| .375/303 WR Accelerated Express | ||||||||||||
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| File:.375-303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express.jpg | ||||||||||||
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||
| Place of origin | England | |||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||
| Designer | Westley Richards | |||||||||||
| Designed | 1905 | |||||||||||
| Produced | 1905–1910 | |||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, 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 length | 2.5 in (64 mm) | |||||||||||
| Overall length | 3.36 in (85 mm) | |||||||||||
Ballistic performance
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| Source(s): Cartridges of the World.[1] | ||||||||||||
The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express, also known as the .375/303 Axite, is an obsolete medium bore rifle cartridge.
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The .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express did not have a long life, being superseded by the more powerful .318 Westley Richards in Westley Richards catalogues from 1910.[4]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 as it was not derived from any existing .375 in (9.5 mm) calibre cartridge.[1][2][5]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges of the World, 13th ed, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Spanish Association of Cartridge Collectors, ".375-.303 Axite", municion.org, retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ↑ Henry Sharp, Mordern sporting gunnery: a manual of practical information for shooters of today, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co Ltd, London, 1906.
- ↑ Don Davie, "The other .303 cartridges", acant.org.au, retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ↑ Cartridgecollector, ".375/303 WR Accelerated Extress (Axite)", cartridgecollector.net, retrieved 14 June 2018.
External links[]
- Imperial War Museums, "7.7 x 63.4R: Kynoch; .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Extress (Axite)", iwm.org.uk, retrieved 14 June 2018.
- Royal Armouries, "Centrefire rifle proof cartridge - .375/.303 in Axite by Eley", collections.royalarmouries.org, retrieved 15 June 2018.
- Royal Armouries, "Centrefire rifle cartridge - .375-303 in Axite by Kynoch", collections.royalarmouries.org, retrieved 15 June 2018.
The original article can be found at .375/303 Westley Richards Accelerated Express and the edit history here.