I have had this discussion with my friend Morten on another forum about the strength of Purdey's Bar Action Sidelock design - John Olin and The American Rifleman jointly fired a Winchester 21, a Purdey Best gun and an AYA shotgun to destruction in the 1960s and the Winchester took 225,000 rounds more than the Purdey (and 100,000 more than the AYA, I think) did before it broke down. Olin said, in his conclusion, that a BEst Purdey was not a gun meant for the kind of pounding with overloads that he gave it, but if we look at the fact that he owned Winchester at the time, it is clear why he did not choose the Back Actioned Holland and Holland sidelock design - that is a considerably stronger action than the Purdey is and the Winchester would definitely not have come out as a winner had he compared a Holland to it. And yes, this was a test of shotguns, but the action designs are the same (albeit with altered dimensions to make them stronger) as those used in double rifles. Purdey's shotguns are regarded among the best because the bar action sidelock gives excellent trigger operation.

Frankly, it would not make a difference as far as the working of a best gun is concerned no matter who made it, in my very humble opinion. People might have individual preferences and the best rifle is the one that you would like to own most!

Good hunting!