Gentlemen

While at SCI I had a chance to handle and speak with the staff at WR. I am considering ordering one of their 375 Left Handed Bolt actions, in the English tradition, with all the bells and whistles such as top strap and bottom full tang, H&H scope mount, top end sights with Island base,ect,ect. I am looking for some feedback before placing an order. any and all comments, especially from current owners would be greatly appreciated

Thank you
JPaul

Hell, if you are smart enough to be able to pay that tariff you don't need any help from us. Enjoy the rifle!

My WR 375 is from 1938. Can't speak for the current run, but I don't know why they'd be any less desirable. Did you talk to Kevin, or were there reps over from the UK?

thanks Biebs.


Bryan
All I was looking for was to exchange ideas and opinions from individuals that have ordered a Rifle and also anything that they would have done differently with regards to options ect. just as others do with the other brands of firearms, quite a few members here read and do not post and I thought I could entice some with a question on the WR product.

JP

JPaul

I'm sure it would be a great rifle, but if I was spending that kind of scratch I'd get Ralf Martini to make me one.

http://www.martiniandhagngunma....com/boltactions.htm


Ed

I would always recommend a pop up moon sight, but the Westley's already comes with this standard.

Westley Richards had their English sales manager at Dallas.

I had the pleasure of sharing a camp with him in the Selous three years ago. He knows his guns!

I love the "signature" way that the front sight is set back a bit from the end of the barrel, at least on their older rifles. If you like the tradition of Westley Richards (or H&H, Wm Evans, etc) but don't have the cash for a clean older rifle, look for the Mannlicher-Schoenauers or Mausers that were made for and labeled for the British houses. You can usually find them for $2,500-$4,000 (MS) and $4,000-$7,500 (Mauser).

If you feel the need to have an "english" rifle, then go for it. Personally, I think you can get certainly as good (probably better) for less money w/ one of the top US custom smiths.
I had Roger Green build a 416 Taylor for me and am currently having an AR regular build one. These rifles will easily compare to an english gun in all respects--except maybe costs.

Thank you all for you your opinions and advice.

JPaul

To quote from another member's signature line:

quote:

What I have learned on AR:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place to get a steak dinner? is…you really want pork chops....

Good luck with your project. Sorry I cannot provide any information but the maker does have an excellent reputation.

quote:

The proper answer to: Where is the best place to get a steak dinner? is…you really want pork chops....

Good catch Charles! I guess no one owns a Westley Richards.
Peter.

I did not intend for my original post to seem supercilious. I have a 1950 vintage WR low end rifle in 425WR, enjoy it a lot and wish I could afford a new WR with all the goodies

quote:

I guess no one owns a Westley Richards.
Peter.

Not so, quite a few of us own WR rifles on AR, but he asked ideas from people who had ordered them from WR.

I spoke to them also at SCI, it seems like they're using CZ actions now for their bolt action rifles, isn't that right?

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by JPaul:

I am considering ordering one of their 375 Left Handed Bolt actions, in the English tradition, with all the bells and whistles such as top strap and bottom full tang, H&H scope mount, top end sights with Island base,ect,ect.

Did you happen to ask them from where they would source the left hand action? Just curious.

I've long admired the photo of the new production bolt rifle on the WR website. If yours turns out anything like that one you should have a very fine rifle indeed.

Good luck with it.


cheers,
- stu

quote:

Not so, quite a few of us own WR rifles on AR, but he asked ideas from people who had ordered them from WR.

My apologies 500N. I assumed he was just asking a general question about WRs before he placed HIS order.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:

quote:

Not so, quite a few of us own WR rifles on AR, but he asked ideas from people who had ordered them from WR.

My apologies 500N. I assumed he was just asking a general question about WRs before he placed HIS order.
Peter.

Oooopppssss, I think you may be right. My aplogise.

What astounding civility on this thread. Are we sure this is the right URL?

Hi JPaul
I've got a love/hate thing about Westley Richards. I love the 318WR as an effective nostalgic cartridge and I admire those WR rifles from the 20s and 30s. I used to own one. What I hate about WR is the arrogance of the owner when I met him at their Birmingham factory. I won't buy a WR while he runs the show, however well made the rifles.

As a left hander I wanted a LH action and so I had to go for a modern English rifle. In the end my 375 has been made by Charles Lancaster and not WR. I have absolutely no regrets at all. The CL name and pedigree needs no introduction, and the costs are circa 20% less than WR and 40% less than H&H, with no compromise in quality.

Regards

My CL is built on a double square bridge Reimar Johannsen LH Mauser, not a CZ, BTW.

Richard

Thank you for your input. I did not realize that Lancaster was still in business. I will give them a call and see what is available and their pricing structure. I am disappointed in hearing of your expierience with the upper level management/owner of WR. I have not met the owner and have mainly been discussing my needs with their sales staff. Your rifle sounds very nice. I do know that the R.J. Mauser action is a gem.

