Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Stalking Rifles ?

Lee24-

The .318 Westley Richards cartridge is not the 8x57. They differ substantially. The .318 is described on p.370 of my copy of the 10th edition of Cartridges of the World, with the dimensions given on p.392.

The 8x57 is described on pp.71 and 344, with dimensional data on pp.102 and 358.

Among other differences, the case of the .318 is 0.15" longer. Bullets for the .318 are .330" in diameter; the modern 8x57 shoots .323" bullets. Curiously, the rim and base diameters of the .318 are slightly smaller than the 8x57's.

The DWM cartridge number for the .318 is 570; for the 8x57 it's 366. The Germans perceived these as different cartridges.

The .318 was apparently known by various names: .318 Westley-Richards, .318 Westley-Richards Accelerated, .318 Axite, .318 Rimless Nitro Express, .318 WR Accelerated Express, and .318 WR Express.

While the 7x57 was named the .275 by Rigby, I cannot find any reference to a British redesignation of the 8x57. If you know of such, perhaps you could post a reference?

--Bob

Yes Bullshooter, it's a swedish moose, weight was 390kg shot with the 7x65R Norma Oryx bullet first version 170grs now they are only 156grs.

Marseille,
Nice rifles! And I strongly agree with your scope choices!
PH

Francis Sell, one of my favorite old time writers, in the course of killing hundreds of deer in the thick northwestern forests developed some very well considered opions on the requirements of a rifle used in the stalking of those elk and blacktail deer in thick cover.
He considered stock fit, weight in relation to balance, safety type and position, barrel lenght, action type, caliber, all matched to the shooter's physical and mental make up. He would no more more proclaim one rifle as the "best" stalking rifle than he would have declared one show size that everyone should wear.
What he was looking for was a rifle that would allow the hunter to place a well aimed shot into a paper plate sized target as quickly as possible with the minimum amount of movement. Some of the rifles he liked were the Marlin 336 and the Winchester model 71, reworked somewhat, 20 inch bolt rifles with Mannlicher stocks and others.
These rifles did not have the accuracy and power that he felt were ideal for open country hunting, and for that, I believe he was apt to use a bolt action 300 magnum in a wildcat caliber.
Anyone interested in rifles for stalking deer and elk would find a Francis Sell book informative.

Hi Royce,

I agree with Sell too, i limited my choice to 3 of the rifles i use for stalking, but also in driven hunt not to over charge the forum. But i use some more, d�pending my mood, where i hunt and what i'm looking for.It can be strange or unbelievable for some american hunters but i like walking the woods with my 356 mod 94 or my 348 mod 71, but i also have a nice mod70 custom with Griffin&Howe side scope mount in 270Winch and one old Sch�nauer take down in 9,5x57. They are as good stalking rifles as driven hunt ones.

Dom

Bullshooter,
You are correct about the details of the .318 Westley Richards.

I figured a lot of people would not know what these between-the-wars classic British cartridges were, so I put "7x57" and "8x57" in parentheses, because those are the enormously successful German military cartridges which they emulate.

Westley Richards' showroom is in Montana for some years now, so it is accessible to many Americans for a hands-on visit.

I have lots of other pictures of handsome rifles like this, and some I and others have built in an effort to capture the same look and feel. A friend of mine found a .318 WR in a gun store in California for $500.00, reblued it and built a new stock much like the old one but changed a bit to suit his frame. I don't have a digital photo it, or his restored .404 Jeff, but will try to get some of them on his last safari.

Like Marseille, I believe the Steyr M and its predecessors to be super rifles for still hunting and stalking. The carbines are especially suited to thick woods and mountains; they carry like a Savage 99 carbine (another great stalking rifle!).

Here are some older ones I posted last year:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2438190/page/19/fpart/2

Wouldn't the Remington Model Seven count as a current manufacture "stalking" rifle?

I think the Model 7 is an excellent stalking rifle, except a little muzzle light, and it must have iron sights. The SAUM Model 7s are really nice, compact, powerful rifles that can reach out 300+ yards - they just need some iron sights!

I think what really sets these fine old English, German, and newer Austrian rifles apart is balance, how easily they carry in the hands, and how well they point for a quick shot. You can match them on paper, but that doesn't count.

[quote=Lee24]
I think what really sets these fine old English, German, and newer Austrian rifles apart is balance, how easily they carry in the hands, and how well they point for a quick shot. You can match them on paper, but that doesn't count.

That is one thing that sets them apart and looking exceptionaly good while they are at it is the other.

Von Gruff.

Great pics ... everything about 'em.

Edited: to repeat pics worth repeating.

Will try to post a pic or two of the stalking rifle in 7x57 that I built on a 1908 DWM. http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle004.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle002.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle005.jpg


http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle02-02-09012.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle005.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/7x57StalkingRifle02-02-09007.jpg

Great job, VonGruff!
A 1908 DWM is a great platform to build something in the vintage style.
Did you do it all yourself?
What components did you use?
Have you done any others?

Thanks Lee. I did the stock and the reshaping of the tangs (top and bottom) made the rear swivel and surround and skeletonised the butt plate. Used two military triggers and cut them to shift the finger piece to the rear of the trigger bow which was also reshaped. Mab (Australian) no 3 barrel with NECG front sight and BB swivel stud. A Rusty Marlin cocking piece aperture sight. A good friend is a GS and did the chambering and setting up of the barrel, etc. Had a set of custom bases made to take the Ruger rings with lever release for scope( carried in day-pack) It shoots the 160gn Woodleighs at 2700 into 1 1/4 through aperture at 100yds so am okay out to 250 or so without scope.Have also done a 404 Jeffery .Will try to post a pic.


http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/404Jeffery049.jpg

Von� Gruff.

Von Gruff,
Those are beauties! Thanks for sharing.