Westley Richards 318 rimless square shouldered ammunition.

[Gundog]

Does anyone know anything about this ammunition, I’m just starting to try and do some research on this question, at the moment, let’s put it this way, I know absolutely next to nothing but I’m very willing to learn !!

[dromia]

It is listed in Quickload. See attachment below for QL drawing.

From Ammo Guide:

"The .318 Westley Richards was introduced in 1909 and became popular for use in India and Africa. This round was also known as the .318 Westley Richards Accelerated Express, .318 Westley Richards Nitro Express and the .318 Westley Richards Rimless. Cartridges measured for above diagram were all marked ".318 Nitro".

The .318 Westley Richards reputation as a hunting round was established using a long 250 grain bullet with high sectional density and deep penetration. This original load exited the barrel between 2400 and 2500 fps. There was also a lighter bullet offering higher velocity. Bullets were available in soft nose, full metal jacket and Westley Richards capped varieties.

SPECIFICATIONS
Bullet Diameter:
.330 in.
Max Overall Length:
3.400 in.
Case Capacity (est):
65.6 gr. water
Primer Size:
.210 in.

NOMINAL PERFORMANCE
Bullet Weight:
250 gr
Muzzle Velocity:
2,400 fps
Muzzle Energy:
3,199 ft-lbs"

[Laurie]

It's basically the 30-06 case necked-up to .33 calibre with a few very small additional modifications. Unlike modern 33s, it uses 0.330" dia. bullets (nowadays 0.338" is the norm) so bullets are specialty jobs from people like Woodleigh. The '318' moniker comes from the bore (ie lands) diameter - common practice to use this format in early 20th Century English rifle cartridges. Its similarity to the 30-06 is how I came to be introduced to the old Westley-Richards. I'd been asked to demill a few hundred surplus 30-06 loose rounds and there were half a dozen 318s mixed in - you'd never notice the difference without a close look.

It was listed in 180 and 250gn. The latter at a nominal 2,400 fps MVs was the more popular version and was available in RN 'solid' (actually FMJ) or RNSP, the latter with a very large exposed lead tip. W-R designed the cartridge for Africa and it was very popular from before WW1 to well after WW2. With the excellent expansion characteristics of the 250gn SP and the 250gn bullet's very high sectional density it had a reputation for very deep penetration and reliability on large plains beasts, and also the large cats.

As well as visitors to Africa, it was very popular among European settlers as a game-getter / anti-leopard/lion cartridge probably more in countries with residents of British origin whilst German orientated countries leaned more towards the Brenecke 9.3X57mm - a necked up 8mm Mauser. Both cartridges were designed for Mauser 98 based rifles. A friend who used to do a lot of African game shooting trips up to maybe 20 years ago told me that lots of farmers and landowners still own them in countries like South Africa, Mozambique and remaining 1950s / 60s ammunition was much prized and husbanded. When Kynoch stopped production (1960s?), there was no factory ammo for many years, but Kynamco in Suffolk has offered it again in recent years with Woodleigh bullets and modern powders.

Its ballistics are regarded as modest these days and it would be a flop if introduced now, but as with the 7X57mm in Africa, its actual performance was much better than its paper ballistics would imply - it worked superbly on lots of different size and type animals because it offered very good bullet terminal performance allied to a sufficiently high MV, but not too high to over-stress simple core and cup design bullets. Its nearest US equivalent is the .35 Whelen, also based on the 30-06 case.

[Gundog]

I was replying to dromia to thank him for his reply and to question the answer given, I posted my response and went to check and read again what my reply looked like but the reply hadn’t been posted!
On trying to view my comment Laurie’s post was in view, in my failed reply I commented that it was the Westley Richards. Square Shouldered 318 round not the rimless 318 round!
May I thank you both for your reply I’m indebted to you both, in my very limited knowledge the rimless 318 is bottle shaped but the 318 rimless square shouldered round has a very defined square shoulder, if I try to explain with very limited vocabulary to describe what I mean please excuse my description.
Where in a normal say 30-06 round is necked down to accept the projectile, the square shouldered round is what it describes itself to be the case stops abruptly with the case neck positioned on top.
I’m not perhaps explaining myself clearly at all but I thank both dromia and Laurie for taking the time to answer.

[snayperskaya]

https://www.theexplora.com/the-square-s ... idge-case/

[Gundog]

That’s the one!!
My explanation has fallen into, forgive me for saying, the right persons domain, my rubbish description has found a home.
Thank you for finding the description of the round I will now study this and try and take it all in.
If anyone else knows any other information please let me know.

Thank you snayperskyaya.

[snayperskaya]

That’s the one!!
My explanation has fallen into, forgive me for saying, the right persons domain, my rubbish description has found a home.
Thank you for finding the description of the round I will now study this and try and take it all in.
If anyone else knows any other information please let me know.

Thank you snayperskyaya.

No problem..........although I must confess I just put "Westley Richards Square Shouldered .318 ammunition" into Google!

[Gundog]

That’s how I came across the subject of my post years ago but since then virtually nothing, that’s exactly why I’m asking the forum for information, I had visions of “Laurie” coming up with his expert opinion!
But my thanks to you.

[Laurie]

No, that's a new one on me. Obviously, not an idea that resonated! I can see why - case production costs would be high and real (as opposed to theoretical) benefits small to nil.

It's only fairly recently that cartridge designers / manufacturers would contemplate relatively steep shouldered case designs such as the increasingly common 30-deg numbers like the Creedmoors. When shoulder angles exceeded values in the low 20s, the manufacturing reject rate rose beyond what was regarded as acceptable. Winchester's 284 with its 35-deg angle back in 1966 was most unusual. I assume manufacturing techniques and/or brass quality have improved in recent years.

[Gundog]

Many thanks for that Laurie, I was hoping that you had vast amounts of information about this topic but if you haven’t come across this round previously I’m not sure if anyone else around would be able to add more !
Your vast amount of knowledge leaves me staggering, fumbling in the dark, I must admit that compared to you I’m a complete novice with the minimal knowledge I have acquired about ammunition and reloading.

Thank you!