ORIGINAL: driftrider
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.
I don't want to imply that Savage is to blame for this incident, or any others that might have occured with their rifles. I agree that if one pushes the limits, they should not be surprised if an accident occurs. You are correct that legal litigation has made it necessary for manufacturers to take great care to save some people from themselves. I do believe that Savage has a moral obligation to make sure that owners, and potential owners, of their rifles do not have false notions about the safety and durability of their rifles and I think they have been lax in doing this. They also need to publically address any safety issues, even those from misuse, in a timely manner and I don't see them doing this either. Yes, it might hurt sales in the short term, but it is the right thing to do and in the long run it will help their image and sales.
It appears that the Savage is certainly one of the best engineered and manufactured inlines but quite honestly, I really don't care for any inline muzzleloaders as I am more of a traditionalist, although I am not a strict traditionalist. I will not use a modern inline because it is not my thing but I won't berate those that do. However, I do admit that I really don't believe that any muzzleloader should be using smokeless powder. I agree that T7 and pellets are a ripoff but I also think sabots and jacketed bullets are a ripoff. Loose Pyrodex is reasonable as it can be purchased here for the same price as black powder(which I use), which is $12-13 a lb. I don't know the exact economics of shooting saboted bullets with smokeless powder but I'll bet that my loads of patched, handcast round balls and black powder are much cheaper, per shot. I'm not trying to argue firearm choice here but just stating that if economics is a primary factor then an inline shouldn't even be considered.
I certainly don't want this to be a traditional vs modern muzzleloader argument either. My views of the Savage, and the accidents with them, has nothing to do with my choice of firearms. I would feel the same way, and would have the same opinions, if the Savage failures, or any other brand of muzzleloader failures, including those brands which I own, were caused by black powder loads, with all other factors being the same.
Good hunting to you!
Harry