Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
#31
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
I have found that in the Savage 10ML-II, the powder that is the easist to get good accuracy right away is Accurate Arms 5744. Regardless of whether I am using 250gr -300gr bullets, powder charges in the 44-46 grain range work best. These can either be weighed or dipped in the 3.4cc Lee powder dipper. Of course the weighed charges are going to give you a little better accuracy, but only by maybe a 1/4" or so. 5744 works well with Hornady .452 250gr & 300gr XTPs and SST's, the 260gr & 300gr PR Dead Centers, and the 275gr Parker Hyra-con bullets. The sabots of choice is the MMP HPH-12 (long fingered) or the HPH 24 (short fingered). I use both Federal and Winchester 209's.
Out of the 7 Savage ML's that I shoot, I have the following loads. Plus I have a couple of 10ML-II's that I shoot Hi-Performance loads in, that I'd rather not list here, as they are not Savage recommend loads.
1. 45gr 5744, 260gr PR DC, Win. 209
2. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr XTP, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Fed. 209
3. 45gr 5744, Horandy .452 250gr SST, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Win. 209
4. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr SST, MMP HPH-12 sabot, Win 209
You can kind of see a pattern here.
Out of the 7 Savage ML's that I shoot, I have the following loads. Plus I have a couple of 10ML-II's that I shoot Hi-Performance loads in, that I'd rather not list here, as they are not Savage recommend loads.
1. 45gr 5744, 260gr PR DC, Win. 209
2. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr XTP, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Fed. 209
3. 45gr 5744, Horandy .452 250gr SST, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Win. 209
4. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr SST, MMP HPH-12 sabot, Win 209
You can kind of see a pattern here.
#32
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,471
RE: Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
Out of the 7 Savage ML's that I shoot, I have the following loads. Plus I have a couple of 10ML-II's that I shoot Hi-Performance loads in, that I'd rather not list here, as they are not Savage recommend loads.
1. 45gr 5744, 260gr PR DC, Win. 209
2. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr XTP, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Fed. 209
3. 45gr 5744, Horandy .452 250gr SST, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Win. 209
4. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr SST, MMP HPH-12 sabot, Win 209
You can kind of see a pattern here.
1. 45gr 5744, 260gr PR DC, Win. 209
2. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr XTP, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Fed. 209
3. 45gr 5744, Horandy .452 250gr SST, MMP HPH-24 sabot, Win. 209
4. 45gr 5744, Hornady .452 300gr SST, MMP HPH-12 sabot, Win 209
You can kind of see a pattern here.
Boy is that an overstatement. Thanks for the info it will make my decision that much easier. Thanks once again
#34
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
What older model are we talking about, the 10ML or the 10ML-II without the Accu-Trigger? If it is the 10ML, which has locking lugs on the bolt and uses what is called "percussion modules", then I opt for the newer 10ML-II with Accu-Trigger. If it is the 10ML-II without the Accu-Trigger, then it's 50/50. I like the new Accu-Trigger on the newer 10ML-II's, but a 10ML-II with the old style can be tuned by a good gunsmith into a decent trigger.
#36
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
Eventhough I personally like my 10MLs, with the modules, Savage had some issues with the correct tolerences on them. Many of them were just too loose the have a positive gas seal. If I were in the market today for a Savage muzzleloader, I would opted for the new 10ML-II with Accu-Trigger.
#38
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 20
RE: Muzzleloaders what do I stay away from and what do I buy?
try a white rifle thay have slip fit bullets and are a breeeze to load i have 5 of them
http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/prod04.htm
http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/prod04.htm