RIFLE REVIEW A genuine game-changer James Purdey & Sons’ all-new - combines classic good looks and world-class craftsmanship with astonishing performance, says Marcus Janssen.

will admit from the outset “When you look at why came to accuracy it wouldn’t be and CNC-machined titanium that I have always been traditional handcrafted bolt able to compete with some of the that runs all the way from a bit of a traditionalist aren’t consistently accurate, it more modern rifles on the market. the grip through to the front when it comes to basically comes down to the I couldn’t have been more wrong. of the fore-end. This very clever riflesI – I just don’t think you can movement of wood,” explains Even the two range officials bit of engineering negates all of beat the look and feel of a classic James Horne, chairman of James at Bisley who accompanied me the challenges posed by traditional controlled-feed bolt-action with Purdey & Sons. “The action raised an eyebrow when this very walnut stocks by providing an an oiled walnut . In fact, moves within the stock on traditional-looking rifle, without exceptionally stable bedding my three all-time favourite rifles which in turn changes the point a sound moderator and platform into which the action have all been pre-64 Model 70 of impact from shot to shot. The Hornady Superformance factory is built. Winchesters in 30-06, .375 H&H other problem with wood is how (180gr SSTs), This major advance has also and .458 Win. You get the picture. it is affected by temperature and produced a 3" group at 600 yards allowed Purdey to incorporate But when it comes to choosing moisture variations – the pressure in fairly blustery conditions. Earlier, a true free-floating barrel into the a hunting rifle, accuracy should be points in the fore-end change as it had printed a ¼" group at 100 design, allowing consistent barrel the single most important criterion; the atmospheric conditions do, yards and a 1½" group at 300. harmonics which, as any rifle the quick and clean dispatch of resulting in erratic groups.” Simply put, that is match-grade or barrel maker will tell you, is one’s quarry should be every So, in a nutshell, if you want accuracy from a London-made another key prerequisite to ethical hunter’s highest priority. a consistently accurate rifle and hunting rifle – an astonishing rifle accuracy. Aesthetics should be a secondary efficient and reliable hunting tool, achievement in anyone’s book. consideration, by some margin. you should avoid wood and opt So, how did the very clever rifle INNOVATION MEETS Which is precisely why modern for a good quality carbon fibre or makers at James Purdey & Sons TRADITION synthetic stocks, made from composite stock. do it? “We set our sights on creating carbon fibre and other composite Not so fast. There are a number of things that a bolt-action rifle that overcomes materials, have become increasingly I was recently invited by Jonathan you have to get right to achieve the problems posed by traditional popular with hunters in recent Irby from James Purdey & Sons sub-MOA accuracy in a rifle, but wooden stocks, but still looks and years. They are durable, can be to test their all-new bolt-action the primary difference between this feels like a traditional Purdey rifle,” more precisely engineered than rifle in .300 Win Mag at various rifle and every other rifle I have explains James Horne. traditional wooden stocks, they ranges at Bisley and, if the truth be ever shot is in the stock itself. “We decided to start with a clean do not expand and contract in told, I didn’t have particularly high sheet and to focus on accuracy in the way that wood does, and they expectations. Of course, I knew that THE PURDEY isolation,” adds Jonathan Irby. “We are more rigid which means that it would be beautiful, well balanced CHASSIS SYSTEM found that most high-performance there is very little movement in the and pleasurable to shoot – and it Embedded in the rifle’s handmade target rifles on the market – such fore-end when a shot is fired. was – but I assumed that when it walnut stock is a CAD-engineered as those made by Accuracy ➻

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International – have actions that finished by Purdey craftsmen in are built into a metal chassis, and their London workshop. they have completely free-floating The rifle is delivered complete barrels. The next challenge, of with swing-off mounts and course, was to achieve that within scope rings and is threaded for a traditional wooden stock. a moderator if the customer “So, we came up with the idea wishes, complete with an invisible of embedding a metal chassis into thread protector. The , the walnut, something that, as far which is set from the factory at as we know, had never been done 2½lb, is adjustable and delivers before. We knew that if we wanted a crisp break with no creep. to maintain the classic lines of The only criticism I had of the a Best London rifle, the chassis rifle I tested (a prototype) was the would need to be slim; titanium fullness of the – it felt offered the best options as it is cumbersome and uncomfortable stiffer, stronger and lighter than to me and made reaching for the aluminium. We could have used trigger awkward – but I have been steel but it would have added too assured that this has subsequently much weight.” been addressed. Apart from that, From the point of concept to I really can’t fault this rifle. having a chassis that they could Admittedly, the price point test took about nine months. The (£25,000 + VAT) will put this development of the chassis was rifle out of the reach of the vast done on a CAD system – rather majority of hunters and deer than doing it manually by hand stalkers, but there is no denying – so they were able to model the that it is worth every penny. It chassis very precisely. really does offer the best of both Because the Purdey Chassis worlds – the classic aesthetics System is embedded in the stock, and quality of craftsmanship that it is hidden from view when the is synonymous with one of the rifle is assembled, so, aesthetically, world’s most iconic and rifle it remains a very traditional- making firms, and exceptional looking product with London accuracy achieved through truly blueing on the action and barrel, innovative engineering. What’s not along with the walnut stock to like about that? and subtle fine rose and scroll Yes, this really is a genuine engraving on the trigger guard, game-changer. floor-plate, bolt handle and . AVAILABLE CALIBRES The new Purdey Bolt-Action AN ALL-BRITISH Rifle is available in short, standard PRODUCT and magnum actions and can be Historically, Best Quality London built for all standard and most rifles were all built around old wildcat chamberings. Purdey actions using German has over 200 reamers available to barrels. The new Purdey Bolt- meet the demands of the modern Action Rifle is an all-British bolt-action rifle market. product. The double square-bridge M98-style controlled-feed action The all-new Purdey Bolt-Action Rifle is available now, with prices starting from and barrel (the latter made by £25,000 + VAT. The lead time on the Border Barrels in Birmingham) are standard specification is approximately six both precision engineered in the months from order. UK and the rifles are made and www.purdey.com/guns-rifles/new-bolt-action-rifle

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