A sort of market investigation;

Question:
If a major ammunition maker started to produce new .318 Westley Richards ammunition, would you then consider to acquire a rifle in that caliber?

Choices:
Yes
No

 

No, I wouldn't. Not when you can buy a .338 that'll outperform it and will no doubt be cheaper. Pick a rifle, pretty much any rifle, and odds are you can get it in .338.

It's a nice piece of history but you can do better from a technical standpoint. You may get sales in the high end niche market though for those who want history and authenticity.

I have one, and would build me another one were you to convince someone to make the ammo (and brass, mind you)

At the moment, my dad is building a M98 custom rifle chambered in .318 Westley Richards. We get a custom barrel from Lothar Walther. The ammo is from Kynoch, we get from the customer.

Martin

It would be nice if there was another choice for factory ammo but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. As it is, I'm in the planning stages for a build in this cartridge and did not let the lack of factory ammunition deter me with this decision.

What I'd like to see is a better selection of premium-grade bullets. I know it's probably a pipe-dream but a Swift A-Frame and a Woodleigh Protected Point would be a good start. There are around 3-4 brands of brass available right now but it would be nice if there was better access to it.

Genuine curiousity here - Has it been rumored that a major ammunition manufacturer may be thinking about producing 318 W-R ammo?

I like the IDEA of a 318 WR but in actuality there's one lurking inside every 8X57, 8mm-06, 338-06, 338 Fed, 338 RCM and a plethora of other medium bore cartridges. Classic cartridges really appeal to me but unfortunately the 318WR has crossed the line from classic to obsolete.

I really wanted a 318 WR but circumstances are such that I built a 338-06 instead. Playing with the 338-06 for the last couple of years has demonstrated to me why the 318 WR was so popular in the first place. Light medium bore cartridges with relatively heavy bullets kill game with an authority out of proportion to the recoil they generate.

Could the 318 WR make a comeback? Sure. In some respects it already has. Still it has a long ways to go in terms of assured accessibility to quality brass and bullets at a reasonable price.

When 318 WR brass is available for less than $1 per piece and there's a range of good bullets (including non-premium bullets for $0.30 each) available, the 318 WR will become viable in my eyes. In the meantime, it's just a daydream.

I hope Hornady is reading this.

It has only got one good point (other than reviving old rifles back into use) in that it was a useful cartridge where 30-06 and 8x57 were banned as "military" calibres. In its day it was a well though African calibre.

But I think that the 338-06 and the 8x68 now have seen it off. Personally I'd even think that the 8mm-06 is a better choice!

I voted yes, but then I'm just an Old Fart That and I visited the WR factory I don't want to visit A-Square.

While there is nothing wrong with a .318 WR, or the 333 Jeffery for that matter, if building a new bolt rifle a 9,3x62 would be my choice.

When I want something more than a 30-06, but not too much more, I opt for the 9.3x62.

I love the old rounds but they are not for me. I have an old 7.65 Argentine and that is my only obsolete classic. With my limited means I need to stay with more mainstream cartiges. It would be real nice to have the option though.

I voted "Yes", but am half-way tempted to withdraw that vote.

As I already have an 8x57 Steyr Professional, an 8mm/06, a Sako Safari Grade .338, an original late Husqvarna 9.3x62 sporter on the M98 action, an S&L .30-06, a ZKK .30-'06, and a bunch of other '06s, I can't think of a thing it could do in that small-medium-bore range that they couldn't.

Still I guess I'd keep my vote at "Yes", if it was in the right rifle. My last .318 WR was a genuine WR Mauser and it was slick as goose poop. In that kind of rifle, for under two large, I'd buy it again in a heart beat.

But in today's overpriced, thrown-together guns?

No, don't want another one of those....in ANY chambering.

