Not really. Toby's, and his site, had beeen sponsered by Savage he naturally praised the Savage ML before, since he was essentially working for Savage. In the article about the exploding barrel, he admits that he has been a major proponent of the Savage, using smokeless powders. I understand that his relationship with Savage has now been dissolved. I don't know which party wanted the breakup, but I would bet the failed barrel and publication of the facts, and pictures of the failure, had something to do with that.

Since this incident, Toby has obviously, and understandably, changed his view on the Savage ML, with smokeless powders. The story on his, and other, failed barrels just went on the web site yesterday, before they had time to redo the earlier articles about the Savage. If you visit the site now, you will find those earlier articles are gone and there is a statement from Toby announcing his new policy to only work with "non-smokeless" rifles now.

Mr Bridges change of heart, about the Savage rifles, might have been financially motivated, but I think that a rifle blowing up in his face might have been a factor. also. I certainly applaud him for making the information about the failed barrels public and admitting that he was wrong about the safety of smokeless powders in a muzzleloader, even one that is supposed to be designed for it. This is information the public should know and it hasn't been put out by Savage. There are some misconceptions about the safety of the Savage already out there, as Driftrider's post illustrates, that need to be addressed, before they help lead to more, possibly even fatal accidents.