I agree with the idea that Savage ought to publish strict load limits for the 10ML. Nonetheless, the manual does imply that 46grains is max for 5744 powder, yet Bridges admits to repeatedly loading 48 grains and finally 49 grains of this powder and blew the gun up. As I said before, this is neither Savage or the 10ML's fault. The blame rests squarely on Bridges shoulders.

Any (intelligent) handloader knows that 2-3 grains over max in any CF firearm is VERY dangerous and would not be one bit surprised when the gun came apart in their hands. Yet there are Savage owners like Bridges who willingly push the envelope and then when something bad happens have the nerve to blame it on vague language in the manual. How very ambulance-chasing-trial-lawyerish of them.

IMO, if Savage is at all to blame in this, it is because they assumed that only wise and cautious people would buy the 10ML, so they didn't have their lawyers write the manual for them. Unfortunately, as seems to frequently be the case theses days, when a manual isn't spelled out Barney-style they read and see what they want, and do what they shouldn't.

It's my opinion that is people want to push the limits, fine, wildcatters have been doing it for generations. But when you do push the limits and something bad happens, you've no one to blame but yourself.

As far as my belief that the 10ML can't be blown up, I will readily admit that I was wrong and now stand corrected. I, too, underestimated the ability of a sabot to withstand extreme pressures, but apparently the latest generation of muzzleloader sabots can withstand it long enough to allow pressures get high enough to destroy the gun. However, being wise enough to only think of sabot failure as a last failsafe, I choose (as do most who shoot the 10ML) to limit my loads to within the Savage recommended load data. A 250grain SST/ML at 2230fps with 10% REDUCED LOADS of N110 is fast enough for me. The bonus is that this gun will achieve this velocity and STILL BE ACCURATE. I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard someone complain that their Knight (or whatever) wasn't accurate with 150gr loads (which with a 250grain bullet will BARILY come close to these numbers). In fact, I just heard it from a guy at the range yesterday. He just bought a Knight Revolution, and it won't group worth a crap with over 100 grains of T7. He even called Knight and they flat told him that 150 grains is the max acceptable load, but cartainly not the most accurate load. Needless to say that I am very happy with the performance of the 10ML-II. It's a good gun, it's strong, accurate, clean, almost completely blowback free, economical (T7 and Pyrodex is a ripoff, and the pellets are just plain highway robbery), requires no intensive cleaning to prevent corrosion, can be shot before hunting season and safely left fouled for best accuracy, no swabbing between shots, and is VERY powerful even when loaded within factory published limits.

Mike