a master albeit, but I thought that I�ll put my money on something else.
The 318 time will come, but then it must be an original in every sense (this is what I tell myself now, to feel better).
Just put up a Ruger no 1 280 rem, a 22 Colteer and a useless H&K P7M13 for sale. There is room in the gun safe again.
Then I ordered the first Sako 416 Rigby ever made. Thought that I ought to own a Sako, living in Finland and all..
But the 450/400 haunts me still..

The post on 318 turned out to be pretty interesting. All of a sudden you were talking about 10,75x68! I have one of them and love toting that 30" barreled thing around the forrest.

Boha

If you want the performance of the 318 WR in a case that is easy to load, then load the .30-06 with the Barnes 250 grain round nose bullet at a velocity of 2300 fps and you will have the same performance. You also get an increase in sectional density.