Got one, took it to Africa. My wife used it and liked it so much she took it away from me! I liked it so much, I ordered a L/W barrel with the mauser A contour and I have a nice 1909 Arg. action and a nicer piece of English and I will make another! Really Guy's, to say that and 8/06, 338/06, 35 Whelan et al are so similar as to preclude it sounds pretty silly from the gun nuts that reside here! We will have to get rid of our 7x57,7/08,270,280's and so on if we used that reasoning. Brass is one pass with a /06 case through the sizer and a bit of trimming, not too difficult there! Woodleigh is the only manufacturer for 250 softs and solids to my knowledge but there are 200 grain softs available, Quality cartridge sells them and I believe Huntingtons does. At one time, the old .318 was the most popular British medium bore in Africa, just as the 9.3x62 was for the Germans. I sometimes believe this Forum singlehandedly revived the 9.3 here in the states, I believe the .318 is just as worthy. With the way Hornady is bringing back so many old ones, it might not take too much to get them in on it! I think a nice interlock in 225 and 250 would work out well. Lots of history in that old cartridge! Lee.

If Hornady gets on board, I'll get on board.

Yes, absolutely, but not in a 28" barrel

So, If Norma makes the cases and Hornady cheap 225 and 250 grain softnosed bullets, the .318 Westley Richars would raise again as the Queen of the Medium Bores as it was before WW II?!

Although I voted no, after second thought I would go for the 318 WR because I enjoy shooting something different than everyone else. My 375 H&H is probably the only common big game round I shoot. I consider my 358 Win and the metrics exotic. Lou

Here's a great write-up about the 318 WR and it's history:

http://huntnetwork.net/modules...s%20Perspectives.pdf

I voted no - but I could be talked into yes pretty easily, and I always reserve the right to change my mind!



There is just something about these old British cartridges that is nearly irresistable.

The 318 WR is certainly a classic but there's no reason to think it can do anything better than the 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, or even the 30'06 loaded with 240 gr Woodleighs (or 250 gr Barnes back in the day), except maybe put a bigger dent in a fella's credit card balance.

I voted "No"...

Imagine Tikka,Sako,S&L, Howa,Ruger or any other crapgunmaker chamber for .318WR....How disgraceful really .
The only factory rifle I could ever consider the .318WR was the Mauser M03..and only if the world rand out for the vintage rifles I couldn`t find.

If the price is right I'll buy almost any gun or cailber.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
The 318 WR is certainly a classic but there's no reason to think it can do anything better than the 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, or even the 30'06 loaded with 240 gr Woodleighs (or 250 gr Barnes back in the day), except maybe put a bigger dent in a fella's credit card balance.

Imgine then what a .318 Westley Richards could do with a 300 grain bullet!

quote:

At one time, the old .318 was the most popular British medium bore in Africa, just as the 9.3x62 was for the Germans. I sometimes believe this Forum singlehandedly revived the 9.3 here in the states, I believe the .318 is just as worthy. With the way Hornady is bringing back so many old ones, it might not take too much to get them in on it! I think a nice interlock in 225 and 250 would work out well. Lots of history in that old cartridge!

I voted no simply because the 338-06 & 8m/m-06 have filled that niche, but as stated above some economical bullets by Hornady could change that.

quote:

Originally posted by husky:

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
The 318 WR is certainly a classic but there's no reason to think it can do anything better than the 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, or even the 30'06 loaded with 240 gr Woodleighs...

Imagine then what a .318 Westley Richards could do with a 300 grain bullet!

With the original rifling twist rate probably a lot of hitting the target sideways, which tends to negate the value of high sectional density. If you want a classic cartridge with a notoriously high SD you're looking for the 333 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Express http://www.new-kynoch.apt-site...artridge%20range.htm

I agree with ForrestB. I built a .338-06 as well and have been totally happy with it. From impala, to whitetail deer, with eland and elk thrown in as well. In my opinion it performs far better than the recoil, muzzle blast and ctg size would dictate.

If I was 20 years younger, and good brass became available...I'd probably build one. Love those old Classics.

FN in MT

In the book Nimrod Smith by Alan Wykes there is a passage where Smith relates, using a 318 WR he had made for him, taking "Five elephants in twenty five seconds." All brain shots. Now with accounts like that one just has to like the 318.
Were I to visit England I'd be quite happy to go along to Westley Richards again, and who knows, might just buy one of their 318 rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:

quote:

Originally posted by husky:

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
The 318 WR is certainly a classic but there's no reason to think it can do anything better than the 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, or even the 30'06 loaded with 240 gr Woodleighs...

