.375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express

The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express, also known as the .375/303 Axite, is an obsolete medium bore rifle cartridge.

.375/303 WR Accelerated Express
TypeRifle
Place of originEngland
Production history
DesignerWestley Richards
Designed1905
Produced1905–1910
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter.311 in (7.9 mm)
Neck diameter.343 in (8.7 mm)
Shoulder diameter.390 in (9.9 mm)
Base diameter.457 in (11.6 mm)
Rim diameter.505 in (12.8 mm)
Case length2.5 in (64 mm)
Overall length3.36 in (85 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
215 gr (14 g) SP 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 2,981 ft⋅lbf (4,042 J)
200 gr (13 g) SP 2,726 ft/s (831 m/s) 2,980 ft⋅lbf (4,040 J)
Source(s): Cartridges of the World.[1]

Overview

The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express was designed by Westley Richards and introduced in 1905, being listed in Westley Richards' catalogues for several years thereafter. In 1909 it was also listed in Charles Lancaster & Co's catalogue. The cartridge was chambered in double rifles with Lancaster oval-bore rifling, as well as single shot falling block rifles and in Lee-action magazine rifles manufactured by both Westley Richards and Lancaster.[1][2]

Upon its introduction the .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express was considered one of the highest velocity cartridges available. This attracted military attention and in 1906 it was demonstrated to officials from the War Office and Admiralty, as well as representatives from the Japanese, Russian, Italian and other governments.[3]

The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express did not have a long life, being superseded by the more powerful .318 Westley Richards in Westley Richards catalogues from 1910.[4]

The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express was a high velocity, rimmed, bottlenecked cartridge. It was loaded with Axite, a new smokeless powder developed by Kynoch and said by them to be "comparatively free from erosion and corrosion effects". The cartridge's power was considered about the same as the .300 H&H Magnum. The inclusion of ".375" in the cartridge's name leads to some confusion,[5] but a comparison of case base diameters suggest it refers to the older .375 Flanged Nitro Express 2½, a naming consistent with other British hunting cartridges of the era such as the .450/400 Nitro Express, .577/500 Nitro Express, etc.[1]

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See also

References
  1. Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges of the World, 13th ed, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.
  2. The Spanish Association of Cartridge Collectors, ".375-.303 Axite", municion.org, retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. Henry Sharp, Mordern sporting gunnery: a manual of practical information for shooters of today, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co Ltd, London, 1906.
  4. Don Davie, "The other .303 cartridges", acant.org.au, retrieved 25 January 2015.
  5. Cartridgecollector, ".375/303 WR Accelerated Extress (Axite)", cartridgecollector.net, retrieved 14 June 2018.
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