318 Westley Richards Calibre Double Rifle -- But

Brilliant - My PH where I am hunting later in the year - said where it not illegal he would be happy with the 318 with solids on Buff !

However unfortunately it is illegal - so when I am out of debt and danger I will have to look for a nice buff legal double !

"Fog in English Channel " Europe cut off ! as a famous english newspaper headline stated
 
The definition of Europe came about when I bought a Rigby 275 and my mate was determined to not let me use it. Therefore the European day was deemed to exclude Britain and the next hunt was British doubles only so I still couldn't use the Rigby. Eventually all other themes were exhausted and we had a British bolt day. That 318 is accurate and a pleasure to shoot, an underrated double in my opinion.
 
A very good friend of mine who took me along to Zim in 2013 bought one of the Simpson- Suhl 318WR doubles that Graeme Wright used to develop loads to regulate in his 3rd edition, Shooting the Britsh Double book.

It is an amazing little rifle with the same EAW claw swing off mounts. Though his came with a Ziess fixed 4x56mm with a german no.4 post reticle.

This rile is has all the bells and whistles- cocking indicators, rising third bite, swing around night platinum front sight, ejectors, leather trunk case and many more.

Rifle shoots to point of aim and regulates to within 1inch @ 50m with the Woodleigh 250 gn .330 dia bullets. 59 gn of H4831sc with the soft point, 57gn of H4831sc with the solid. We call this powder ADI 2213sc as it's sold and made here in Australia.

Bruce Bertram makes 318WR unprimed brass. If this is too hard to get or too expensive it can be made from 35 Whelan brass necked down.
For some reason .30/06 brass necked up doesn't do as good?
There is a reason, I just don't know it.

You certainly have a very nice little double there that you will get many years of shooting enjoyment from. I unfortunately am very jealous but remain firm in my belief that scopes on doubles is sacrilidge. Just my opinion.
 
beautiful photo of three shooting rifles and the powder burner on the right :)
 
I would leave the scope in-situ and turn down the magnification to 3x for close shots.
 
First Blood - was down at Richard Holmes Safari http://www.capeafricanhunting.co.za/ on a cull hunt mostly for Springbok - however a Kudu needed culled so out came my double and off I went

the result - now off for some Warthog the 8mm Remington Magnum is back in the case this is going to we up close and personal double rifle stuff on the piggies.

Kudu.jpg
 
Disaster on the 318 WR

Just back from the piggie hunt http://www.game4africa.co.za/- went to zero check the double - trust me at the price of ammo - it is a one shot zero

Missed the target by a country mile ! So second barrel - missed again !

22 rounds later we gave up despite 20 clicks one way and 28 the other still not holding zero

so as my 8mm remmie mag would wake up the whole of the eastern cape ..... I was kindly lent a 7x64 with supressor - now the 7x64 that is a hell of a round - European if you are from the Americas ! Think 270 win with a lot more .......

So hunt went good - many piggies in the fridge - however - John @ Game for Africa had a look and quickly discovered that the front qd post was loose - on removing the scope the front post detached from the rib !

So al least its not the bloody scope !

Which leaves me in a dilemma I will repair the rail and perhaps lose the scope for ever !

with my tired eyes can I properly hunt with open sights ?

Ohh well - when I am back to Iceland lets try with the 22rf and see if I can regain that skill of my youth !

Photos to follow however not for the weak of stomach !
 
Bummer!

Good luck sorting this out!
 

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