The real problem here is not the real strength of the steel but the fact that the spanish companies or the companies that use spanish barrels have never got over the publishing of very low proof pressures, and not responding to requests for real proof pressures. They would have been better off to not list any rather than list pressures that are below the loads they recommend. Most american companies do not list a proof pressure so they are less vulnerable to criticism. A couple of problems long ago didn't help to give spanish barrels any good reputation.

MLKeith


You have been reading way to much Randy Wakeman jibberish.... The proof mark on the barrel is the minimum requirement set by theSpanish governement and a requirement to export the barrel out of the country. It keeps the House of Elbar afloat, a government sponsored business. We do the same thing on a lot of our products. The proof mark was never established as the max it was established as a minimum and is the least expensive to test to.

Ardessa Arms also conducts their own tests as many other firearms companies do. There is not even a proof house in America - I think the only other one is in London. The most noted testing facilityin the west is Browning Arms... Why has not someonesent one of those cheap terrible Spanish barrels to them and have it tested... if it tested bad then you would reallyhave the company by the throat. but I really don't think the soothsayers would like the results of the test.

At the same time Randy was complaining about the Spanish proof mark he was highly touting the A&H which had exactly the same proof mark - but since A&H wassponsoring him - that gun was alright.

Companies do not have to respond to the public on a lot of information.. They will respond to the proper authorities when ordered.

All you are doing is perpetuating some thing you really do not have first hand information on. In this lawsuit happy country do you not think that if there was a legitimate claim it would have been tested by now. Randy's claim is that the company is keeping them out of the court by paying off the people -belive me if the accident was that bad it would have made the courts as a class action.

Any one can blow up a gun - it is just a fool that does.

Right and you know I was just commenting on my sense of the stainless steel strength relative to blued barrels of all makes and manufactures. Anyway Keith, I think your opinion is every bit as important as mine and I do respect your comments. Since I've bought the Apex (my first BPI product)I'm getting over the BPI bashing. I really think its helping toget the price down onthe SS Apex and for that I am grateful.I had commented that I didn't know why my Apex had been returned to Cabelas (hadn't been shot). Now I suspect the purchaser saw "Made in Spain" and just sent it back or was told to send it back by someone.

You knowpeople on Wall Street make alot of money from people who have unreasonable and untimely fears. I'd like to save alot of money on another Apex due to similar, IMHO, unreasonable and untimely fears. I wish they'd get cheaper, I still have cabelas points but I don't have enough to buy another.