Imagine then what a .318 Westley Richards could do with a 300 grain bullet!

With the original rifling twist rate probably a lot of hitting the target sideways, which tends to negate the value of high sectional density. If you want a classic cartridge with a notoriously high SD you're looking for the 333 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Express http://www.new-kynoch.apt-site...artridge%20range.htm

As far as I know 275 grain bullets are fine in .318 WR. Ken Stewart in South Africa makes a wonderful 275 grains Semi spitser.

I already got a rifle chambered in .333 Jeffery

voted no because a 8x64S or .338-06 is much more practical.
just in the same way as, if i needed a 8x57IS i would buy a .308Win.

the simplest is often the best.

It seems like that we are having two factions concerning the re-introduction of the .318 WR.

The first faction is the practical one, that only looks at the performance of the .318 WR, and are saticied with the closest caliber up or down and they vote NO.

The second faction is the nostalgical blokes among us, that are looking on the history around the .318 WR and the 'good old days in the Empire' and are willing to pay a bit more for a .318 WR compared to its modern substitutes, and they (mostly) vote YES.

How many original or custom built .318 WR rifles are out among fellow AR friends?

I have seen 'boha' lovely Westley Richards

quote:

Originally posted by husky:

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
If you want a classic cartridge with a notoriously high SD you're looking for the 333 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Express http://www.new-kynoch.apt-site...artridge%20range.htm

I already got a rifle chambered in .333 Jeffery

Marvelous! How does it shoot? What game have you taken with it? Is it hard to feed in Sweden?

nordrseta,

The rifle is a Janssen Sons & Co, built ca 1925 in Belgium. The rifle came from India when I bought it.

I have developed some loads with 300 grain Woodleigh and Stewart bullets and tried Norma N-204 and MRP powders. The best group so far is 3" at 50 meters.

Not so very good.

But ít might be so that the rifle was originally regulated with 250 grain bullets

I havent tried any 250 grain loads as yet, because the rifle is still with my gunsmith in order to get left ejector to work proparly + some cosmetic jobs.

Hope to get going again with new loads and try 250 grain bullets in April.

Here in New Zealand the first legally shot Moose was shot by E J Herrick on 9th March 1929 using a 318 WR.
The above is a simple statement of fact.

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Here in New Zealand the first legally shot Moose was shot by E J Herrick on 9th March 1929 using a 318 WR.
The above is a simple statement of fact.

Harry Selby told me that the only caliber that has better penetration than the .416 Rigby is .318 Westley Richards! He shot at one time a charging black rhino with a 250 grain FMJ, the bullet penetrated straight through the body length vise, Harry found the exit hole on the back of the Rhino!

Of course the .318 WR deserves a better destiny!

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
When I want something more than a 30-06, but not too much more, I opt for the 9.3x62.

+1

The heartening finding in this thread is the number of people who like the 9.3x62. It's one great cartridge! Is it better than the 318? Mmm, it certainly is; and probably allways was, more popular, helped by it being available in low cost rifles. Perhaps Remington could make some rifles in 318 that would ensure it faded into obscurity.

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Perhaps Remington could make some rifles in 318 that would ensure it faded into obscurity.

But not before much ink was spilled by the gunrag wags extolling its many obvious virtues as the next big thing. "Remington's New 318: Smooth-Feeding Classic-Length Midbore Magic!"

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Here in New Zealand the first legally shot Moose was shot by E J Herrick on 9th March 1929 using a 318 WR.

Moose? Most of Oceania seems to have imported goats, pigs, rabbits, or rats. Good job on transplanting something fun.

[/QUOTE]Moose? Most of Oceania seems to have imported goats, pigs, rabbits, or rats. Good job on transplanting something fun.[/QUOTE]
Sadly they are pretty much extinct now, there has been the occasional attempt to find Moose, but little convincing evidence has been found.

I'd buy one, but would really be torn if someone also started doing the .333 ...