Jim:

I've read that too, but have never had a problem with Woodleigh solids in any pre-war rifle. I figured that if this was going to be a problem, it would happen with my own .400. My barrels are 1.210" diameter at the breech and taper to .590" at the muzzles. Groove diameter is .408". I've shot quite a few in it and the gun is fine. My own experience with monos in another rifle suggests that, if a given rifle is going to have a problem with 'em, it may not take many.

Did the wall thickness of the barrels on Ernest's gun strike you as particularly thin? Had they been refinished? I never got to see it, other than the photos that were posted on AR. I wonder if that may be the flip side of your question. I've met the guy that Ernest got that gun from and looked over a number of guns that he had for sale a while back. The man said that he had a gunsmith who "refurbishes" the ones that need it. Several of the DRs I saw had been refinished and the metal not properly prepped - a couple in particular had been ground up pretty bad on a hi-speed polishing wheel. Something else that would be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for.
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