The recent series of Wickliffe threads brings up the whole issue of small shop rifle building.  I am aware that what I am about to say may offend some people, but I think that it is worth saying anyway.

8 or 9 years ago I was visiting with the owner of Lone Star Rifles just north of Houston.  He proudly showed me one of his rolling blocks which had been returned from Germany for some type of repair or alteration.  The reason this particular rifle was of interest was that it had been proof tested in Germany and had passed!   As I recall it was chambered in 30-40 Krag, but I might be mistaken.  It was about that time that the light started dimly penetrating my thick skull.  I turned to the owner and asked: you don't proof test them all?  Of course he didn't.

Unlike just about every other "advanced" country the U.S. does not have firearm proof houses and mandatory proof laws.  Winchester, Remington, Ruger and other large companies do it, and have for 100+ years, but their tests are voluntary.  So it is up to you, the customer/user to figure out if the guy building your rifle is intelligent, knowledgeable and serious enough to build a high pressure vessel you are going to put your face behind.

This whole lack of proof has caused surprisingly little trouble.  There were problems with screw stock barrel steel in the 1970's, but that seems to be behind us now.  One reason is that the home casting kit guys generally copy an existing proven action, and most of those 19th century actions had generous locking areas and did not depend as much on material strength as modern types.  Most such kits and pieces are also used for either BPCR or schuetzen where pressures are generally low. Having said that, I have seen examples with obvious flaws and others which cracked. The rifle type which provoked this thread was chambered for modern high pressure rounds when it was made in the 1970's and if reintroduced probably will be again.

I don't mean this posting to be a criticism of Shiloh or CPA or anyone else who really does know what they are doing.  I have comfortably fired both those rifle types and believe them to be safe.  But I will say it again: you have to make that determination for yourself.  All I know about the two parties making the Wickliffe's is what I have read on this forum.  But that is enough for me, and J.D. is right, all this whole exchange has done is to convince me that I don't want a rifle or an action from either of these outfits.  I also think the moderator should move all the postings originating from them to the For Sale area.  This forum isn't anyone's marketing department.