Take for instance the rifle rifle shown here. This is not your usual run of the mill .577 nitro rifle. The client came to us with the request for a 'lightweight' .577 droplock double rifle that he could carry all day sensibly buffalo hunting, but would not have the fierce recoil of a full blown .577 3" 750 grain magnum load rifle. Such rifles used to be built under the guise of 'Tiger' rifles and they were aimed primarily at the Indian market. They were built 1 to 1 1/2 lbs lighter than the magnum version rifles and fired a 650 grain bullet. As far as we could tell no such rifle had been built by us since before the second world war and so this was certainly going to be an interesting project.
The rifle we knew from years of experience we could lighten whilst still retaining the correct proportions and balance, the hard part was developing the ammunition for the rifle. Various versions of the .577 lightweight load were known to have been loaded. All used the 650 grain bullet, but the case length varied from 2 3/4" to 3" to 3 1/4". We decided on the 3" case as the rifle would be proofed for the full magnum load and so in a pinch 750 grain loaded ammunition could be used in the field. Working closely with the Birmingham Proof House we were able to develop here at our factory a load developing 1,950 feet per second which is perfect for this bullet and weight of rifle.
The rifle itself is in our opinion finished off very nicely in 'Gold Name' format which was a classic Westley Richards brand with vivid case colour hardening and lovely dark walnut woodwork. The 25" barrels give the rifle a nice profile and hark back to the days when such rifles were common place in the jungles of India. The rifle comes complete in one of our traditional lightweight leather cases and is supplied with 200 rounds of ammunition. This is a real hunters package and one of those great rifles that we know will get used as much as admired.
The Rifle shown along with the 650 grain bullets.
Russell Levin on January 2, 2022 at 1:31 pm
I wish I could commission one of your beautiful rifles but I did not marry a rich lady. Sad really. You produce a work of art in every sense. Keep the faith…
Josh on March 9, 2018 at 6:49 pm
As the present caretaker of an 1891 Westley Richards .577 Express double rifle, rebarreled in 1921 for the 75 grain Cordite and 650-grain bullet load, I can only say I would not want to carry anything else. It generates about 5,300 foot-pounds of huge wound channel devastation. Up close and personal with modern bullets, this load should be plenty for cape buffalo and elephant. Farther out, it should effectively nip bison, bear, big hogs, or elk, all of which are now on its menu here in North America. Congratulations to you on your creation here, and on marking spectacular continuity from 1891 to 2016 and now well into 2018.
Trigger on December 13, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Hi Vance
The rifle is indeed our signature ‘droplock’. We do in fact build a fixed lock .577 which comes as standard with our famous model ‘C’ dolls head fastener and lever work.
All the very best
Trigger
Trigger on December 13, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Hi Mims
The rifle weighs 12lb 11 1/2ozs. A full pound and some less than a conventional .577 magnum. Look forward to catching up with you on the show circuit.
All the best
Trigger
Trigger on December 13, 2016 at 6:02 pm
Hi Neil
Correct. We used Reloader 15 in the development of this particular load and it has proved consistent and smooth. The regulator commented that the rifle was ‘manageable’, but he is a big lad and used to shooting these big rifles! It should certainly prove effective in Africa.
Best regards
Trigger