318 Westley Richards in a Winchester 1895

[Boxlock]

I have a Winchester/Miroku 1895 in 30/06 and was thinking of making it into a safari style rifle after seeing a original Winchester 1895 in 405Win with rear sight as 1 standing 2 folding and front sight with flip over ivory bead , this was not recent mods as this rifle came out of India so I was thinking new calibre of 318 Westley Richards or maybe 9.3x62? any one have any ideas on this to add or advice? thanks

Cheers
Steve

 

[Sarg]

That would be a very cool set to have, a M95 Win in .405Win & .318WR .

Bit harder to get all the .318 components but 9.3x62 or even the great .338/06 (.318WR in new dress) in that lever would be cool.

I was surprised to see many old school photos of DG from Lions, Rhino to Elephant that look to be shot with a 95Win in I suspect .405Win ?

Maybe a 35Win but not sure on the power rating of that caliber, it does look interesting like the 33WCF which I have bits for.

 

[rookhawk]

I have a Winchester/Miroku 1895 in 30/06 and was thinking of making it into a safari style rifle after seeing a original Winchester 1895 in 405Win with rear sight as 1 standing 2 folding and front sight with flip over ivory bead , this was not recent mods as this rifle came out of India so I was thinking new calibre of 318 Westley Richards or maybe 9.3x62? any one have any ideas on this to add or advice? thanks

Cheers
Steve

I would never, ever recommend building a gun in 318 WR. The bullets are proprietary and made by one company, Woodleigh. They haven't made them in ten years, and they aren't on the roster to be made. The last company I know of that made brass was Quality Cartridge about 8 years ago.

So you're voluntarily making an obscure caliber without ample brass/bullets. For those of us that own original 318WR guns, we will outbid you on any components that come to market not out of malice, but because we love our original 318WRs far more than you'll love your modern custom.

You will face a day in the future where components cost more than the total value of your gun. Shooting them for novelty, voluntarily building such a gun is just looking for heartache.

If you like the ballistics, the 338/06 is a wonderful equivalent that has infinite component options.

 

[KevinB]

Andy Larsson from Skinner Sights had a Winchester 1895 built in 9.3x62. You can find the video on Youtube searching for it. He seemed to feel it was a great combination. If I could find a gently used 30-06 1895 for a reasonable price, I would probably go for it.

 

[Boxlock]

I would never, ever recommend building a gun in 318 WR. The bullets are proprietary and made by one company, Woodleigh. They haven't made them in ten years, and they aren't on the roster to be made. The last company I know of that made brass was Quality Cartridge about 8 years ago.

So you're voluntarily making an obscure caliber without ample brass/bullets. For those of us that own original 318WR guns, we will outbid you on any components that come to market not out of malice, but because we love our original 318WRs far more than you'll love your modern custom.

You will face a day in the future where components cost more than the total value of your gun. Shooting them for novelty, voluntarily building such a gun is just looking for heartache.

If you like the ballistics, the 338/06 is a wonderful equivalent that has infinite component options.

It is a rare calibre but I've got 100 x Kynoch 250g cartridges also Bertram 318 cases and 250g bullets and 100 Woodleigh 250g , so hard to get but its still out there...

 

[rookhawk]

It is a rare calibre but I've got 100 x Kynoch 250g cartridges also Bertram 318 cases and 250g bullets and 100 Woodleigh 250g , so hard to get but its still out there...

Then sell them to the desperate folks that need to feed their beasts, why shoot bars of gold needlessly by making more 318s?

 

[Boxlock]

Then sell them to the desperate folks that need to feed their beasts, why shoot bars of gold needlessly by making more 318s?

Why would I want to sell them? any way Bertram make bullets and brass, Woodleigh can be found so all good, I also have a Westley Richards 318 Accelerated Express rifle so a Winchester 1895 in 318 is a good project I think...

