Gunwolf,
We probably all agree that the hardest test of a shotgun action is its survival in the hands of a serious target shooter. Serious in the sense frequent and intensive use. Kim Rhodes is an example of such a shooter and she and other athletes never used a classic, because it simply could not survive such use.
Lord Ripon did bag over a half a million birds in his lifetime, but it was not done with a single gun. He owned at least three hammer Purdeys and probably other guns too, which no doubt went to the makers for service and repairs. His numbers are hardly a record to rival the hudnreds of thousands of rounds put through a single gun by a target shooter.
The sheer pleasure of hunting with a finely balanced shotgun for many of us is more important than durability. But let's give Cesar his due!
