Savage Model 10ML-II Smokeless-Capable Muzzleloading Rifle

This is an awesome rifle. Savage is the one and only manufacturer making a rifle that can handle smokeless powder. That means DO NOT SHOOT SMOKELESS POWDER in any other muzzleloading rifle unless it is expressly marked as such (a few custom rifles will handle it). I love this rifle and what it's capable of, especially since the price is lower than other inlines that lack its flexibility. This rifle shoots black powder very well, and will also burn smokeless, Pyrodex, and 777. Me, I'm hooked.

Pros

Cons

As I said, this is an awesome rifle.

When I got mine, I headed to the woods for a quick test with black powder and home-cast Maxi-Hunter bullets. I was very impressed right from the start. I started low with 55 grains of FFg and worked up to 75 grains. Accuracy was excellent with each of the loads, using the nice fiber-optic sights.

At the range, I tried 2400, IMR-4198, and Accurate Arms 2015. Brief results are below. All bullets are Hornady 45-caliber XTPs in 50-cal sabots. Dry-patched bore between shots. All powder charges weighed on a scale.

2400 - Accuracy not bad; hottest load 37 gr; MV 2100 fps w/240 gr bullet; most accurate 35 gr 2400 with 300 gr bullet (MV 2000 fps).

AA2015 - Capable of good accuracy; hottest load 60 gr with 300 gr bullet (MV 1880, poor accuracy). Most accurate 57 gr 2015 with 300 grain bullet (MV 1770 fps).

IMR 4198 - Most consistent for accuracy; hottest load 51 gr with 240 & 300 gr bullet (poor accuracy with 240; MV 2000 fps). Most accurate 50 gr 2015 with 300 gr bullet (MV 1960 fps).

For hunting, I chose 50 gr IMR 4198 with a Hornady 45-300 50-cal sabot. 1960 fps with a 45-caliber 300-grain slug is fast enough for me, especially since I have taken many deer with 240-grain 44-cal bullets traveling around 1700-1800 fps.

When I zeroed the gun with this load, I fired one shot and adjusted the scope. The next two shots cut one hole about 70-caliber wide. Range was about 90-100 yards, shooting over the hood of my truck.

- Russ Chastain