Best Regards
J Paul

Stu

No, I did not ask where they source their actions from. I do know that the rifles that were shown to me have true Mauser actions that were very nice.

Best Regards
J Paul

I have a 1938 WR 375 H&H on a Magnum Mauser action. It appears to have been built as a hunter, with solid but straight-grained wood and little engraving. That was fine with me...I'm not much on frills on a hunting rifle. As far as fit, finish, and function, well...it's a Westley Richards.

If I can get a friend to download pictures of my English style .375 on Monday you will want to check it out. Built by Nate Heineke at www.nlheineke.com in Laramie, WY. He is finishing a .450 Rigby in the same style. I will be taking that one to Zim with Buzz and Myles for two tuskless, two buff, croc and hippo in 2011.

Dutch

Biebs,

Would love to see a picture of your rifle. What type of scope mount do you have? I like the H&H style. It seems that you can see the sights better, for me at least, than having the square bridges machined for the Smithson system or having separate bases mounted to the top of the action. Just my opinion though.


Dutch,

Thank you for the link, I look forward seeing the photos of your completed project when you post them.

A question for any with expierience with the H&H side mount. How do you like it? Is it easy to remove and re-install quickly? It is comparable to the claw type mount? Or is it an outdated system that is no longer viable?

Thank you Gentleman

Best to you
J Paul

www.ttproctor.com makes, in northern England,

outsatnding doubles AND bolt action rifles, as well

as double shotguns.

quote:

I used to own one. What I hate about WR is the arrogance of the owner when I met him at their Birmingham factory.

And I thought that I was the only one that had ever noticed. And Walter Clode was just as arrogant I can tell you.

With really very little to be arrogant about. Westley were never a first rank maker. Neither in shot guns - Powell were ranked the better in Birmingham nor rifles - Holland's of course being pretty much the ACME.

You must understand that the guys at SCI, except Simon Clode, the owner, are WR Agents from Bozeman, Montana...mostly selling brokered guns but truly the US agent for the UK company.
Simon recently hired Chris Soyza as head of engineering and he comes with a wealth of expereince from his run building the J&L Wilkins doubles and bolt guns for several years and his own personal interest and extensive restoration work.
These folks really know their stuff and you will NOT be disappointed with a new rifle ordered from them.
With the UP Pound now hovering at $1.49, NOW is the time to buy your pounds and get the order in...to years ago the pound was $2.62!!...57% savings!!

Eddy

Thank for your input. I guess I really do not understand the whole supposed owner attitude issues. Everyone that I have dealt with so far, from England and the U.S. has been very professional. Maybe the Owner was having a bad day or the tire kickers were in full force on the occassions mentioned, I do not know. As long as they can build to a Best quality level and stand firmly behind their work, that is what matters. I also believe that the employees attitudes are more important than the Owners. I could be wrong however. Time will tell as I move forward with this project.

Best Regards
JPaul

Hello JPaul;
You are so right...especially at SCI...lots of wannabe's. Used to be able to tell the deep pockets by the dress and jewelry...now you have to talk to everyone...and it gets tireing!!
Be sure to tie into the great exchange rates now by buying the delivered price in Pounds now and holding it...deposit what you have to. You will be happy at the end of two to three years it takes to have a fine rifle built...hopefully the dollar/pound will have changed...for all of us...if not, we are all in trouble!!
I think these are the finest rifles on the planet!!

JPaul

Sounds like a very nice rifle.

What scope are you getting?

I would HIGHLY recommend you get one with an illuminated reticle.

My 425WR will be coming to Africa with me in three weeks time, though till August.
Hope to nail a few Ele and some other plains game with the possibility of Lion and buffalo.

OZ Hunter...NICE Piece!! That's NOT your average Game Rangers rifle!!
Good Luck on your hunt!!

quote:

Maybe the Owner was having a bad day or the tire kickers were in full force on the occassions mentioned, I do not know.

Let's hope that you remain so convinced. If it goes wrong I can assure you that you will see what is well known here in UK. You can only keep the mask up for so long.

I bought a minty Wm. Powell&Sons 12 bore here in Vancouver, BC, some years ago and have also owned a Gibbs rifle. Friends of mine own various Westleys, Purdeys, Boss, EJ Churchill and other "name" British rifles and guns, but, most of them do not impress me very much, with the exception of a bud's 1906 Boss, that is a fine gun.

My feeling is that one pays a major premium for the "snob" value and I see little value in doing so. The older British sxs DRs were fabulous pieces, but, no better than contemporary German master's products and priced much higher. I guess that each individual has to determine what value a given "marque" has for him, but, even the pair of H&H "pre-war" bolt rifles currently on Martini's site do not "do it" for me.

The .270 by the immortal Maurice Ottmar, though, now that would suit me nicely.

JPaul, I am going to assume you were talking to my friend Trigger aka Anthony Tragar.

Mike