Purdey new bolt action rifle

[Ridgewalker]

Of course they are - I married one!

I’ll have to agree. I have three generations of them around me. Guess it would be dangerous for me not to agree!

 

[CTDolan]

hope your eye site holds out.

I approach hunting with a rifle the same way I do hunting with a bow (or a handgun), if I can't get in close enough to take the shot, I don't shoot, simple as that.

 

[TTundra]

You guys are terrible...between this thread and @Red Leg 's new Rigby thread, I may be laying some of the newer implements out for sale to try to move me closer to my desired Rigby purchase.

 

[peras]

Lovely rifle.

 

[Art Lambart II]

At the end of the day if your expensive rifle won't outperform a Savage rifle its not worth it. I always say "saying yes to one thing means saying no to another". You can say yes to buying a new Purdy or a Rigby but you'll have to say no to a safari or two in order to pay for it, or you could buy a new Savage and hunt Africa one or two times for the same price, the choice is yours.

 

[Hank2211]

At the end of the day if your expensive rifle won't outperform a Savage rifle its not worth it. I always say "saying yes to one thing means saying no to another". You can say yes to buying a new Purdy or a Rigby but you'll have to say no to a safari or two in order to pay for it, or you could buy a new Savage and hunt Africa one or two times for the same price, the choice is yours.

Sorry, but, respectfully, can’t agree. A Volkswagen will get you somewhere in reasonable comfort and in about the same time as a Porsche (you could violate speed limits in both, but unlikely to get there any faster in the Porsche), but I still prefer a Porsche.

Same with rifles. I think Savage makes a fine gun, but it isn’t a thing of beauty to me. It’s utilitarian, and I enjoy shooting not only a beautiful rifle with lovely, highly figured wood, but also a rifle from a maker with some history with Africa behind them. That explains why I have a Rigby made .416 Rigby.

And yes, life is made of choices. Some are more able to both buy a nice rifle and still go on safari than others, but that’s the same with anything. It’s about how you choose to spend your money. I’ve had people who smoke pack a day tell me that they’d never spend more than $1000 on a rifle because “you don’t need to.” Meanwhile, they are spending about $3,500 per year on cigarettes (and more soon, in New York City). So quit smoking, and you will have that Purdey in 10 years, without any sacrifice. I’m not saying everyone can afford a Purdey or a Rigby, but I am saying that more could, if it was important enough to them.

I plan on passing by Purdey - they are about five blocks from where I am spending the year - and finding out a bit more about this lovely rifle.

Worth is a highly subjective matter - even if something shoots no better than a Savage.

 

[Red Leg]

At the end of the day if your expensive rifle won't outperform a Savage rifle its not worth it. I always say "saying yes to one thing means saying no to another". You can say yes to buying a new Purdy or a Rigby but you'll have to say no to a safari or two in order to pay for it, or you could buy a new Savage and hunt Africa one or two times for the same price, the choice is yours.

I must disagree with you. Certainly a rifle needs to shoot. But it really isn't a tool - it is a weapon. And weapons have been crafted by artisans - some beautifully and some crudely - since our ancestors were first chipping flint. I have no desire to hunt with a plastic stocked, ugly rifle regardless of how well it shoots. And I am the first to admit that is a personal taste thing; bit like good wine and good art. The one isn't the same as Boone's Farm and the other isn't a mass-produced poster in a plastic frame.

Guns affect me the same as rifles. I usually shoot clays and game with SxS's - my scores are a tad better at clays with an O/U, but I notice no difference on game. The names on those guns are Cashmore, Evans, Scott, McNaughton, Grant, etc. I probably could shoot the same score or limit with a model 870 - put I don't have to and I don't want to. I simply do not value such a weapon or the experience I would have with it - regardless of its accuracy or its cost.

