sabotloader
I believe if you check the record Randy's actually defends Austin & Hallecks barrels since they have a test center and actually test the barrells at very high pressures.
Here is a qoute from one of Randy's articles
As CVA and Traditions are little more than import companies, with no testing facilities or engineering staff in the United States, they probably do not know the limitations of their guns. Hence, they remain unable to state whether their guns are ever tested to 25,000 psi; no problem for the companies that have long ago gone on the public record as answering "yes!" to that question (Austin & Halleck, Knight, Savage, Thompson, White, etc.).
I have a huge amount of resect for Ray and what he does so I really lean to following his words.
Now I am not trying to defend Randy and I agree he pushing hard to get answers from BPI, but I think its up to BPI to answer his question. I believe you can never have enough information when trying to make a decision on purchasing something that has the potential to injure you or some one you love. I appluad Randy for his writings, but I believe it is up to everyone of us to look at all the facts and make your own mind on the issue. Its up to you the gun owner to do your home work and research your purchase and study the proper way to use and handle that purchase so you can feel safe using it and have peace of mind. I personally won't buy a BPI product but not just because of the barrel issue, although it does weigh in as a factor. As I said in my earlier posts I do not like the trigger pulls on their guns, and from what I have read a lot off other people don't like that aspect as well.
I hope to pass on my firearms to my sons when they are old enough and I can teach them the proper way to load and handle them. I don't want to ever have safety be an issue even if there is only a slight chance of failure. Sure every muzzleloader out there has a remote chance of malfunctioning but why risk it on manufacturer who refuses to answer questions, and has a gone bankrupt over past defects. Just my opinion though, as I said ealier your free to make up your own mind on this issue.