I contacted Barnes regarding the issues about shooting their old and new solids in double rifles. Here is what they stated.

My question:

I own a Merkel 140.2 double in .500 Nitro Express. I have a large stock of the old 570 gr solids (blue coated lub). I keep hearing it is unsafe to fire your solids in double rifles. True or false?

Barnes response:

That is absolutely False!

We have done extensive testing and the solids in many cases actually reduce pressure and barrel expansion. I'd like to see and encourage anyone who says other wise to call me directly @ 800-574-9200. I'd like to see their proof. They don't have any. WE DO!

Thanks for taking the time to get the real information.

We Aim to please, reloading is a great hobby, enjoy it.

Ty Herring
Barnes Bullets
Customer Service Director
P.O. Box 215
American Fork
Utah 84003
Tel 801-756-4222
1-800-574-9200
Fax 801-756-4222
Email: email@barnesbullets.com
http://www.barnesbullets. com

A while back, Wilhelm Marx wrote an article in Magnum about his Zanardini .500NE.

He used Barnes homogeneous bullets. He wrote that he asked Barnes the same questions, and they assured him it was safe.

He wrote that Barnes said they they make their .500 bullets .509 instead of .510, just in case - I am not sure if .001 makes a difference, but apparently they said it was fine in modern/post cordite doubles.

Personally I would much rather play it safe and loose a couple bucks on bullets then have to fix a very expensive DR.

Used car salesmen! This car belonged to a little old lady, who only drove it to church on Sunday! Opinion noted!

I would consult Merkel to see what they say.

I'm ,like usual, confused. Woodlieghs are made to aproximate the profiles and ballistics of the original softs and solids that the cordite cartridges used. thousands maybe millions of large and small game have been effeciently harvested with those bullets. They are safe in any gun in good condition. I just can't for the life of me figure why one would want to shoot a monolithic through the barrels of a double rifle worth many thousands of dollars. But that is just me.

quote:

Originally posted by els:
They [Woodleigh] are safe in any gun in good condition.

Not really. The H&H regulator recommends minimizing the number of Woodleigh solids that you shoot through your double.

A true driving band solid (such as GS Custom or North Fork) causes less pressure and less barrel bulge than a Woodleigh.