Cayugad,

I've used both VV N-110 and AA 5744. I prefer 5744. The N-110 will give higher velocities (I'd chronied 2350fps with 45gr of N-110 and 250gr SST's before a sabot hit the face of my chronograph and shattered it[:@]), but the 5744 is more accurate and less temperature sensitive, igniting much more easily and providing comsistant performance in both hot and cold weather. A good fast N-110 load at 50 degrees will blow sabots at 90. And a good load at for summer may be reluctant to light off below freezing. 5744 is a double base powder with a high 20% nitroglycerine content, making it easy to light and burns consistantly at all temps, and that makes for good accuracy and "all-weather" performance.

I've probably shot 300-400 shots (I don't really keep track[&:]) in the two years I've had mine. I routinely achieve 1.5MOA accuracy without being overly scrupulous about my loading technique. I've also had many sub-1" groups, but realistic average groups are more like 1.5". Also, I don't premeasure or weigh my charges before I go to the range. I use the Lee Dippers ($6 for the entire set anywhere handloading supplies are sold) and dip out each shot at the range. Good accuracy is much easier to achieve with 5744. My rifle is more picky with N-110. I like the fact that I can concentrate on shooting technique at the range, and not swabbing/cleaning technique. Smokeless is also much less expensive, which allows me to shoot more.

As far as the performance with T7, I couldn't tell you as I've never shot anything but smokeless in my Savage. I, personally, don't like T7. I've used it extensively in other ML's, and I think the performance and accuracy is fine, but I HATE the crud rings that I always got in every rifle I used it in, and the hassle of preventing siezed breechplugs. I also very much like having the ability to sight in my rifle and leave the barrel as-is when I go hunting, confident that it'll shoot to the intended POA when I need it to. Do that with BP, Pyrodex or T7, and you'll be scrubbing rust out of your bore by the end of the second day guaranteed.

I know you do a lot of recreational shooting with your ML's, and I think if you tried smokeless you'd come to love it. The Savage is an excellent rifle too.

Mike