Amazing question, two weeks ago I shot a round of clays with my Dickson round action and shot my Purdey yesterday. With that said my go to side by side to shoot is my Garbi Model 100 with 29 1/2" barrels. I agree that if you continually shoot an English Best gun eventually something will break. I have an Atkin spring opener and broke a left cocking spring. Try getting that fixed here in the US. I know of only three places that will undertake that job.
But I had a friend who shot his 1909 Purdey weekly at clays putting at least 100 rounds through it each week. Till he finally broke a spring inside the lock.
Now he just shoots it on special ocasion.


Mike Proctor