I've found that the best powder overall for my 10ML-II has been AA 5744. I've used VV N110 and Hodgdon H110 (but not much H110) with mixed results. The N110 was good for velocity, but was really touchy about accuracy especially when the weather (temp) changed a lot. For instance, I could get a 250gr SST to group inside 1.5" with N110 at 2300fps on a 70deg fall day, but by late fall/winter when the deer season would roll around and it got cold, the N110 groups would open up and velocity would drop off and become a little erratic because N110 is kindof hard to light off in cold weather with the fairly low backpressure of a plastic saboted bullet. AA 5744, on the other hand, being a double-base powder with a high 20% nitroglycerine content, is easy to light off in all weather, produces excellent accuracy with just about any bullet I've tried, and is very consistant. It doesn't produce the velocity that the N110 will (about 2000fps with 45gr), but I prefer accuracy and consistancy over raw firepower anyday. You can't miss 'em fast enough to kill them. I've had no problems keeping groups under 1.5" @ 100yards with AA 5744. My current load is a 250gr XTP, MMP black sabot, with 41gr 5744. It's not full tilt, but the recoil is very mild (about like a .25-06) and the accuracy is outstanding (about 1.25" average at 100). My chronograph is busted (put a sabot through the LCD last spring
), but I'd estimate the MV at about 1700-1800 range. I worked the load up for my wife to try and found I liked it myself. I'd like to go back to Barnes Spitfire MZ's but they shoot to a different POI and I don't want to fuss with trying to get the POS Burris scope I have on it now re-zeroed. Someday I will get around to putting a nice Nikon Monarch on it that will actually take turret adjustments right away rather than needing 2 shots to get the turrets to settle after making a change. I guess you get what you pay for, right! OUTSTANDING rifle, CRAPPY scope!
I ordered my Savage from Natchez Shooters Supply. Mine is the 10ML-II BSS stainless/laminate with Accu-trigger (I highly recommend splurging for the SS/Laminate version...the Savage plastic stocks are pretty crude even by synthetic stock standards, but they do work). I believe I paid between $525-550 for mine, plus shipping to my door (no FFL required). I've been through a lot of muzzleloaders, and a lot of guns in general, and I'm the type that rarely seems to find what I consider a "keeper", but my 10ML-II is one for sure. Someday I'll hand this rifle down to my son (or, God willing, grandson), but he'll have to wait until I'm dead first before I'll hand it over!
Get the Savage, you'll love it! And after you shoot smokeless powder, you'll wonder why you waited so long to switch.
Good luck,
Mike