The answer to the OP's question can be answered pretty much by simply using some common sense.
What have shooters seen of English guns that have broken because of high volume shooting? What broke? How many? Were they shooting a lot of over proof loads?
I'm pretty sure the British coined the phrase "off the face". If not, they certainly became aware that it happens. I don't know that any gun spring, no matter how carefully made, can survive an infinite number of compressions. Hammers, firing pins, or trigger components can wear, or suddenly fracture after working perfectly for thousands of rounds. Annual servicing may catch worn components, but it won't catch a hammer or spring that will eventually break due to some internal defect in the steel. Recoil damage to wood can happen due to a single excessive blow, or the accumulated pounding of thousands of shots.
Even purpose-built high volume competition guns that replaced the competition guns of a century ago are known to eventually fail. But as Stan said, some parts are easily replaced with relatively inexpensive mass produced parts. However, it won't be so easy, or cheap, when you need a skilled gunsmith to make a replacement.
The whole concept seems silly to me.... buy it and use it if you want it ?$#%^# ?????? Just like cars, there in no guarentee a new car won't break down just as fast as a used car, and there is no guarentee an x make of car won't break just as fast as any other. If you have the coin to shoot a $22K gun and you are on this site, then I assume you can easily have a back up if needed. It will still get you from point A to point B if needed. I have had lots of thing break on me, but if I didn't buy or use anything for fear of required repairs, I am not sure what would be left to play with ?
It is true that a brand new vehicle may break down, maybe even before the window price sticker is removed. That's why we pay extra for warranties. But nobody should expect that a 2WD El Camino with a light duty frame and suspension will last as long in off-road competition as a beefy 3/4 ton 4WD truck. Trucks, cars, and guns are engineered for different levels of use and abuse. Redline RPM for a Formula 1 engine is 13 - 15,000 RPM, and it may not survive one 2 1/2 hr. race. That doesn't mean that a Corvette engine would be an intelligent substitute for 230 mph racing, even though both are made for high performance. So this advice to have a spare back-up gun when your English Game Gun breaks in a month or a year is valid. I often bring a spare gun on hunting trips. With enough time and enough money, almost anything can be repaired or replaced. Guns are meant to be shot, so use the WR if you wish. Just don't expect it to last as long as your Perazzi or Krieghoff. A serious competitor may not wish to have their concentration broken in the middle of a round though.
Just common sense. Unfortunately, common sense isn't always common. That's why dumb gun owners support anti-gun politicians.
