.318 Westley Richards Load Development

PSE Composites Limited - The next level Rifle Stocks
Hi Mike I've been working up various loads with the .318 and one thing I have noticed is that the Kynamco brass doesn't last long at all. It suffers from primer pocket expansion. One a 3rd re-loading the primers they wouldn't seat but just fell out. I've switched to making brass from .270 Norma for now. Bullet wise I was sizing .338" bullets in 2 stages but this increases the bullet length and thus bearing surface so I've always been cautious about working towards maximum loads when using these. With the fire at Woodleigh affecting availability of suitable bullets I've been using the Privi 208 grain softpoint intended for the 8x56R as these are .330" and they are significantly cheaper than Wodleigh. Kranks were stocking them. Whilst they sit between the classic 180 and 250 grain loadings they are serviceable. One thing you've probably noticed is that original Kynoch bullets feature a pronounced taper and are only bore diameter at the very base. I presume this was to help reduce pressure as it is noted for being a relatively high pressure round. I haven't tried N150 yet just some H4350 and 4831sc but a friend has dug out some reloading data using it in a German reloading manual, hope it helps.loading data.webp
 
SpikeD said:
Hi Mike I've been working up various loads with the .318 and one thing I have noticed is that the Kynamco brass doesn't last long at all. It suffers from primer pocket expansion. One a 3rd re-loading the primers they wouldn't seat but just fell out. I've switched to making brass from .270 Norma for now. Bullet wise I was sizing .338" bullets in 2 stages but this increases the bullet length and thus bearing surface so I've always been cautious about working towards maximum loads when using these. With the fire at Woodleigh affecting availability of suitable bullets I've been using the Privi 208 grain softpoint intended for the 8x56R as these are .330" and they are significantly cheaper than Wodleigh. Kranks were stocking them. Whilst they sit between the classic 180 and 250 grain loadings they are serviceable. One thing you've probably noticed is that original Kynoch bullets feature a pronounced taper and are only bore diameter at the very base. I presume this was to help reduce pressure as it is noted for being a relatively high pressure round. I haven't tried N150 yet just some H4350 and 4831sc but a friend has dug out some reloading data using it in a German reloading manual, hope it helps.View attachment 271829
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Hi, @SpikeD all my brass (apart from the Kynamco) is once fired from Westley Richards I managed to get from them many years ago; it's all head stamped "Westley Richards", and apart from a few split necks after multiple firings, they have been no problem, and I have just had them all annealed by one of our members who now has all the codes for his machine.

When the 318 Woodleigh’s became difficult to import about 5 or 6 years ago Aftab at Reloading Solutions got me several hundred Degol’s from Belgium and they are spot on .330” dia.
Yes, I have noticed that pronounced taper on the Kynamco bullets and was very disappointed that out of a box of 5 new rounds 2 refused to chamber although the other 3 were very accurate.

Many thanks for the German reloading data, very helpful. I suspect that the “Romey” loads are the man himself Wolfgang Romey with whom I had many long conversations when I was first developing my first load over 20 years ago.

PS: I’ve got a feeling we may have met at ‘The Bog’ in Shropshire?
 
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SpikeD said:
I've switched to making brass from .270 Norma for now.
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I've always assumed that the 318 WR is a slightly modified 330-06. My introduction to the cartridge was when I was presented with a large box of very elderly and scruffy surplus military and some commercial 30-06 and asked to break them down and salvage anything usable. Lo and behold five old Kynoch 318s among them with 250gn RNFMJ and RNSP bullets. Mixed up with loose 30-06s, some with the old 220gn RNSP bullets, they look so similar that the mistake was understandable.
 
Now what about the Westley Richards square shouldered .318 ? Do you have any of those hidden away ?

l was going to suggest you go and see Trigger and offer to remove a load of his manky old .318 Westley brass free of charge and free up some space but l see you did that some time ago, you can’t be to far away from the factory ?
 
