It' s interesting that you point out the barrel strength and SAAMI specs. I recently found an article on Chuck Hawks' website about the level of proofing and rated pressure limits of " magnum" muzzleloaders. The author talks about how most imported muzzleloaders are proofed to pressures much lower than those common to muzzleloaders with magnum charges and/or heavy bullets. These guns are only proofed to roughly 9,900psi, but a 150 grain charge of Pyrodex can exceed 20,000psi of pressure. He' s talking about ml' s proofed in Spain, but it got me to thinking that there are manufacturers (like CVA, Winchester, and Traditions) out there who are stating that their guns are capable of accepting charges far above the max pressures tested by the proofing house.

Anyway, after reading the article I think I' ll stick with American made and proofed muzzleloaders like Knight or T/C. I was considering getting a Winchester APEX or maybe a CVA Hawkin kit gun, but not anymore.

If you want to read more about what I' m talking about, the article can be found at http://www.chuckhawks.com/unsafe_muzzleloaders.htm . It' ll definately make you think twice about packing a 150gr. load into your imported gun.

Mike