Been Muzzleloading for over 20 years now. Since high school. Built my first which was a TC Hawken and bought an inline a couple of years ago, a Traditions rifle. I had been shooting 100 gr 777 loads in the gun since. All the while not knowing that I was risking my life. I never used a 150 grain load, thank goodness, or i may have been severely injured or killed. After much of the reading i recently have done on the internet, much of which was written by Randy Wakeman, I have decided to retire my Traditions rifle for hunting. Indeed, I don't feel comfortable with more than a 50 gr load in this gun allowing for the barrel's stamped pressure rating. I feel ripped off, but mostly relieved that I have been informed before I injured myself or someone else.
Recently, I went to the Wal-Mart that I purchased the gun from. I brought pages printed from the internet documenting the safety deficiencies of the Spanish-made guns they carried. I did not talk to the idiots in sporting goods, but had them summon the manager. When he arrived I went into my request that he not stock the guns any longer and to forward the gravity of this through the proper channels. The answer I got from him was, "they are all manufactured according to industry standard". Of course, I disagreed and asked him to just read what I brought to him. Before leaving, I told him that if anyone locally was injured by one of these guns purchased after my notification, i would inform the victim that I personally informed Walmart and him of the danger of these muzzleloaders, and that I would consider not only the manufacturer, but also Walmart and the Manager liable.
My sense is that Walmart, Cabelas, and so on who market these weapons are now liable for injuries. It seems implausible, by now, that retailers do not already know the weapons are not rated for their stated purpose. Something tells me that if these retailers stopped purchasing these weapons until their quality met a certified standard, one of two things would happen. The imports would be improved or they would cease importing them.
I urge everyone to voice your concerns to your local retailers. There is not enough press on this problem reaching consumers and people are largely in the dark about it (as I was). If it is possible, maybe we can cause the retailers react for the benefit and safety of all who may muzzleload now and in the future.
Regards to all
Recently, I went to the Wal-Mart that I purchased the gun from. I brought pages printed from the internet documenting the safety deficiencies of the Spanish-made guns they carried. I did not talk to the idiots in sporting goods, but had them summon the manager. When he arrived I went into my request that he not stock the guns any longer and to forward the gravity of this through the proper channels. The answer I got from him was, "they are all manufactured according to industry standard". Of course, I disagreed and asked him to just read what I brought to him. Before leaving, I told him that if anyone locally was injured by one of these guns purchased after my notification, i would inform the victim that I personally informed Walmart and him of the danger of these muzzleloaders, and that I would consider not only the manufacturer, but also Walmart and the Manager liable.
My sense is that Walmart, Cabelas, and so on who market these weapons are now liable for injuries. It seems implausible, by now, that retailers do not already know the weapons are not rated for their stated purpose. Something tells me that if these retailers stopped purchasing these weapons until their quality met a certified standard, one of two things would happen. The imports would be improved or they would cease importing them.
I urge everyone to voice your concerns to your local retailers. There is not enough press on this problem reaching consumers and people are largely in the dark about it (as I was). If it is possible, maybe we can cause the retailers react for the benefit and safety of all who may muzzleload now and in the future.
Regards to all