Found this on Gun Broker. Seems like an interesting rifle. Lots of good pictures. The discription is a little exagerated. Is anybody familiar with the cartridge?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=45393109

I believe that JudgeG owned one some time back.

I personally know nothing about it.

.

Thanks for the replies, I have no interest in purchasing the rifle. It's something that is a little unsual in my area. I'm not that knowledgable about English gun companies and didn't know WR ever used Mannlicher actions. Was this a common action for English firms to use at the time?

Sam

.

This looks like it was built on the "Dutch" Mannlicher action which was designed for a rimmed catridge, thus the correct cartridge is the 375 flanged or 375 x 2.5. This action requires an ammo clip that acts as feed rails in addition to holding the five rounds, without those clips it becomes a single shot. The 9.5 x 56/57 was chambered in later actions with the rotary magazines. Ballistics are similar for both.

50calshtr saved me the trouble, he is 100% correct. I have two of these in .256 or 6.5x53r. Would not mind having the .375 but in view of the obvious condition, one wonders about the bore. Price seems a bit high.

.

Alf:

Mbogo375, who used to post here often, has a .375 2.5" proofed for a 270 grain bullet at something over 2000 fps??? Believe it or not, it is in a bolt action by H&H. When he bought the rifle from an auction site, he had no clue that a really great leather case came with it, complete with amazingly preserved Pan Am Clipper stickers and even baggage tickets. The gun is a real shooter, too.

I sold my .375 2.5" double and my .375 MS (9.5x56) bolt gun last year. Both are in good hands now and I hope they make it back to Africa like I escorted them to the chagrin to some plains game.

Maybe Jim will see this and post a picture. It is a beautiful gun!

Alf, I am trying to follow your last post but am a mite confused. This rifle is built on a Steyr-Mannlicher action which preceded the M/S, the Schonauer contribution being, as I recall, the rotary magazine that was so prized for rimless versions of cartridges such as the 6.5x54. The Steyr was developed for the 6.5x53 rimmed cartridge and utilized "enbloc" clips that were indeed the feed system for the action, as stated by 50calshtr. When the last round from the clip was chambered, the clip fell out of the bottom of the magazine. In my research of these particular actions, I have seen reference to Brit builders offering them in .375 x 2.5. Someone on this board has one made by H&H , so while unusual, it is not unprecedented. I have been contemplating building one myself on a surplus action that I have. As you stated, B.S.A did offer the .375 on the Lee and I saw one twenty years ago at a Houston gun show and if I had known what it was then, I would have purchased it! As to why the Brits did not adopt the 9.3x62, do you think maybe it was too close ballistically to the .318 express, which was also very popular? Possibly a little nationalism was involved? Lee.

Alf, count me among the confused also.

Here's an earlier thread on the .375x2.5 Flanged

.375X2.5 Flanged ?

Here's a link to one built by Cogswell & Harrison:

Cogswell & Harrison

Washougal Chris

.

Is the "375 Taper Case" the same as "375 Flanged Nitro Express 2 1/2"?

Thanks,
Washougal Chris

Sounds like if you have one of these unusual chamberings you need a chamber cast to make sure which cartridge your rifle is chambered for.

Like Ernst I had a 375 Express/9.5 x 57 MS. My rifle was a M1910 action stoked in a take-down version by one of the British firms.

Damn thing beat the crap out of me.

Beautiful rifle though. Exquisite workmanship.

LD