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I was about to reply when I noticed boxlock had already done it, woodleigh and Bertram’s for projectiles, Bertram’s for brass, qual cart allegedly make brass as well and there is a European company too, hornbaer?? That could be the wrong name.
Gumpy

 

[rookhawk]

I was about to reply when I noticed boxlock had already done it, woodleigh and Bertram’s for projectiles, Bertram’s for brass, qual cart allegedly make brass as well and there is a European company too, hornbaer?? That could be the wrong name.
Gumpy

Show me.

I'd be grateful to see sources for available brass or 250gr SP bullets for the 318WR. To my knowledge, my facts are correct, but I'd be grateful if you prove me wrong.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Try to do it as a .425 Westley-Richard’s conversion …..

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Show me.

I'd be grateful to see sources for available brass or 250gr SP bullets for the 318WR. To my knowledge, my facts are correct, but I'd be grateful if you prove me wrong.

Bertram’s list it on their pricelist, as do the others,
Bertram Bullet Co retail prices


I’m attempting to attach the Bertram’s list here, but my computer skills are lacking

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

308 Win 150 310 CK 110 310 Cadet 110 318 WR 350 32 WSL 200 32 Ideal 350 325 WSM 25

303 Round nose 215 Gn 80 308 150 Gn 60 308 170 Gn 60 318 WR 180 Gn 100 3018 WR 250 Gn 100 8mm 180 Gn 80 8mm 200 Gn

That didn’t work properly……cal, price, then cal, weight ,price $aust. per hundred
QUAL cart has a website
Still trying to find the other company name
Gumpy

 

[BlueFlyer]

Latest Bertram price list attached

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

On qual cart website look under 323/8mm price per 20
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Latest Bertram price list attached

I tried to do that and failed miserably
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Hülsen - Horneber

Patronenhuelsen aller Art, von historisch bis modern! Huelsen-Horneber, 90768 Fuerth, Germany

www.huelsen-horneber.de

I spelt the name wrong
Gumpy

 

[rookhawk]

308 Win 150 310 CK 110 310 Cadet 110 318 WR 350 32 WSL 200 32 Ideal 350 325 WSM 25

303 Round nose 215 Gn 80 308 150 Gn 60 308 170 Gn 60 318 WR 180 Gn 100 3018 WR 250 Gn 100 8mm 180 Gn 80 8mm 200 Gn

That didn’t work properly……cal, price, then cal, weight ,price $aust. per hundred
QUAL cart has a website
Still trying to find the other company name
Gumpy

Maybe you missed my earlier post. The last order I placed with Qual-Cart, I bought them out. That run was about 8 years ago.

Bertram-USA doesn't have WR either.

You may be right, there are some Bertram brass listed in Oz if they can be imported to the USA at $110 AUD per 20.

You CAN make brass from 35 whelen, or cloogey not quite right brass from 30-06 if you have a forming die. It works, but isn't headstamped correctly of course.

The last two importers of Woodleigh 318WR bullets were Huntingtons (out of business, I bought all they had left 6 years ago) and MIdway USA (sold out many years ago). So we're reliant upon Woodleigh deciding to make them again, and for them to then get a dealer channel in the States if/when they go back into production.

I'm a huge fan of the 318WR, but I find it a necessary evil to get components for the WR in the USA.

All of the above is sort of echoing my point, although we've derailed the OP's thread.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Bertram also make a round nose soft point projectile.

318 WR 250 Gn

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Last contact I had with qual cart they said if I ordered 100 cases they would do a run for me(280 Ross/nitro/halger) and the OP is in Victoria and so is Bertram’s….so from his ( I assume the gender) point of view it’s easy to obtain components. Pretty sure farmboy on here has the reamer as well. Woodleigh are supposed to be starting runs of the more obscure ones later this year early next year, but that may not be 100% accurate, email them and see.
Wasn’t there mention of someone in the usa importing European brass?
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

And as to the OP, a 318WR built properly would be a nice rifle
Gumpy