No more 10MLs!!!!!
 

Why the heck has savage stop making the greatest muzzleloader ever produced? I own 1 but I may want another someday, now the price is gonna skyrocket:s6: I hope another manufacturer buys the patent and starts making them again.

Yep, they didnt really sell that many and it wasnt profitable for them. Knight probably sold more MK-85s.

Henry Ball and his son will be making some though and its no big deal to have PacNor or SMI make a 40 45 or 50cal barrel for a variety of centerfires. They will shoot on par or better than a Savage any day and some dont weigh 10lbs or more with a scope. ;)

Mr. Ball actually owns the patent rights, not Savage. They didnt want to renew the rights to it.

Prices are already through the roof if you can find them still. Most places have already sold out except for some mom and pop shops. I could make an easy $200 on mine right now. :D

Id love to have a 45 with a 16" barrel

Seeing that T/C's marketing dept is just about the best I've seen in the industry, it wouldn't surprise me to see them pick it up and make some money.

Anyone have a rough idea of how many states make it illegal to hunt with smokeless powder during ML season? You'd also have to know what percentage of ML hunters those states hold, but that would be difficult.

Good point, I know Jersey does and a bunch of western states too. Im glad I can use mine in NY, I love that thing!

Good to go in VA too. There are virtually no restrictions here...as long as it gets loaded from the muzzle, is at least a .45 (.38 projectile), 50 gr BP or equivalent is used, and ain't a pistol, you can use it.

I really wish I'd picked one of these up before they quit making them, but I didn't. The benefit I see to the Savage over the other companies starting to make them, is the accu trigger. IMO it's one of the best factory triggers I've ever used.

From Doug's board

I got my NIB SS/Laminate for only $550 before the official news hit. I knew of the rumor so i jumped on the first NIB i found. Im not a big Savage fan but i would love to convert it to a 45cal. Swapping the barrel is relatively easy and 45cal smokeless is bad to the bone.

Its a heavy beast though. :D

You can buy as many as you want from Natchez, they have them on sale right now. blued with black stock $529.99. stainless with black stock $589.99., blue and camo $579.99., stainless and camo $629.99., stainless and wood laminated $679.99., stainless with thumbhole stock $729.99

A smokeless Encore?? Sounds like a good idea to me.

TC should have done it first anyhow. Few people want any Savage rifle. So I have no problem believing that Savage did not do well with them.

Before you start flaming me. Please notice. I did not attack Savage. I jut merely pointed out the fact that Savage is looked upon poorly by most of the shooting public. Tom.

My search on Natchez came up with this.

This isnt a flame either, only an observation.

The wood stock models are very well made but are heavy. Mine will make a nice range king and great for practice with less cleaning time. Actually, basically no cleaning if i wanted other than the flash channel.

The Tupperware stocks were plain terrible even compared to many imports. They almost give them away on Doug's board. My old WinApex even had a better syth stock. Many guys just buy a $90 Boyds stock and the problem is solved.

Cabelas tried to market them as BP only even though there was no difference in barrel quality, only length. That eventually flopped which surprised me considering their marketing.

I just prefer a bit different gun for my style of hunting and distance. A sub gun does it just fine for me and weighs much less. Plus OAL is pretty long on the Savage but it has a shorter barrel than most MLs.

Lots of guys were leery of smokeless and if you are going to shoot subs you lose most of the advantages of the Savage. It certainly isn't easier to clean or cleaner than my Knights with the Lehigh NFPJ using subs.

BTW a few guys are going SML in Encores with SMI barrels or PacNors. Even H&R Handi Rifles have been converted but recoil can get a bit "brisk". :D Ive seen one 45/70 Bergara barrel for an Encore or Pro Hunter converted also. Break actions may not be the best choice but they have the potential. I would choose a Ruger #1 if i went that route to get the same advantages as a break action but much stronger.

I saw them in this months catalog and figured if they were on sale they would at least have them in stock. Go figure! I should have known better, I saw .284 Win. brass in there catalog on sale about 6-7 months ago, order some, they back ordered them, I am still waiting.

On Dougs board the guys are posting them as soon as they find them. They are going VERY fast and expensive except at a few small shops.

Synth/Blued are going for $550-$600 easily.