Wanted: David Lloyd Rifle

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sgurrdamh

sgurrdamh

Well-Known Member
I’m interested in looking for one of DL’s rifles. Calibre and spec wise I’m open to all, but ideally in good or better condition.

Please message if you have or know of something, thank you. If it matters, I’m looking to use it for its original purpose and it will be cherished.

Best,

Sam
 
An original Pipewell one? I'd not want to put you off. But don't. Really.

First I knew someone, big into hill stalking, that had one in .244 H & H in the 1960s and said that it was the worst rifle he'd ever owned. Bullets blew up on red stags. He used it once and sold it in Shooting Times for more than he'd paid Lloyd for it new. And went back to using his .303".

Second the optics will be now some fifty plus years old and won't stand comparison with even today's medium budget glass. Even if not gummed or fogged. And if you did wish to replace the existing sight the Llloyd mounts may not give adequate clearance with even modern x42 size front lens diameter 'scopes. Or be spaced to fit the inevitable "knobs" on modern telescopic sights.

Third the relationship between sight and bullet weight (and the optics used) may mean that when non-lead comes in that you run out of adjustment on the 'scope. An issue too if not image centering. There's no "knobs" on Lloyd 'scoped rifles. And it also may not be the power of magnification you prefer.

Fourth the rifling twist of whatever the calibre of the Lloyd may not stabilise some weights of non-lead bullets. As has been the case with 100 grain non-lead bullets in 6mm/,243" in "old school" twist rate British barrels.

I am sorry to poor cold water or, to mix metaphors, to be a "Jonah" but, more mixed metaphors, there are better mousetraps that are also future proof.

My advice? Look for something by Ron Wharton or Trevor Proctor.
 
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Just missed one at auction in 270 with a new Swarovski scope. I have shot it previously with the orginal owner.

As for 244, with modern non-lead bullets it should work nicely and be great fun.

They might be marmite but I like marmite.
 
Muntybuck5803 said:
www.emma-rifles.co.uk

DAVID LLOYD .243 CLASSIC ENGLISH SPORTING BOLT ACTION RIFLE. - Emma Custom Rifles

DAVID LLOYD .243 CLASSIC ENGLISH SPORTING BOLT ACTION RIFLE. .243 Bolt action Rifle from one of what many regard as amongst the 10 best rifle makers in the world. OF ALL TIME! David Lloyd of Pipewell, England. This man actually designed and produced the .244 Magnum cartridge. Later passed to and...
www.emma-rifles.co.uk www.emma-rifles.co.uk
Looks to be a 243 available here.
Click to expand...
Crazy price ! I’ve seen them go for £750 ish. Collectors items these days due to the scope issues mentioned. Handled and shot a few.
Wouldn’t want one if it was given to me
 
Thanks all, I appreciate the advice, not that it’s relevant. I am fortunate to make a living with a rifle, and I understand all of the functional reasons not to own a Lloyd rifle, but there’s very few functional reasons to sail a boat rather than just motor about… I still like sailing.

Hopefully I will find the right gun at some point, it’s an interesting and quirky part of local sporting history for me, and owning one, and potentially shooting some stags with it, would just be a rather nice thing to do. When I need to be future proof and boringly practical, I’ll pick up something else.

Thanks again.
 
Spot on. I do love both the look and mindset that led to the development of what many consider an over-engineered approach to secure mounting/integration of a scope.

Hope you find what you're looking for and it's one in the original configuration:
1000019712.jpg
K
 
enfieldspares said:
First I knew someone, big into hill stalking, that had one in .244 H & H in the 1960s and said that it was the worst rifle he'd ever owned. Bullets blew up on red stags. He used it once and sold it in Shooting Times for more than he'd paid Lloyd for it new. And went back to using his .303".
Click to expand...

That’s a bullet issue, not a cartridge or rifle issue. Use a bullet designed for those velocities and it would be mustard on stags
 
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Those scopes aren't going anywhere with that mounting setup. The refined version is certainly more usable with the ability to adjust the scope to point impact. Out of interest did the mount itself offer any adjustment in the original at all or was it all done under the blanking plates?
 
Yes, they are quirky but I agree they are a wonderful part of our stalking history.

I helped a friend sell a DL .264 Magnum a year or two back, it was beautiful. His father used it on the hill for 30 years and said it was very effective including up to longer ranges.

And...for those of you who haven't seen it David Lloyd himself stalking stags on his estate Glen Cassley before it was sold in the early 1990s in the video it's the first time I have seen a Garron drag yoke used (as opposed to a saddle)
 
NickJ said:
Yes, they are quirky but I agree they are a wonderful part of our stalking history.

I helped a friend sell a DL .264 Magnum a year or two back, it was beautiful. His father used it on the hill for 30 years and said it was very effective including up to longer ranges.

And...for those of you who haven't seen it David Lloyd himself stalking stags on his estate Glen Cassley before it was sold in the early 1990s in the video it's the first time I have seen a Garron drag yoke used (as opposed to a saddle)
Click to expand...

I met DL briefly, and a couple of times used his larder. My friend used to take him out in Glen Cassley when the Red rut was on. He was very elderly at the time, so would take a stag off the bonnet of the car.
I remember the larder quite well. It was a death trap. Made of galvanised metal sheets with a square opening in the roof and a set of chains hanging down to winch the stag up. The floor had a covering on it that was terrible to stand on when wet, it was like standing on a sheet of ice.

DL's home is now owned by a French family, who purchased most of the estate, and have improved it a great deal. In fact as of last year they were pouring a huge amount of money into the old castle to bring it up to modern standards. My friends son, is the head stalker on the property, and I have in the past, during the 1990's into the present day, stalked it many times.
It is a place where one can still see good numbers of deer late in the afternoon, along with Sika too. But the area has changed over the years. When Stewart Urrey owned the area it covered both sides of the Cassley, and I have many fond memories of stalking the area over the years. I visited it last year, whilst stalking with clients further north. One of the few days I took off whilst working up there. Its a beautiful part of the world, much changed in ownership in and around the area.

Good luck with your quest for the rifle.
 
sgurrdamh said:
Thanks all, I appreciate the advice, not that it’s relevant. I am fortunate to make a living with a rifle, and I understand all of the functional reasons not to own a Lloyd rifle, but there’s very few functional reasons to sail a boat rather than just motor about… I still like sailing.

Hopefully I will find the right gun at some point, it’s an interesting and quirky part of local sporting history for me, and owning one, and potentially shooting some stags with it, would just be a rather nice thing to do. When I need to be future proof and boringly practical, I’ll pick up something else.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Exactly, the same applies to using iron (open) sights. Many thousands of stags have been taken like this and given sensible ranges adds an exceptional extra dimension to a day on the hill. A bit like taking the carcase off the hill on pony instead of argo or similar:-))
 
Bill Bartlett said:
Exactly, the same applies to using iron (open) sights. Many thousands of stags have been taken like this and given sensible ranges adds an exceptional extra dimension to a day on the hill. A bit like taking the carcase off the hill on pony instead of argo or similar:-))
Click to expand...
When I first started keepering at Castle Leod in Ross Shire, the head keeper had a Lloyd in 7mm rem mag, I shot hundreds of stags with it and it never missed a beat, just wish I bought it when I had the chance!
 
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