Savage Muzzleloader question
#2
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 0
From:
I have a 10-ML, equipped with the Accu Trigger and a Elite 4200 scope. I use the Savage recommended Accurate powder load. Took me a while to find a suitable bullet for that powder but finally did in the Barnes 250 gr. sabot. It shoots other 250 gr. bullets well, but that one the best. Mine does not shoot 300 gr. bullets of any that I tried well at all.
The powder and bullet combo that I use will cut touching 3 to 5 shot groups more times than not. Have used it only on white tail deer. Have dropped every deer that I have shot at so far ... 11. And I killed a coyote clean at a ranged 225 yards. I lucked out on guessing the drop !!! That's for sure !!! Longest shot I have taken at deer has been about 185 yards. That buig buck dropped in its tracks, from a full pass through, shoulder crushing shot. I have tried only smokeless powder. Have no clue how it shoots with "black powder".
There are two draw backs as I see them. Both associated with the primer .... (1) Only the Winchester primer fits and (2) To set that primer in place is not simple with my old, fat fingers !!! There may eventually develop issue with the flash-hole. Looks like a pain in the butt to replace.
The powder and bullet combo that I use will cut touching 3 to 5 shot groups more times than not. Have used it only on white tail deer. Have dropped every deer that I have shot at so far ... 11. And I killed a coyote clean at a ranged 225 yards. I lucked out on guessing the drop !!! That's for sure !!! Longest shot I have taken at deer has been about 185 yards. That buig buck dropped in its tracks, from a full pass through, shoulder crushing shot. I have tried only smokeless powder. Have no clue how it shoots with "black powder".
There are two draw backs as I see them. Both associated with the primer .... (1) Only the Winchester primer fits and (2) To set that primer in place is not simple with my old, fat fingers !!! There may eventually develop issue with the flash-hole. Looks like a pain in the butt to replace.
#3
The list of Pros is pretty large if you understand how smokeless powder burns. So i will just list the cons.
Cons
1)Heavy and long for its barrel length
2)Fine with smokeless but if you use subs it can be tough to clean some areas.
3) One action screw needs to be loosened to remove the bolt and often the breach plugs without the correct swivel socket.
4) Using smokeless it can go through vent liners pretty fast. Sometimes as fast as 50 shots.
5) The synthetic stock is pretty poor quality.
6) Front and rear receiver area are occasionally not the same and it can effect mounting the scope.
Cons
1)Heavy and long for its barrel length
2)Fine with smokeless but if you use subs it can be tough to clean some areas.
3) One action screw needs to be loosened to remove the bolt and often the breach plugs without the correct swivel socket.
4) Using smokeless it can go through vent liners pretty fast. Sometimes as fast as 50 shots.
5) The synthetic stock is pretty poor quality.
6) Front and rear receiver area are occasionally not the same and it can effect mounting the scope.
#4
Fork Horn
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Webster NY.
Cons:
Pretty heavy compared to my Accura
A lot of experimenting to find load that provides accuracy and reliability.
Need to loosen action screw to remove bolt. This can be rectified by purchasing newer revision breechplug from Savage.
Need a tight fit sabot to make it go bang.
Need to replace vent liner, usually get 110 shots out of mine.
Pro's
Cheap to shoot, 1lb of powder cost me $19.00 and I get get around 160 shots out of it.
Very accurate once dialed in.
Less drop, sighted in at 1 in high at 100yds puts me 4 in low at 200.
Tremendous knock down power with a 300gr round, I've never had an animal travel more than 40yds when hit.
Gun is not for everyone but I enjoy mine.
Pretty heavy compared to my Accura
A lot of experimenting to find load that provides accuracy and reliability.
Need to loosen action screw to remove bolt. This can be rectified by purchasing newer revision breechplug from Savage.
Need a tight fit sabot to make it go bang.
Need to replace vent liner, usually get 110 shots out of mine.
Pro's
Cheap to shoot, 1lb of powder cost me $19.00 and I get get around 160 shots out of it.
Very accurate once dialed in.
Less drop, sighted in at 1 in high at 100yds puts me 4 in low at 200.
Tremendous knock down power with a 300gr round, I've never had an animal travel more than 40yds when hit.
Gun is not for everyone but I enjoy mine.
#6
Several companies offer the liners including Savage. You can even make your own with a little skill. They are roughly $4-5 each. If you get some from Savage, get a extra breach plug at the same time.
Smokeless loads are much more sensitive to the flash channel getting full of carbon so many people just swap out plugs and then clean out the one they just removed. This also gives you a chance to inspect the size of the flash hole in the liner. Once the vent liner is eroded to about .035+ most guys pitch them.
BTW the BEST thing about a Savage IMO. You can convert them to a deadly accurate 45cal for about $460 or less. And that is for a extremely good PacNor barrel. Swapping the barrels is easy with the tool and you can even head space it yourself pretty easily. Most of these good 45cal conversions are shooting a sabotted 200gr 40cal over 2800fps very accurately.
Smokeless loads are much more sensitive to the flash channel getting full of carbon so many people just swap out plugs and then clean out the one they just removed. This also gives you a chance to inspect the size of the flash hole in the liner. Once the vent liner is eroded to about .035+ most guys pitch them.
BTW the BEST thing about a Savage IMO. You can convert them to a deadly accurate 45cal for about $460 or less. And that is for a extremely good PacNor barrel. Swapping the barrels is easy with the tool and you can even head space it yourself pretty easily. Most of these good 45cal conversions are shooting a sabotted 200gr 40cal over 2800fps very accurately.



