500Nitro,

I had thought that the Woodleighs were designed to the same profile as the old Kynochs as well, but have been disabused of that notion by 500grains, and, upon my asking him the question in email correspondence, by Geoff McDonald of Woodleigh, as well. See below:

----- Original Message -----
To: Woodleigh Bullets
Subject: Woodleigh Solids

Gentlemen:

I have been a user of your fine bullets in many calibres for many years. I have heard it said recently that the fine English double rifle makers discourage the use of Woodleigh solids in their double rifles, or suggest that such use should be minimised, because:

1. All of the old Kynoch solids were of tapered shank design. Kynochs would therefore obturate and swage themselves into the rifling. Woodleighs do not share the tapered shank design of the old Kynoch solids, but instead have full calibre parallel sides. The Woodleighs only share the nose profile of the old Kynochs, not the full bullet profile.

2. The steel used in the Woodleigh solids is more "rigid" or somehow "tougher" than that used in the Kynochs.

3. When the more rigid steel jacket of the Woodleigh is coupled with its parallel sided design, the result is a bullet that does not obturate or flex, and that therefore places more stress on the barrels of a double rifle than the old Kynochs did, thereby making them liable to separate.

WOODLEIGH BULLETS
----- Original Message -----
Subject: Re: Woodleigh Solids

Everything you have quoted is true.
Some barrels will swage with our FMJ.
Most don't. Notably we have never heard of barrels or rifles (many brand names) manufactured by Webley & Scott, swaging.
Our tests have shown that many British rifle manufacturers used quite soft steels over many years.
I am convinced that it is the soft barrels which swage.
Our tests indicate that barrels which test 220 Vickers and over are fine.
Most continental and American barrels are OK.
One suggestion is to have your barrels slugged to check on groove diameter, and to have them hardness tested. This involves a tiny indentation which can barely be seen by the naked eye, and can be done under the forend.
Monolithic Solids are definitely harder on barrels than our FMJ, and are not recommended for most double rifles.
Regards,
Geoff McDonald.
WOODLEIGH BULLETS

See this thread on AR for a fuller picture of the discussion: Doubles And Homogenous Bullets and Woodleigh Solids Thread

On the other hand, you will see that one poster in the cited thread actually measured some Woodleigh solids and they, in fact, were slightly tapered. So, go figure.

CFA, as for where in particular to get your barrels hardness tested, I'm afraid I don't know off hand. The obvious answer would be a metallurgical testing lab, but that's not very helpful without particulars. Maybe a gunsmith who rebuilds doubles or has to reharden Mauser actions might know.

To me, this issue just emphasizes the need to be extremely cautious with older English doubles. Graeme Wright even goes so far as to advise x-raying the barrels to detect incipient splits or cracks. Probably a good idea, if a way could be found to do it quickly, before a purchase.