Should I build a 318 Westley Richards?

[tunatoy76]

Cameron hatcher has a couple of WR stock patterns and recently relocated to Brisbane, I think he and Alan work together a bit. I got a WR stock for my 9.3 a couple of months ago and happy with it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thank you I understand that, this one does not look like it has been used a lot, just stored with a lot of rifles in a pile, the cocking cam looks good but the bolt handle is too short & someone has tried to extend it down near the knob . I have 2 Lother Walther barrels & i think they are very good, there is a Gunsmithing business in Brisbane, that did some work for me years ago, that now make barrels, they have done some in 318 WRs & its a lot less money than an imported barrel & that is fitted, you can get the profile & twist rate you want. i am going to meet with them tomorrow & decide on them or Lother Walther i know you only get" what you pay for "

@rdog
If you are talking about Swanny you will go for him over the import.
You will need a goog press to stage down from 338. At 329 you may find the spring back to 331 or more.
Have fun mate

 

[rdog]

@rdog
If you are talking about Swanny you will go for him over the import.
You will need a goog press to stage down from 338. At 329 you may find the spring back to 331 or more.
Have fun mate

Yes i am talking about Allan i have known him since the late 1980 when he was a fireman. who started into gunsmithing, he did a lot of barrel fitting jobs for me.

 

[rdog]

Cameron hatcher has a couple of WR stock patterns and recently relocated to Brisbane, I think he and Alan work together a bit. I got a WR stock for my 9.3 a couple of months ago and happy with it.

thank you for that info.

 

[Tintin]

when you get a chance send me a picture of the bad side. Regarding projectiles i have been thinking about buying a Lee .329 bullet sizing die & trying to size .338 down to .330.

I'll get you a pic of the 'bad side'. Bruce Bertram has pills in the traditional 250gn - and IIRC also has 180gn. Thought you be interested in trying the 180's to get a softer load.

 

[Tintin]

The .318WR has class. The rest are well ..... the rest. Parker Safari was one of the refurb/commercial Mauser '98's by Parker Hale (UK). Sounds like that example has had rough life. My son has a Parker De Luxe in .243W on its third barrel but is developing action wear as its first owner was a cocky and shot it a lot. I hate to rain on your parade but be careful of dodgey bolt handle jobs as bad welding can change the bolt metalurgy. There are lots of 2nd hand commercial Mauser rifles out there. You just have to look hard. Lothar Walther barrels are the ducks nuts.

My PH Safari Deluxe was interesting as it's on an ex-Mil action with thumb cut out.

 

[Tintin]

Cameron hatcher has a couple of WR stock patterns and recently relocated to Brisbane, I think he and Alan work together a bit. I got a WR stock for my 9.3 a couple of months ago and happy with it.

Yep - Cam has some great old school patterns - incl Jeffery and Rigby styles

 

[rdog]

I'll get you a pic of the 'bad side'. Bruce Bertram has pills in the traditional 250gn - and IIRC also has 180gn. Thought you be interested in trying the 180's to get a softer load.

Who has the 180 grain ? i will try 250s as they are the traditional bullet but my right shoulder is not good at the moment, i was shooting my 8x57 with 170 g to day at the range,& about 35 rounds in 1.5 hours was enough.i was also shooting my 22 Hornet, Having an ultrasound on Friday, my son with the 9.3x62 has a recoil shield that i gave him you wear it, i will get it back from him asap. i am determined to keep shooting.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Who has the 180 grain ? i will try 250s as they are the traditional bullet but my right shoulder is not good at the moment, i was shooting my 8x57 with 170 g to day at the range,& about 35 rounds in 1.5 hours was enough.i was also shooting my 22 Hornet, Having an ultrasound on Friday, my son with the 9.3x62 has a recoil shield that i gave him you wear it, i will get it back from him asap. i am determined to keep shooting.

@rdog.
I hear you mate. I'm going out shooting in a couple of weeks and will start with my 25 for this hunt and if that goes well my Whelen will go out with me next time.

 

[Tintin]

Who has the 180 grain ? i will try 250s as they are the traditional bullet but my right shoulder is not good at the moment, i was shooting my 8x57 with 170 g to day at the range,& about 35 rounds in 1.5 hours was enough.i was also shooting my 22 Hornet, Having an ultrasound on Friday, my son with the 9.3x62 has a recoil shield that i gave him you wear it, i will get it back from him asap. i am determined to keep shooting.

I *think* I saw some 180gn pills for 318 WR at Bruce Bertram's when I was there yesterday - he definitely had some 180gn pills for .333 Jeff.

 

[rdog]

Purchased a CH4D 318 WR die set & formed some cases, trim 30/06 down to 2.40 inch, lube neck inside & out side & resize. Ordered barrel from Allan Swan Gunsmithing in Brisbane Will buy an English classic stock from Cameron Hatcher & i am the way with this project

 

[bushy]

This is a handy thread as I'm in the early stages of planning a .318 build also.

 

[rdog]

This is a handy thread as I'm in the early stages of planning a .318 build also.

I have learnt a bit since i started, just ask may be i can help.

 

[bushy]

I have learnt a bit since i started, just ask may be i can help.

Cheers mate, I have ch4d dies, Bertram cases which I will have to drill and chamfer the primer flash holes as some have burs blocking half the hole and some woodleigh 250gr. I have an old 30 cal marked mauser action in good nick so will use that, just need to settle on a barrel, stock, sights, trigger and safety.

 

[andries 318 wr]

Cheers mate, I have ch4d dies, Bertram cases which I will have to drill and chamfer the primer flash holes as some have burs blocking half the hole and some woodleigh 250gr. I have an old 30 cal marked mauser action in good nick so will use that, just need to settle on a barrel, stock, sights, trigger and safety.

This thread became very informative.
I had the same problem with my primer flash holes on the Bertram brass. Sort of a disappointment after paying such a premium and the process of getting them in and to South Africa.
I'm now set on my load with H4350 it works like a charm. Still would like to try Phil Massaro load with R16

If possible, when your gunsmith to cut your chamber. Make sure that your throat you can accommodate the long .330 bullets.

The 318 is a great caliber, and perfect for Africa. Slowly becoming my favorite.

 

[bushy]

Cheers for the throat reminder, any idea of the length to accommodate the long projectiles? I figured it would be the standard throat length as they where made for long projectiles originally?

 

[fourfive8]

Yes! throat length is very important. Who knows about a standard length for the original WR but yes, I think older throats tended to be longer to accommodate longer bullets and more conservative ogives (round nose styles) and longer bullet shanks. Usually better to be a tad long than a tad short. Might look at reamer drawing of a current (standard?) 318 WR chamber reamer to get idea of length and leade angle. Maybe if you can inspect and measure an older factory round with a heavy roundnose bullet, you could take a stab at figuring a good useful reamer's throat specs. In any case it will be somewhat of a SWAG. I'll say it again better to be a little long than a little short. I've been down that road. Target shooters tend to set their throats at exact lengths with exact leade angles for specific bullets. That may not coincide with best design for a hunting rifle and hunting ammunition.

 

[425SCHADE]

Woodleigh manufacture their bullets to suit traditional throat designs, and also recommend the "longer is better than shorter" philosophy

 

[Tintin]

Thanks guys - not sure what Swan's are using. @rdog - I'll try to remember to get onto the stock pics tomorrow.

 

[IRN-BRU]

I’m building one on a Parker hale rifle my barrel is being made in Australia as we speak