Yes Woodward did chamber the Automatic in .303. Perhaps it is strong enough to hold.

But the Automatic is a small action with wood in proportion. My .450/400 3-1/4" BPE weighs just under 8-1/2 lbs. That's just right for the black powder round for which it originally was built. Mine passed nitro proof at some point.

Really, how do you think my rifle will handle full nitro loads? At 8 lbs. 7 oz. it is going to be a handful. And do you think the petite stock is going to stand up to such punishment it was never designed to take?

Perhaps I should raise the ante and have a set of .450 NE barrels made for mine. That's the exact same head size, and Woodward chambered the Automatic in .450 3-1/4" BPE, the exact same case.

No thanks. Mine's nitro proofed, but I'm not shooting NE loads in it.

I'm not trying to be a know-it-all or to rain on anybody's parade. I've made a lifetime collecting double rifles, and I've learned a few points along the way. But as they say, YMMV.

Curl