ORIGINAL: driftrider
If recommended saboted projectiles are used, there is VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE that the 10ML will burst its barrel. Why? Because even the best sabots on the market will completely fail if exposed to roughly 50,000psi of chamber pressure. The sabot will melt and blow apart, allowing the remaining pressure to vent safely out the muzzle with the only negative effects being plastic fouling in the bore and a complete lack of accuracy downrange. 50,000psi is nowhere near the 129,000psi proof pressure of the barrel and action.
Apparently, this is not the case as the article about a catastrophic failure of a Model 10ML II, at the following site illustrates. Note that there have also been 3 other failures of Savage muzzleloaders using smokeless powder reported to Savage. I admit that all information about all the failures is missing but this certainly casts a shadow on the safety claims of using smokeless powder in the Savage. Also, it sounds as if this happened months ago but Savage has yet to come forward with any statement or warnings. Apparently, those warning that smokeless powder in a muzzleloader was just a formula for an accident were correct.
http://www.hpmuzzleloading.com/