Fosbery Holster said:
It’s a fair drag for me could be anything between three or four hours depending on time of day and traffic, the last time l gave them the pleasure of my company l stayed most of the day.
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I was in Price Street about 18 months ago and Richard was on the point of moving because most of the gun trade premises were being torn down to make way for yuppie flats.

When I was last there two members of the gun trade had been moved out of Gunsmith House to make way for demolition....Dreadful shame.
 
There was an article in a German hunting magazine some years ago about Wolfgang Romey, the authorities had raided his premises over some trumped up information and he told the magazine that it was too stressful and he intended to retire.
 
Bavarianbrit said:
There was an article in a German hunting magazine some years ago about Wolfgang Romey, the authorities had raided his premises over some trumped up information and he told the magazine that it was too stressful and he intended to retire.
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What a shame, such a knowledgeable and helpful man especially on semi-obsolete calibres
 
Jura said:
Hi, @SpikeD all my brass (apart from the Kynamco) is once fired from Westley Richards I managed to get from them many years ago; it's all head stamped "Westley Richards", and apart from a few split necks after multiple firings, they have been no problem, and I have just had them all annealed by one of our members who now has all the codes for his machine.

When the 318 Woodleigh’s became difficult to import about 5 or 6 years ago Aftab at Reloading Solutions got me several hundred Degol’s from Belgium and they are spot on .330” dia.
Yes, I have noticed that pronounced taper on the Kynamco bullets and was very disappointed that out of a box of 5 new rounds 2 refused to chamber although the other 3 were very accurate.

Many thanks for the German reloading data, very helpful. I suspect that the “Romey” loads are the man himself Wolfgang Romey with whom I had many long conversations when I was first developing my first load over 20 years ago.

PS: I’ve got a feeling we may have met at ‘The Bog’ in Shropshire?
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Hi Mike yes indeed we've met at the ECRA meetings, my .318" is rather plainer than yours having been a project that someone didn't quite finish, in fact the 50 rounds of Kynamco ammunition I bought cost more than the rifle! Good to know about the WR cases, I have about 20 stashed away. I do have a bullet mould that casts a plain base and a gas checked bullet so if I get low on suitable bullets I can always try working up a load. One thing I did get custom made was a Lee factory crimp die, I had to send them a dummy round but it duly arrived and does make crimping a lot easier. I've not managed to get near the 2400 fps yet with reloads yet with jacketed but am working on it.
All the best
Mike
 
Jura said:
I was in Price Street about 18 months ago and Richard was on the point of moving because most of the gun trade premises were being torn down to make way for yuppie flats.

When I was last there two members of the gun trade had been moved out of Gunsmith House to make way for demolition....Dreadful shame.
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Birminghams heritage being demolished, l was having a chat with Ricky Bond and we came to an agreement that even mentioning the Gun Quarter didn’t go down well with the local population, in most instances the locals didn’t even know where it was or how it formed their heritage, such a shame.
 
SpikeD said:
Hi Mike yes indeed we've met at the ECRA meetings,
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Hi Mike, yes I thought it was you, I will PM you at some point.
SpikeD said:
I've not managed to get near the 2400 fps yet with reloads yet with jacketed but am working on it.
Click to expand...
On your German reloading data, Wolfgang Remey's data for 52 grains of Vhit N150 gives 715 M/S which equals 2345 FPS. In the coming weeks, I will load up to about 51 grains of N150 and let you know how I get on although I would be more than happy with 2200 FPS
SpikeD said:
in fact the 50 rounds of Kynamco ammunition I bought cost more than the rifle!
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Yes, the 10 rounds of Kynamco I bought from Westley's cost me 77 quid and that was 6 years ago.
 
Birmingham Council, the woke wonders that banned shooting from the Commonwealth Games! The shooting was held in the suburbs ie. The Indian sub continent.

I was going to say you couldn't make it up but sadly these people exceed the normal realms of fiction.

David.
 
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