It is perfectly ok for others to regard that attitude as silly or passe' or perhaps even elitist. Going afield with a fine weapon enhances my personal hunting/shooting experience (why, in part, it is so important to me to bring my rifles to Africa). I also don't think that I have missed any opportunities afield because I prefer hunting with a custom made rifle or one which says Westley Richards or Rigby on the barrel. Part of it is that I have been blessed with resources, but as Hank notes above, it has been more about how and where I have applied those resources. For instance, in spite of my love of English guns, I have never ordered a bespoke weapon from London or Birmingham. I prefer to buy wonderfully preserved pieces from the golden age before the Second World War. A bit of stock bending and lengthening or shortening quickly fits them. And I can find three or four of those wonderful things for what it would cost to place an order in London. But again, that is purely a personal thing. I can certainly appreciate the joy of owning a truly bespoke rifle or gun. My latest rifle acquisition was a new .275 Rigby - by Rigby.

Finally, we are only transients here. If I read the actuary tables correctly, my spouse will outlive me by as many as 20 years. Unlike that 870 or a Savage, my collection of weapons will fetch significantly more than their original total investment - even allowing for the most mercenary seller's premiums. That too strikes me as a very wise use of resources.

 

[Velo Dog]

Different strokes for different folks.

Personally, I’d rather have a stunning work of art that struggles to maintain a 1-inch group than a plastic stocked wonder that puts them all in one hole, all day (but then again, I detest scopes...).

+1

 

[Art Lambart II]

Sorry, but, respectfully, can’t agree. A Volkswagen will get you somewhere in reasonable comfort and in about the same time as a Porsche (you could violate speed limits in both, but unlikely to get there any faster in the Porsche), but I still prefer a Porsche.

Same with rifles. I think Savage makes a fine gun, but it isn’t a thing of beauty to me. It’s utilitarian, and I enjoy shooting not only a beautiful rifle with lovely, highly figured wood, but also a rifle from a maker with some history with Africa behind them. That explains why I have a Rigby made .416 Rigby.

And yes, life is made of choices. Some are more able to both buy a nice rifle and still go on safari than others, but that’s the same with anything. It’s about how you choose to spend your money. I’ve had people who smoke pack a day tell me that they’d never spend more than $1000 on a rifle because “you don’t need to.” Meanwhile, they are spending about $3,500 per year on cigarettes (and more soon, in New York City). So quit smoking, and you will have that Purdey in 10 years, without any sacrifice. I’m not saying everyone can afford a Purdey or a Rigby, but I am saying that more could, if it was important enough to them.

I plan on passing by Purdey - they are about five blocks from where I am spending the year - and finding out a bit more about this lovely rifle.

Worth is a highly subjective matter - even if something shoots no better than a Savage.

@Hank2211,

I agree with you 100%, I probably should have used the word "necessary" instead of "worth"it was a poor choice of words on my part. If I made it sound like I was criticizing someone for buying an expensive rifle I apologize that was never my intent. I work in the auto industry and my livelihood depends on people choosing the more expensive SUV over the less expensive car and I respect their choice no mater which one they make.

Want and need are two very different things and more often than not we are driven by our wants and settle for what we need.

 

[ZG47]

Maybe it depends on the stock...I’ve seen Marine Corps M40 series sniper rifles that were bedded in Marine Tex and they hadn’t been rebedded after multiple years in the fleet...thousands of rounds, multiple users, heavy use in the field.

I think it depends on your bedding material and how thick you can get it.

Dakota uses Bisonite which is supposed to be a product designed to repair industrial boilers and pipes.

YMMV.

@lockingblock The M40 rifles are another story altogether. Round-bottom-actioned rifles for 500-1,000 yard shooting are typically rebedded every two years. The. tube rifles obviously will never have that issue but, on the other hand, if you are using plenty of strong loads in a stalking rifle with a round bottom action, the bedding will take a beating and a timber stock may split, due to the extra action-screw torque required to minimize the loosening effects of firing torque.

No such thing as a perfect solution, especially when emotion and finances play significant parts in our rifle choices. Have a good weekend. I hope to see more of your posts.

