333 Caliber and other off-caliber barrels.

16 October 2013, 06:25

Big Wonderful Wyoming

While I think odd calibers are interesting, I tend to stay within the normal bullet families.

I have read several of Elmer Keith's books and was wondering if anyone had built a .333 bullet 333 OKH, 318 Westley Richards or the like and who made the barrel.

I can't see me personally taking the leap to build a rifle for a bullet diameter that is mostly killed off.

But I thought I would ask if anyone knows of a barrel manufactuerer that makes off-caliber barrels?

16 October 2013, 08:27

thecanadian

Krieger makes barrels for the 318 WR

"though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."

---Thomas Jefferson

16 October 2013, 09:34

Johan Kruger

I have just received my .333 barrel for a 333 Jeffery custom rifle project to compliment my 404 Jeffery and 500 Jeffery. I was unable to source a barrel from any of the more well known barrel manufacturers, but my gun smith was able to convince our local barrel maker to make one up.

16 October 2013, 11:25

Code4

Lothar Walther will make a .318 Barrel and can screw and chamber it to fit a Mauser '98. Brass can be formed from the common .30-06.

Woodleigh make projjies for both the .333 and .318.

Considering the .318 was one (if not the) most popular pre WW1 chambering in an African light rifle, what's not to like ?

(The .333OKH and .338-06 are just clones)

Happy days.

16 October 2013, 15:04

Big Wonderful Wyoming

I have seen a lot of custom rifles built in the 1920-1940's and none of them has ever been anything beyond a 270, 30-06, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, 8x60.

So where did you come up with the idea that the 318 was the even a popular caliber.

I think Finn Aaggaard had said that he had never seen a 333 or 318 WR in person in Africa.

I have lived on 5 continents, and visited countless gunshops and gunshows and never seen either a 333 Jeffery or a 318 WR.

I bet there were more 33 and 405 Winchesters in Africa than the 318.

16 October 2013, 16:06

xausa

If you had wandered through the gun vault of Kenya Bunduki, in Nairobi, as I did in 1971, you would not have asked that question. The racks were filled with well worn WR and C&H .318's on Mauser actions, to be had for a song, mainly because ammunition was no longer available.

As a matter of fact, I just had one built for me on an FN commercial action, mainly because I have a good supply of .318 bullets I wanted to test.

16 October 2013, 16:25

xausa

http://forums.nitroexpress.com...arch=true#Post236761

16 October 2013, 21:04

Atkinson

Like you I tend to like the old calibers and I shot the .318 WR and the 333 Jefferys some years ago and I loved them..but they wouldn't do anything todays cartridges can do, and in fact they are not as good...The 30-06 loaded with custom 250 gr. bullets is a .318 WR for all practical purposes. The 338 is a better round than the .333....

the fact is, when its all said and done and the reloading data has been studied until its ragged, and a lifetime of wildcatting and using all kinds of calibers and its all is done and no place else to go, it dawns on most of us that the 30-06 is, in fact, the holy grail...

The oldies are nostalgic calibers and I can't think of a better reason to own them, they make a nostalgic person a happy hunter and thats worth a bunch...I enjoyed years of strange and wonderful calibers.

17 October 2013, 02:59

Big Wonderful Wyoming

Dorleacs are good aren't they?

quote:
Originally posted by xausa:
http://forums.nitroexpress.com...arch=true#Post236761

17 October 2013, 09:16

505ED

Guess you were unlucky, On my 3 hunting trips to Africa on one of them I saw a very nice WR 318 takedown that my outfitter had...no ammo though.

Ed

20 October 2013, 14:57

jens poulsen

I have a new .333cal Barrel for the .333Jeffery. Metfordrifled, London proofed.
28" long contoured after an original jeffery rifle owned by David Little of Kynoch, England.

23 October 2013, 01:08

BigUglyMan

quote:
Originally posted by xausa:
If you had wandered through the gun vault of Kenya Bunduki, in Nairobi, as I did in 1971, you would not have asked that question. The racks were filled with well worn WR and C&H .318's on Mauser actions, to be had for a song, mainly because ammunition was no longer available.

As a matter of fact, I just had one built for me on an FN commercial action, mainly because I have a good supply of .318 bullets I wanted to test.

Oh to have a time machine!

30 October 2013, 08:45

333_OKH

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
While I think odd calibers are interesting, I tend to stay within the normal bullet families.

I have read several of Elmer Keith's books and was wondering if anyone had built a .333 bullet 333 OKH, 318 Westley Richards or the like and who made the barrel.

I can't see me personally taking the leap to build a rifle for a bullet diameter that is mostly killed off.

But I thought I would ask if anyone knows of a barrel manufactuerer that makes off-caliber barrels?

WELL I HAVE A 'VINTAGE' ROCK ISLAND SPRINGFIELD 1903 [NOT AN A4] THAT WAS REBORED TO 333OKH. LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL BARREL. DAMNED THING IS IN A WINCHESTER M70 STOCK WITH REDFIELD PEEP AND REDFIELD BARREL BAND FRONT SIGHT....SOMEONE REFINISHED IT AS WELL.

OLE GIRL IS UGLY AS SIN AND DROPS BLK BEAR AND HOGS WITH AUTHORITY WITH 300 GRAIN SLUGS.

30 October 2013, 09:34

505G

Big Wonderful Wyoming

That's because a fair few buy them, shoot them occasionally and keep them. They don't come up for sale that much.

You only have to mention you have a 333 Jeff and
people ask if it is for sale, at least that has been my experience.

318WR is very popular over here in Aus.
I enjoy shooting mine.

30 October 2013, 16:50

p dog shooter

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
Like you I tend to like the old calibers and I shot the .318 WR and the 333 Jefferys some years ago and I loved them..but they wouldn't do anything todays cartridges can do, and in fact they are not as good...The 30-06 loaded with custom 250 gr. bullets is a .318 WR for all practical purposes. The 338 is a better round than the .333....

the fact is, when its all said and done and the reloading data has been studied until its ragged, and a lifetime of wildcatting and using all kinds of calibers and its all is done and no place else to go, it dawns on most of us that the 30-06 is, in fact, the holy grail...

The oldies are nostalgic calibers and I can't think of a better reason to own them, they make a nostalgic person a happy hunter and thats worth a bunch...I enjoyed years of strange and wonderful calibers.

+1 own them shoot them if you want but to say they are better then the newer more common rounds doesn't hold up.