A .275 Stalking Rifle Fit For A Lady

While Rigby had secured the rights to sell Mauser ’98 model sporting rifles, Westley Richards was British agent for Mauser C96 pistols and for Mauser carbines. The first of which, No. 25303, was sold on March 22^nd 1899. Rigby anglicised the 7mm Mauser and it became (briefly) the .276 Rigby, then the .275 Rigby in Britain. It is also known as the 7x57, being a 7mm bullet in a 57mm case.

Its heyday was in the years between 1900 and 1939 when it proved a more popular sporting cartridge than the .303 British or the 6.5x54 Mannlicher Schoenauer (or .256 in British terminology). As a medium game magazine rifle it was ‘handy’, instinctive to shoot, well-balanced and accurate.

In those early days of Cordite and other ‘smokeless’ propellants, when small-calibre rifles were revolutionizing the way gunmakers and sportsmen thought about matching bullet size to quarry, it was not uncommon to see the 7x57 and the .303 employed against Cape buffalo or even elephants. In the post war decades, with the advent of fashionable wildcat cartridges and their later adoption by the mainstream, others appeared to replace the 7x57 in the affections of American hunters, who dominated the sport as the British gradually lost their empire and the places to use their rifles.

The .243 Winchester and the .270 soon became more fashionable and the 7x57 took on the aura of something rather old-fashioned. However, it never lost its qualities of flat trajectory, effective penetration and soft recoil, whether loaded with the original 173-grain bullet or the later 140-grain H.V alternative. In subsequent years, a wider variety of bullet weights became available and the 7x57 retained a place in the hearts of many traditionally-minded hunters.

Today, it remains a popular choice with Rigby customers and an occasional one for Westley Richards. When we were asked to build a special .275 H.V. for a valued customer, we set about the task with a great deal of enthusiasm, as the cartridge lends itself to very elegant rifles. We determined that this one would be a stand-out example of its type and our craft. Commissioned for a lady, it was envisioned as a lightweight stalking rifle and designed for use with Norma cartridges and 156-grain bullets.

The action is a new intermediate size, Mauser ’98 type, with a Winchester Model 70 style three-position safety, a Westley Richards pattern island for the rear sights, which are ramp, plus two leaves, regulated to 50, 100 and 200 yards. The double square bridge action facilitates a ‘scope and the one fitted is a Swarovski Z3 (3-10 x 42) with a one-inch tube and Westley Richards' quick-detach mounts.

Designated as a lightweight model with a slim profile and no check-piece to the stock, this compact rifle has a 23” match-grade barrel with a twist rate of 1:8.5 and a length of pull of just 13 3/8”. When completed, it tipped the scales at just six pounds seven ounces. The Swarovski Z3 and mounts add a pound and an ounce when fitted. With the adjustable trigger set to a crisp 3lb-pull, final sighting targets produced a cloverleaf of three shots at fifty yards. With magazine capacity of four plus one, it is ideal for stalking, holding adequate rounds yet retaining a slim profile and light weight.

For engraving, we had Bradley Tallett execute his beautifully precise deluxe scrolls on the quarter rib and foresight hood, with borders on the muzzle and the foresight block, with matting to the ramps and ‘WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co., ENGLAND inlaid in gold on the barrel. On the action, The maker’s name, with serial number 43708 is also inlaid in gold lettering on the left, with ‘.275 High Velocity’ on the right – using the English name of the cartridge, as befitting a Birmingham-built rifle. The serial number is repeated in gold on the bolt. Elsewhere, straight-line chequer and borders are used to enliven parts like swivel attachments, bolt-release and foresight pin.

The walnut chosen represents our Super Deluxe grade and it features a beautifully profiled full pistol grip with a small grip-cap and trap. The forepart is tipped with ebony and the butt finished with a leather covered rubber anti-recoil pad. The results are quite spectacular, in a refined and tasteful manner, as befits a lady’s stalking rifle. It is classic without being dull, it is beautiful without being gaudy, it will age gracefully and feel at home in the field for decades to come.

The level of finish applied to this rifle is notable and that attention to detail is what makes it outstanding. When we do classic here, we do it with a touch of class that goes beyond what others can deliver. Every part, no matter how small, is bespoke and refined to suit this build exactly. No generic parts, nothing quite the same as might be seen on another rifle.

Every detail is unique, every part in harmony with every other. We make it look easy and natural. That only comes with experience, expertise, artistry and dedication. The team can rightly be proud of this exceptional little rifle and we are sure it will give the owner much pleasure for a lifetime to come.