 

[Velo Dog]

Fellow Rifle Enthusiasts,

Regarding the much lauded "Minute of Angle" thing:

To begin with, having been hunting in Africa only 5 times at this stage, I fully agree that I am still learning the ropes there.
So far however, I have yet to experience the need for such pin point accuracy, except on very flat pretty much bare ground, when unable to get close to springbok.
I have shot 6 of them over the years and at least one was beyond 400 meters (PH's laser range finder).
For that specific scenario, I was happy that my rifle du jour was quite accurate (Douglas barreled '98 Mauser, .300 H&H / 180 gr Nosler Partition).

I've not hunted vaahl rhebok (or however you spell it) but, I have seen them in the Highveld of South Africa (Drakensberg Mountains).
And, I could envision wanting a flat shooting and much dreaded "minute of angle" rifle for same.
I've only taken one klipspringer and one mountain reedbok, both of which can reportedly "stretch your barrel".
However, the "klippy" was only 200 meters (.375 H&H / 300 grainer at 2400 fps).
And the Mt. reedbok was so close as to almost suffer powder burns (same rifle / load).
As we rounded a rock pile, we almost stepped on him and he jumped up but I quickly shot him at that moment, by looking down the left side of my barrel (works surprisingly well compared to trying to keep something from leaping our of your scope view, when quickly shooting something at sword fighting range).

The point .... (finally !),
For anyone planning their first trip to Africa, IMO you definitely do not need to toss and turn all night, if your rifle refuses to put 5 rounds into an inch at 100 yds / mtrs from sand bags.
If you and your rifle can consistently hit a standard 8 ounce coffee cup, from sticks at about 100 paces, you will have no problems bagging your game in most of Africa.
The majority of Africa's hunting areas are "bushveld conditions" and so, most of the critters you will encounter will be under 100 yards / meters and somewhere very close to 100% of the critters you will encounter are going to be under 200.

Even "out in the open", such as South Africa's Highveld, The Eastern Cape and most of Namibia, well over half your shots will be under 200 yards / meters, with the occasional shot over 300, possibly presenting itself across a dry pan or, treeless flat plain or, across a steep canyon.
As mentioned, perhaps one or two shots in five safaris will you possibly decide to shoot something at 400 or a bit over.
For these rare long shots, a 1" at 100 yds capable rifle" cannot hurt.
But, even the "coffee cup at 100 yds capable rifle" will work out to about 300, because if you can hit the 8 oz cup at 100, likely you can then hit a grapefruit or cantaloupe at 200 and a dinner plate at 300, from the sticks.

More important than obsessing over a hunting weight rifle that will not shoot like a competition style heavy, bench rifle, is to practice, practice, practice and then practice some more, from filed positions, (especially standing from sticks).

Cheers,
Velo Dog

 

[Art Lambart II]

@Red Leg,

You like classic firearms made by storied manufactures, I don't see the need to pay the sometime excessive prices for them and would rather use an equally effective and less expensive modern firearm. Both point of view are correct, it just gives us something to debate around the campfire after a days hunt.

I do however strongly disagree with your statement that a rifle is a weapon, a rifle or handgun is a firearm, how you use them defines them as a weapon. When I was in the service I carried a weapon its sole purpose was to do violence to those who sought to harm this country. As a civilian I own many firearms but not a single weapon, the .45 I carry is a tool no different than the pocket knife or the leatherman I carry, should I use anyone of them to defend myself, my family or others then it becomes a weapon. Bows, spears, slingshots and firearms are all tools we use for hunting, to imply anything else would be saying a deer is a valuable as a person and validating PETA's argument.

Now more than ever we as responsible firearm owners and hunters must be careful with our words, today's media is more than willing to twist or word and distort our message.

Soldiers carry weapons, criminals use weapons to threaten, intimidate and harm others, law abiding gun owners like you and me, we own firearms.

 

[Shootist43]

Cem, do you see what I mean about you starting lively discussions? Many points of view have been respectfully presented and countered. Would you really be willing to pay what Purdey is going to be asking for one of these things? Or would you rather buy two or more engraved Mausers?

