Whether BPI does or does not test the barrels to the satisfaction of Randy Wakemen, you, me,or the American Public is a mute point since they will not do it. It boils down to whether or not you feel safe when shooting aBPI produced rifle.The government refuses to set or enforce standards for this industry, so it is up to the consumer to be informed and make their own judgement and decision. BPI barrels are tested. Just not to the standards some would like them to be tested at. I would guess BPI does this so they are able to produce a less expensive rifle, of still relatively good quality, which they can then market under the competition's pricesand there by taking some of the market share of the black powder rifle buyers.

As I tell others, I own a number of CVA and Traditions rifles. I have shot literally hundreds if not thousands of combined rounds through them over the years. I make it a point to understand the limitations of each rifle I own and stay within those limitations. I have been asked, do I feel safe shooting my CVA Staghorn Magnum? The answer is yes, or I would never pull the trigger on it again. I will say that although it is a magnum, it gets 100 grains as its limit (set by me and the rifle's accuracy preference) and the projectiles are well within the guidelines set by BPI/CVA. Would I purchase another CVA/BPI inline? Probably not.This is strictly a personal decision I have made based on some of the reports that are out there reference the BPI rifles. There are better quality inline rifles out there for only a little more money, and I do not need another rifle in my collection. While not purchasing another, I will still continue to shoot those that I have.

Also for a traditional rifle, I feel CVA made a big mistake when they discontinued their line of traditional rifles. I own three or four of the traditional CVA's and all of them are excellent shooters. I own the same number of Traditions Traditional rifles, and there is not a bad shooter in the pack of them. Yet again, most my powder charges are 80-90 grains with a roundball... Nice loads.

If the barrel issue does not worry you.. buy what you like. If you feel there is merit to the barrel issue, then purchase something other then a BPI product. You are the one who has to load it and crawl behind it then pull the trigger. If you ever doubt the integrity of a rifle, don't shoot it.

Doegirl75 said,
"The issue here is whether a CVA or Traditions are safe to be shot at pressures nearly 3X to what the barrel is proofed."

Based on the testing I mentioned above, the results of that testing on the rifle used indicate no issues with loads that exceed the 3x recomended max loadby a fairly wide margin. While one rifle test does not prove all rifles from a manufacturer have that much safety margin, it at least gives a look into the basic quality of the material used for the barrels. I'm satisfied the one I tested is safe using recomended loads. Accuracy was not the basis for my testing, in fact, my original intent was to test to destruction or to a point where safety was more than proven. I may go back a do more testing later but for my original purposes, I am satisfied.

I do agree with Cayugad that for a little more money one can get a nicer rifle. I also believe that when it comes to safety one should always be aware of what is safe both handling wise and equipment wise. What it comes down to on equipment is, how much safety margin is enough, 100%, 200%, 300%, etc. If younever go over max recomended loads, what does it mater if your safety margin is 200% or 400%, your still safe. Even a Savage can blow up if loaded incorrectly, and they claim ithassurvived 130,000 psi in testing.

Buy and shoot what you like. If it came from a reputable company, the odds are that it is more than safe enough as long as you follow their recomendations.

I won't shoot along side one since I got scraped by the nipple that blew out of a brand new one. The shooter was an experanced one I had shot with for years we were shooting light loads at a 25 yd target match,I do notthink he did any thing wrong.I was the range officer,when we checked the gun afterwards the threads were small and the hole oversized. they did replace the gun for him which he traded with out ever firing.Lee

WOW... do you remember the make and model of the rifle. First hand experience is valuable.

I do not want to be accused of brand knocking I will PM. Lee

cayugad

To be honest with you I have had two TC musket nipples break off just above the threads into the breech plug. Just regular loads 80 grains. But the the TC musket nipples have a hollow area all the wayup the the nipple post... The only thingI can think of is metal fatigue... the threads were still left in the breech just took the point ofa knife blade to twist out the remains screw in a new one. Needless to say I am a little gun shy about usingthose nipples anymore.I should add that both broken nipples had a lot of rounds shot through them before they broke.

Well, Heres another opinion. Quality = Safty in many circumstances, just think about it. If the nipple hole is enough oversize it will blow,if the barrel is lamiated bad enough it will split. AND THEN THERE IS ALWAYS THE HAVING THE LITTLE THINGS GO WRONG AT THE WRONG TIME TO.
For me it pays to pay for quality, for you well thats up to you. Lee