Everytime I read these fouling problem posts it makes me feel even better about my 10ML-II. I use either Vihnt N-110 or AA XMR-5744 and never worry about fouling, crud rings, swabbing between shots, or scrubbing to keep my rifle in one piece and shooting straight. I clean the bore every 50 shots and take out and clean the breech plug and vent-liner every 100. I have no regrets about switching to smokeless powder, which despite the complaining from the so-called "traditionalists" is the first TRUE black powder substitute, entering the commercial scene in 1884 (remember that cartridges like the .45 Colt and .45-70 Gov't were originally black powder cartridges that transitioned to smokeless when handloader SUBSTITUTED smokeless powder for black).

You could always try using real 2F black powder. It doesn't form a crud RING, it forms a uniform layer of crud all the way down the bore, but at least it doesn't take two men and a boy to scrub it out between shots.

Oh, and I do blame the powder, because T7 is the only powder that does it. It might not do it in some rifles, but it does it in most. I had a Knight DISC (original and later converted to a DISC Extreme) before I got my Savage that formed a terrible crud ring with T7. I also have a Traditions Buckhunter inline with a musket cap nipple and a T/C White Mountain Carbine with a #11 nipple (German caps in both) that also get crud rings with T7.

I've never quite understood why some people will try half a dozen pseudo-smokeless "black powder substitutes" that all have many of the same problems of BP itself (i.e. fouling, hygroscopic, corrosive, etc...) and a few uniques problems of their own (crud rings) in an vain effort to acheve smokeless-like performance, but vehemently refuse to even consider trying a Savage 10ML-II with actual smokeless powder. With 45gr of N-110 I can push a 300gr .45cal sabot to an honest 2300fps with less than 1/3 the powder of the needed 150 grains of T7 (read less recoil and MUCH cheaper) and can shoot all day without ever using a swab, patch or brush. Tomorrow (hopefully) I'm going to work up a light shooting load with apx 35gr of XMR-5744 under a 240gr XTP at apx 1500fps, and once I get it worked up and sighted in the way I want it, I will not clean the rifle until after deer season.

Don't be afraid of smokeless muzzleloading. If it's legal in your state give it a try, I can almost guarantee you won't go back.

Mike