 

[Graham Hunter]

Or a bunch of CZ's or fancy Win 70's. Then you won't cry when you use them.

 

[Red Leg]

@Red Leg,

You like classic firearms made by storied manufactures, I don't see the need to pay the sometime excessive prices for them and would rather use an equally effective and less expensive modern firearm. Both point of view are correct, it just gives us something to debate around the campfire after a days hunt.

I do however strongly disagree with your statement that a rifle is a weapon, a rifle or handgun is a firearm, how you use them defines them as a weapon. When I was in the service I carried a weapon its sole purpose was to do violence to those who sought to harm this country. As a civilian I own many firearms but not a single weapon, the .45 I carry is a tool no different than the pocket knife or the leatherman I carry, should I use anyone of them to defend myself, my family or others then it becomes a weapon. Bows, spears, slingshots and firearms are all tools we use for hunting, to imply anything else would be saying a deer is a valuable as a person and validating PETA's argument.

Now more than ever we as responsible firearm owners and hunters must be careful with our words, today's media is more than willing to twist or word and distort our message.

Soldiers carry weapons, criminals use weapons to threaten, intimidate and harm others, law abiding gun owners like you and me, we own firearms.

Thank you Art. And thank you for your service. I spent a little while in the military as well. But, you will have to pardon me if I am not in the mood to be lectured over my use of terminology.

I do regret if I may have bruised yours or any others' sensibilities here by drawing a historical analogy between the craftsmanship that has gone into weapons' making over the millennia and the differences between a modern plastic rifle and a fine - as you say - firearm. Their beauty, their mystical fascination - all that goes into our special attachment to these creations has little in common with - oh I don't know - a wrench? I assumed, wrongly, that illustration was obvious in its intent. That historical, I would argue baked into my DNA, appreciation of fine WEAPONS carries over to the appreciation of the Lindner I am currently cleaning. I would also agree that is an observation which would be lost on those without an understanding of our sport or the "tools" that we take to the field to "harvest" a deer. Perhaps why I did not post this on the Nat Geo site.

 

[Graham Hunter]

A firearm is only a weapon if used as one no different than a hammer a baseball bat or a vehicle I believe we are all into hunting and target shooting not going to war

 

[Pondoro]

Gents, I visited Purdey yesterday in London and handeled 3 different double rifles, made for the same customer they said, one in .470, .500 and .600 NE.

Mind you, I say this as an owner of a Purdey best sxs shotgun:

The workmanship is marvelous...but the Beesley action makes it too heavy (slow) to be the ideal action for a double rifle IMHO, time is a luxury you dont have when hunting dangerous game. I really struggled to close that big .600 action...perhaps it will become more smooth with some wear...but my Purdey from 1896 is still pretty hard to close so...well...

No, I do not think that the Beesley is the best action for this kind of rifle..

 

[Pondoro]

I handeled a Mauser actioned bolt rifle too ( the actions are made for Purdey in London by a firm called Mayfair engineering I think..).

I have to admit I really like that Mauser action...a lot, very smooth..but they come with a big price tag..

 

[dory]

I love the nice things in life .
Fine wine , new pickup trucks , beatiful woman , my wife, and top of the line firearms .
But how the hell could you take a $200 K firearm on a serious hunt .
But shit , it would be nice to own one .

Lotto would work .

 

[cem rona ergin]

Cem, do you see what I mean about you starting lively discussions? Many points of view have been respectfully presented and countered. Would you really be willing to pay what Purdey is going to be asking for one of these things? Or would you rather buy two or more engraved Mausers?

I knew this would happen when I posted
I am enjoying this tremendously.
The only thing is missing a campfire and a glass of one’s preferred poison
Would I buy it instead of a couple of Mausers ? I really do not know ... I have not handled this rifle so I can not say .. plus I have this obsession with Wesley Richard’s take down rifle ...
Now that you brought up the subject remember this one??

The seller came back to me with an 50% discount offer ..
This gun has not been fired once since it left the factory in 1944 ..
what do to ?