Westley Richards .425 Take-Down
Westley Richards & Co. · Rifle · In Production · 1909
Also known as: Westley Richards .425 Take Down Bolt Action Rifle, Westley Richards .425 Magazine Rifle
Overview
The Westley Richards .425 Take-Down is a British bolt-action big-game rifle built on a Mauser-type action and chambered for the proprietary .425 Westley Richards cartridge. Introduced in 1909, its defining feature is a take-down design that lets the barrelled action separate from the stock for compact transport in a fitted case, while a hand-detachable bolt and Westley Richards' signature drop magazine with a hinged floorplate ease field maintenance. A pair of spring-loaded guides flanking the action steady each large rebated-rim cartridge as it feeds from the magazine. Firing a 410-grain bullet at roughly 2,350 fps, it was designed as a dangerous-game rifle for African and Indian hunting and remains in limited bespoke production.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4508 g (159.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1180 mm (46.46") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Fixed Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 716 m/s (2349 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 6810 J (5023 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .425 Westley Richards · primary — also known as .425 WR, .425 Westley Richards Magnum
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Integral Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Three Position Safety
- Features: Take Down Design, Hand Detachable Bolt, Drop Magazine With Hinged Floorplate, Spring Loaded Cartridge Guides, Express Open Sights, Proprietary 425 Chambering
Service history
Operators
- Big-game hunters and safari outfitters
Production
Production years: 1909-present
Bespoke big-game rifle produced in small numbers; the take-down variant is a rare bench-made configuration.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Leslie Bown Taylor
Notes
The .425 Westley Richards uses a rebated rim so the large-diameter cartridge feeds through a standard-size Mauser bolt face. The take-down and drop-magazine features made it popular with travelling safari hunters. Fewer than a hundred take-down examples were built, each essentially bespoke.
Background
The .425 cartridge was championed by professional hunter John 'Pondoro' Taylor, who rated it among the finest medium-bore rounds for dangerous game. Westley Richards designed the round with a rebated rim specifically so the potent .435-inch bullet could feed from an unaltered standard Mauser action.