.318 Riml. N.E. Westl Rich. Load Data

The .318 Rimless Nitro Express, often designated as .318 Riml. N.E. or Westley Richards .318 Nitro Express, was developed by the renowned British gunmaking firm Westley Richards in the early 20th century. Its introduction dates back to 1906, a period characterized by innovation in sporting cartridges tailored to colonial explorers and hunters, particularly those venturing into the vast game-rich lands of Africa and India. Designed to provide velocities and penetrative performance far ahead of its contemporaries, the .318 N.E. emerged at a time when the transition from black powder to smokeless powder revolutionized cartridge design. The “Rimless” feature was a significant advancement, promoting more reliable cycling in magazine rifles, such as the Mauser 98 actions that were gaining popularity among sportsmen. The .318 N.E.'s name is slightly misleading, as the actual bullet diameter is .330 inch and not .318, likely due to a mix-up in British nomenclature traditions. Westley Richards marketed this round as an answer to the famous .375 H&H Magnum, seeking to capture a portion of the professional and amateur sporting market during the golden age of African safaris.

The primary application of the .318 Riml. N.E. was in big game hunting, specifically targeting medium to large African and Indian game. Its design offers a balance of velocity, penetration, and manageable recoil, making it highly favored for use in bolt-action magazine rifles for extended safaris and demanding field conditions. The rimless case aids rapid extraction and reliable feeding—critical attributes when facing dangerous or elusive quarry. The .318 N.E. built a reputation for dependability and effectiveness on African plains and in dense Indian forests, where quick follow-up shots and stopping power could be the difference between a successful hunt and a dangerous encounter. It also found favor among British officers and colonial administrators who sought a versatile cartridge for both professional hunting and protection against animal threats in remote outposts.

Regarding target species, the .318 N.E. excelled against larger African antelope, including eland, kudu, and sable, as well as lion and leopard. With careful shot placement, it was also considered adequate for more sizable game, such as cape buffalo, though by today’s standards, heavier calibers are generally recommended for such purposes. Its terminal performance and penetration capabilities made it a solid choice for the broad variety of African and Asian game animals, fulfilling the “one gun” ideal for extended safaris.

Typical bullet weights for the .318 Rimless Nitro Express are 250 grains in solid or soft point construction, designed to optimize sectional density and energy transfer. The standard bullet for the .318 N.E. is a .330-inch diameter projectile, typically loaded to produce muzzle velocities in the neighborhood of 2,400 fps, delivering a hard-hitting combination of flat trajectory and deep penetration. This specification yields excellent retained energy at medium ranges and predictable terminal behavior in the field. Other characteristics of the cartridge include a fairly moderate shoulder angle and generous case capacity, making it a favorite among reloaders who appreciate the challenge and history associated with classic British sporting ammunition. Availability of proper .330-inch bullets has become something of a specialty matter, so modern handloaders often seek out custom or limited-production projectiles to keep vintage rifles in service. Overall, the .318 Riml. N.E. remains an enduring symbol of the golden era of big game hunting, combining classic British engineering with field-proven lethality.