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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Single Shots & Combination Guns
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Charls
.275 member


Reged: 05/05/05
Posts: 75
Loc: South Africa
Westley Richards .476
      #31900 - 24/05/05 03:31 PM

I have just recently acquired a falling block Westley Richards rifle in W.R..476. The rifle is interesting in that it has a 28" barrel but with Metford rifling. The barrel is engraved 'metford rifling'.I am surprised as it appears that the rifle was built 1906/07.I would appreciate any comments regarding the action (pros and cons), the calibre (how to reload, etc.) and any ideas as to why such a late manufactured rifle should have Metford rifling. By the way, it is a hunting rifle and not a target rifle.Thanks, Charls.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40542
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Westley Richards .476 [Re: Charls]
      #31906 - 24/05/05 06:31 PM

Welcome Charls to NitroExpress.com

I'm afraid I can't help you with the answers but can help you post some photos if you have them ie a shameless plug for some photos.

Sounds like an interesting rifle.



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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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400NitroExpress
.400 member


Reged: 26/11/03
Posts: 1154
Loc: Lone Star State
Re: Westley Richards .476 [Re: Charls]
      #31937 - 25/05/05 04:34 AM

Charls:

Do the proof marks read .476 EX Cordite 75, 520 MAX? What other markings appear on the gun? How did you date it? Metford was still used in some rifles that late, but those I've seen have primarily been in .303.

Woodleigh makes 520 grain .476 bullets.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

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Charls
.275 member


Reged: 05/05/05
Posts: 75
Loc: South Africa
Re: Westley Richards .476 [Re: 400NitroExpress]
      #31974 - 25/05/05 03:45 PM

The proof marks are indeed as you say. I believe that the 476W.R. cartridge was only introduced by W.R. in about 1906.Unfortunate can't post pictures (don't know how) but the rifle looks exactly like the one featured in Ross Seifried's article in the DGJ book 3 2004, except for the front sight.Great wood and finish to the gun; it appears to be of very good quality.

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400NitroExpress
.400 member


Reged: 26/11/03
Posts: 1154
Loc: Lone Star State
Re: Westley Richards .476 [Re: Charls]
      #32004 - 26/05/05 02:36 AM

Charls:

Unknown. We tend to think of certain attributes, such as Metford rifling, hammers, Jones underlevers, etc., as being obsolete by such and such a time. However, I've seen British full nitro hammer double rifles with Jones underlever actions that were built in the late 1930's, so you never know. It does strike me as odd though.

As for loading, Woodleigh makes the bullets. I don't know who makes the brass, but Horneber and Bertram might. If you can't find any, I'm sure cases could be formed from .470 as they share the same parent case. Rim thickness is the same. As I'm sure you're aware, Seyfried's formula for the big nitros is a Federal 215 primer, 119% of the original Cordite charge in Reloder 15 topped with enough dacron polyester fiber to fill the case up so that the dacron is compressed some when the bullet is seated.

Some say that the 119% is a starting load. I don't. In a number of rifles I've used this formula in, 119% would have been over max. I usually start at 110% and work up. Start at 82.5 grains and work up a grain at a time. I would think 3 to 4 grains of fill should be about right, the point is to use enough, not too little. I wouldn't horse it. With a 28" barrel, when you reach 2100 fps, stop.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

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belgmart
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Reged: 29/02/04
Posts: 78
Metford Rifling antique? [Re: 400NitroExpress]
      #32097 - 27/05/05 12:19 AM

Just don't tell my 45-70 Martini... It still is as good as any, and better than most! It did get a bad rep in the Martini-Metford, but that was simply the combination of relatively shallow rifling and soft barrel steel with the erosive properties of cordite.
Actually, the M-E has the same problems, but as the enfield rifling was deeper, it lasted longer. The real problem was the barrel steel and the early cordite powder.
I do believe Metford segmantal rifling makes a nice cast bullet barrel. And a Lancaster oval bore would probably be even better...

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Martini's Rule!

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