Mistakes can certainly be made by everyone.

I think that continued re-inforcement regarding safe practices and procedures is essential.

Also, if you become aware that someone is doing something with an ML that is not safe, I feel obligated to inform them as such.

Thats one of the great things about this and other forums.

When I took my hunters safety course (almost three decades ago) The instructors brought out and paraded around for us kids, some fine examples of blown up rifles. Quite a few where the classic split and curl variety that cartoons like to copy. Some were shrapnel bombs with large chunks missing. My point is that still to this day I have that vision in my head every time I go to the range. I'm not sure if needed that level of paranoia resting on me, but it sure has made me a careful shooter.

My pops used to reload .357 magnum cartridges at the dinner table when I was a kid. He was always careful in whatever he did. One time he blew a primer while ramming a case. We all about $h!7 when that thing went off. He sat there for a minute before looking at his hands. Nothing bad came of it though. Mistakes happen, but you gotta live before you die right? I figure if I buy the farm at the range on Sunday, I get the day off for sure on Monday!

I myself, saw the danger when I was like 7 with a 410 shotgun I was using as a walking stick barrel down in mud. Nobody got hurt, but I learned real quick what can happen and ruined my first gun.

I accidentally fed a slug into a full choke shotgun and blew the barrel apart.

That was at age 12.

No physical injury, but my father was sure pissed off after he got past the "Ok, the boy is not hurt" part.
He was more upset and pissed because I did not follow the basic rules. "Always ensure that the ammunition is fresh and correct for your weapon".

Then I spent what seemed like forever working and saving to pay him back for the replacement Auto-5 Barrel.

Seems to me most of the fuss is over the "gee, I just bought a muzzleloader at Bass Pro Shop for $69.00, is it a good gun?" type. You get what you pay for. I've hunted with and shot with flint and percussion tradtional muzzleloaders for over thirty years without any issues. Made some minor mistakes over the years, but never any safety proiblems. You CAN blow a traditional muzzleloader with BP, but it takes a lot of work. To do it, you would either have to be the must unlucky person in the world, or the stupidest.

I don't shoot inlines, not because of safety issues, they just are not my area of interest. If you DO shoot inlines, instead of asking Joe Anyone on the 'net, they hide information about your rifle in a thing called "Instructions", or "Instruction Book". If you don't do your homework, and don't do your research, well, stuff happens.

they should be fine unless you overload them or have an old gun

I think Charlie about summed it all up.Me I like my $69. BP rifle.I did'nt just read I studied.Also I found out real quick that the MAX load kicks like hell and wasn't even needed.

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




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.

I don't believe in fluted barrels for blackpowder.Part of the reason I bought my blackpowder Omega was the more accurate heavy barrel.Why would anyone want to take some of the steel off the barrel just to make it a couple ounces lighter?It seems to me that most of the muzzleloaders talked about exploding are the cheaper CVA ones that have their barrels made in Spain.I watched a video at an outdoor show on how they are made.Afterwards I was talking to the man who ran the program and explained to him that the CVA rifles were nice but they weren't made in America.It is like most goods made overseas.They are cheaper in price and I believe in quality too.I don't worry at all when I shoot 150 grains of pyrodex out of my Omega.I did alot of research before I bought my muzzleloader and had heard of the CVA barrel problem.With the internet,I do research on my big purchases and study for months before I do actually buy anything that costs a major amount.Do your homework and make sure you read the owners manual before you do any shooting.

Wow!!! Lots of great stuff here. I do not plan to go over 2/50 777 pellets in my inlines by Traditions. In my Pennsylvania Long Gun I use 70 gr 777. for the Trapper pistol 30 gr 777. I use the 777 for cleanliness. I am working my loads for the inlines to 70 & 80 Pyrodex pellets since I got a bunch cheep.

Main theme is I totally agree that there is way to much Safety crap going around these days. I am not talking about Guns here. I for one am sick and tired of being barraged with warnings that only complete idiots need to be told. Don’t put your hand under the lawn mower when the motor is running. Duh!!! I think a lot of it started when we let the government make seatbelts a law. Not to miss the Drug companies and their constant advertising telling you you are about to die without their drugs. It is real hard to tell the real from the unreal these days and that’s the way they want it because many will ignore all the warnings and their products will sell better. That’s almost like a switch. Oh well the bottom line is Less Laws and fire all attorneys.