Thanks for your comments here, Wolfhound. Could you explain further? Take your time, and go into considerable detail. I was under the impression, from things that T7 wrote, that Randyhas determined through rigorous testing, that BPI rifles are not capable of taking the pressures american made rifles are capable of without bursting, while on the other hand, American made rifles merely bulge.
From what you said, it seems that Randy hasn't done any testing? He is not able to say that one barrel is softer than another or stronger than another, so on and so forth? Are the company's themselves providing Randy with data for the BPI barrels? I am confused how Randy is justified in drawing the conclusions he has.
Do you know what an extruded barrel is? They push the barrelthrough a die and at one end is a blank and the other is a barrel. The metal has to be very soft to do this. Currently the only barrels (other than the spanish muzzleloaders) that they use this process is paintball guns. Here is a very good post on the subject. Amost all the way down and posted by 1shot1kill.
http://www.huntamerica.com/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=386313&page=7&am p;fpart=18&vc=1
[/quote]Right now, I have the impression that Randy is more of a PR spokesman for the Law Firm as opposed to a "technical expert". And I fear, your friendship has been abused, in that, it seems Randy and the Law Firm use you, along with other well-meaning, sincere, and honest people;in this apparent "PR campaign".[/quote]
There is no PR campaign. This issue is over 2 years old. Well before Randy was contacted by the law firm in question. He started this THEN was contacted by the law firm about a couple cases. Read the date on the first post of the first page. This is nothing new. It started with questions about the proof. Here's a good post on the same page a little further up by RW.
A simple question was posed (repeatedly in two cases), to several muzzleloading manufacturers, as a matter of course of testing their in-line rifles. Are your barrels tested to 25,000 PSI?
Ray Crow, Operations Mgr, Austin & Halleck: Yes.
Doc White, designer, White Rifles: Yes.
Brian Herrick, V-P, Savage Arms: Yes.
Eric Brooker and Larry Weishuhn, Thompson / Center Arms: Yes, Yes.
Art Kerchoff, Dwight Creger, Steve Puppe, Knight Rifles: Yes, Yes, Yes.
Nate Treadaway, V-P, BPI / CVA / Winchester Muzzleloading: No answer.
Jim Bruno, V-P, Traditions Performance Firearms: No answer.
You didn't specify the charge Wolfhound. You do know that there is no such thing as .50 cal 100 gr. bullet? But a very hollow one could feasibly be made. With 100 grains 2f BP, it would not be possible to exceed 4500 psi with say a ballet style 100 gr bullet. And of course, there is no way the muzzle energy is going to be 2300 ft.lbs.
To get the pressure up to 12750, we are going to have to choose a much heavier bullet, and if we do, we will have a very powerful, very effective, deer slayer in our hands.
If that's the case then the formulas you posted have no value. Everything has to be equal (exept one variable-bore diameter)for a result with a meaning. We were speaking hypothetically. A hypothetical bullet of 100 gr for 50 cal that fits the same in the bore as the 100 gr bullet in the 25 cal.and using the same powder charge and powderas the 51000 PSI 25 cal load. Anything else slants the results. If you want real information for real loads, check out "The CompleteBlackpowder Handbook". There are pressures listed. I don't have a copy but if you ask Randy maybe he'll give you some of the pressures.
By the way, I'm not into the magnumitus either. My favorite load is a 260 gr bullet with 100 gr FFG 777 loose at 1985 fps. 2275 ft/lbs at the muzzle. I have played with 3 pellet loads but I can count the number of such shots on one hand. I don't like the recoil.