Withworth action
Several years ago I bought (over the internet) a new MAGNUM (imported by Interarms) length Withworth action (from Bill Hicks distributorship), mfg in Manchester England.....and was marked Mark X......I ultimately wanted to end up with a .375 H &H Mag suitable for a Kodiak.
I had it barreled (here in Montana) with a Douglas Barrel, and the chamber (.375 H&H) and throat reamed so that I could seat 300gr Noslers flush with the base of the neck. Then sent it to Bell and Carlson and had the action glass bedded into one of their synthetic FRP stocks, and the barrel free floated. I put 3 handloads through it and decided that since I like to develope loads ......I think a muzzle brake would be advisable on what was now a 7#-12oz rifle w/ a Leopold 1 3/4 to 5 scope in Warne rings and bases.
Sent it off to Sequin,TX for the brake.
Got it back and ended up with a load utilizing Norma 204 powder, a Federal 215 primer and WW Brass that chronographed at 2685 w/ the 300gr Partitions, and would put 3 rounds into just a hair under one inch at 100 yrds... It was a pleasure to shoot .....had recoil about equal to a 30/06 w a 150 gr.
I had got my name on Jim Bailey's list for "cancelled hunts" a couple of yrs earlier, and after a total of 3 yrs, I got a very late season (mid Nov) Kodiak Brown bear hunt for half price. Jim had a Doctor cancel out and he didn't want the permit to go unused......, and I jumped at the chance!
I was totally pleased with the rifle, and completely confident that at age 60, it would get me a bear if I did my part.
On Nov 17 (in absolutely terrible weather: wind, sleet, snow), and after having only seen one other bear in 4 days...... I got an 11 yr old boar, at 40 y rds, after a 3.5 hr stalk , crawling up the mountain side from sea level to 1380 feet............ah but that's a whole 'nother story.
THAT controlled feed, Mdl 98 Withworth action is fantastic, and IMHO, leaves nothing to be desired.