Savage 10-ML-II, The Smokeless Powder Muzzleloader

[IndianaHunter]

I enjoy its consistent accuracy, terminal velocity, and ease of maintenance. Great gun! To me the ability to shoot without cleaning every third shot and not having to deal with the gun after a long day in the woods is outstanding. The flat shooting hard hitting hunting tool is a true bonus. It by far is the best built, most accurate muzzleloader made in America today!

[THE GOB-FATHER]

Awesome group!!! What's the specs on that?

[IndianaHunter]

100 yard groups, 55 degrees ambient temp with little wind. 2100 +/- fps...375 gr. Buffalo SSB but I've shot similar groups with the 300 gr. Barnes MZ and the .358 300 grain Hornady HP.... There are several other load / bullet combinations I will be working with this fall and they should shoot as well! To me any load that will shoot minute of angle at over 2100 fps is a 175 to 200 yard whitetail load. I can push these loads up to 2300 fps with no loss of accuracy of any kind. Its just how much recoil do you want to play with?

[barreledaction]

great performance from a muzzle stuffer, Daniel Boone never dreamed of such

[Scott]

Very nice group! I can relate to the ease of using a Savage 10ML-2. I have the stainless/laminate model and love it!
Over the years i have owned Knights,Thompson Center Encore and CVA but none has been as good as this Savage.
They are fun to shoot and using smokeless allows you to go many days without cleaning it.
I clean mine before muzzleloader season starts and then after all of the seasons are over in feb.

[levergun]

That's great. :DI think it's gonna be my next ML.

[IndianaHunter]

Levergun, it’s a great firearm you'll enjoy it... SMI is a second source for a smokeless firearm. If you’re interested I can post more information on all smokeless information I'm privy too.

IndianaHunter

[IndianaHunter]

I got 1 1/2 groups with my SMI this past weekend at around 2200 fps. I beleive I can still tighten this up a bit...As it stands with my Burris 4.5x14x42 its a 225 yard gun.

[sw]

I've shot the 10-ML and 10-ML2 for 6 years now. I'm probably approaching 4,000 smokeless shots. For over 20 years I shot traditional MLs competitively, averaging over 20#s of powder a year(I kept Dixie Gun-works in business , and will never, never go back to traditional again. I intensely believe smokeless is more accurate, more practical, more humane, and most importantly, by far safer than traditional MLs. The Savage is incredibly well built; and I too, have a SMI barrel on the way. Most of us serious shooters have a hunting load that is well below MOA @ 100yds and appx MOA @ 200 yds. Our general performance, velocity wise, is similar to some of the claims of the highly advertised inlines. Smokeless won't be pushed by merchandisers due to so little accessories or very expensive BP subs are needed. As most store owners tell me when questioned by me about why they don't sell Savages, "we don't make our money off the gun sales, we make our money on the accessories/powders". Savages just don't fit into the marketing scheme, but they certainly fit into a very effective, safe way to ML hunt. Just my opinions.

[HighTechRedneck]

I currently own a 10 ML blue/synthetic and a 10 ML II stainless/synthetic. I also have a .45 cal SMI barrel being built for an NEF action that I have.
I also will never go back to black powder and or subs. Black powder guns are OK to play at the range, but for me they are totaly out of the question when it comes to hunting.

[foxhunter5]

how m,uch is the maximum for smokeless powder in them?

[joen]

That depends on the type of powder or bullet wieght.You can go to www.smokelessmuzzleloading.com and get a basic Ideal under the load charts.

[HighTechRedneck]

foxhunter5 said:

how m,uch is the maximum for smokeless powder in them?

This thread has some average loads in it. www.racksandspurs.proboards38.com/index.cgi?board=muzzleloaders&action=display&thread=1123455972 None seem to be max. loads, but they will give you a little idea about how much difference the burn rate, density, and other properties of the powder make.

[sw]

My SMI is grouping appx 5/8" 3-shot gps @ 100 yds and 1 1/2" gps @ 200yds with 70g 2015 and 300SST. Recoil is less than 2 Pyrodex pellets/250g bullet. This is better 200yd accuracy than the Savage has ever produced, consistently, for me. I believe that the same accuracy could be obtained with the same bullet and appx 100-120g Elephant FFg in this barrel.

[maytom]

After handling one in a gun shop, they don't balance or feel right in my hands compared to a T/C Encore. VERY muzzel heavy!! They sure do seem to shoot great off a solid bench, but how do they shoot off ahnd up in a treestand? I'm not knocking the Savage here, because I will be getting a in-line for next years season, and it's boiling down to the savage, or T/C Encore. I still love the way the Encore feels in my hands, especially with a thumbhole stock.