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Dugaboy,
My posts to you are always tendered with respect to your vast knowledge of double rifles, of that there is no doubt..but on this issue I will take anyone to task, as in order to move steel to the outside of a gun with a softer metal is simply an impossibility and this is simply an old wives tale that has been pushed into the relm of believable by some of the most knowledgeable....In order for this to be true one would end up with an oversize smooth bore, not just worn rifleing...if you move steel then it must go somewhere....

We did a test a couple of years ago based on my reading about the same test in some magazine or hearsay or whatever and we took an old English double set of ruined .408? barrels that I procured from Rick Stickley...I sent an oversize mild steel billet down the tube more than half way, at which time Ken Akin and I could no longer swing the sledge hammer, Next day we knocked it out and without going into detail, nothing changed what so ever and the barrel expanded and returned to specs, thats about the extent of it...I am aware the same test was conducted with a hydralic press and with the same results except it swaged the monolithid solid from 458 to .411

More tests of this nature need to be performed and test done under more elaborate conditions..as I am still firmly convinced that softer metal cannot move harder metal, that is a scientific fact or so I have been assured..

However, as I said in the beginning, I do not shoot monolithics in english rifles UNLESS they are of pure copper and have pressure rings such as Bridger or GS Customs bullets...I have shot these in my Jefferys and Army Navy 450-400's more than a few times in the flat nose solid varity without a problem..In fact using the same identical load as I used with my regulated Woodleighs I had to UP the charge by 2grs. with the GS bullets to get the required 2125 FPS to regulate and come to POI, which indicates to me they were, in fact, easier on the bores than the accepted Woodleighs...

Now, to set the record straight, I would not shoot Barnes X in an English double rifle, as they have no pressure rings and may be of a harder metal than GS or Bridger...Barnes claims there test show other wise?....I would suggest that they may damage an English double in ways other than pushing the rifling to the outside of the barrel..they may undo the solder or whatever, I simply do not know.

Well, thats the way I see it and I like I said, I have chased this issue for a number of years and to date, have not been convienced otherwise, but I am receptive of any actual proof that can be produced, but not assumption or Hearsay. I do however welcome any posts what so ever as to anyones opinnion, that is what makes for intelligent conversation...

At any rate I solved the problem by purchasing the new Searcy PH model, which is as close to an English double as I have seen and one heck of a lot stronger and better steel and will handle any bullets with aplomb...It is a hunting rifle...

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