Savage Smokeless Loads

[Decatur]

What are you guys shooting in yours?

[joen]

It's not a Savage but I Shoot 73 grains of 2015 behind a 300 grain .458 Barnse X in my S.M.I.

[drs]

I don't own a Savage Smokeless M/L but have heard many are receiving excellent results using SR-4759 powder or IMR-4227.

[mbogo]

I'm shooting the reccommended starting load of AA 5744 , I believe it is 47 grs. in my M I. Accuracy is very good so I saw no reason to push for a little more velocity.

[duff]

I was talking to a guy who had one a few years ago and he said he had on 2 occasions taken a shot and could nearly watch the slug just pop out of the barrel. He claimed to be using the correct powder.

Any of you guys who have those guns experience anything like that?

[schoolmaster]

I have owned and shot savages for four years. Smokeless muzzleloading is a little more complicated than non-smokeless. You must have the right pressure and resistance for the smokeless powder to burn correctly. Loose fitting bullet/sabot combinations will not ignite the powder. With a tight fitting sabot, the savage gives good performance. 5744 powder at around 44 grains is a very reliable powder although a bit slow. VVN-110 and 4759 are very good powders for 250 grain bullets. 4227 is a powder that is hard to ignite and prone to misfires. I would use either WW 209 primers, CCIm, or Federal 209A. All are hot primers and very reliable. Each rifle has its own mind on what it preferes to shoot. I have 3 savages and they "like" different combinations. 42 grains of VVN-110 with an MMP HPS-12 sabot, WW-209 primer and a 250 grain Shock wave bullet is my current deer load. It groups in 2.25 inches at 100 yards but at 200 will group into 3 inches. My sons shoot the same load in their savages and we killed 8 deer last year with it. 5 dropped at the shot, and 3 ran, the farthest went 30 yards. The 250 shock wave will come apart at these velocities (2300) at the muzzle but the deer don't know the difference. I also own and shoot 3 SMI muzzleloaders. The fifty calibers like 45 grains of 5744 with a 250 grain Hornady XTP. The 45 caliber likes 58 grains of IMR-4198, with a Harvestor sabot, 40 cal Hornady XTP, and a Fed 209A primer, all three will shoot 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards so consistantly it is boring. Keep in mind that the savage was designed to shoot 300 grain bullets and mine shoot them a little more accurately than the 250s I just like the lighter recoil of the 250s.

[duff]

With those odd powder charges, how do you measure out consistently 42 grains compaired to 45 or the other charges you are speaking of. I know with my inline I use 90 grains. I usually have plenty of quick loads handy but have had to do a quick measure. I have the 30 grain nozzle on my brass flask in a pinch. Any ways do you have to weigh out each charge or do you have a calibrated dispenser? Seems like it could be a little more of a hassle then the regular inlines.

Another question, what is the price range for the powder?

Thanks, never really looked into these but might have to check them out for myself.

[schoolmaster]

My loads are not measured. I use a powder scale and WEIGH the charges. For the range I use small plastic vials with screw on lids to hold the charges and in the field I use quick loaders. $20 per pound or so. Thinking back on 30 plus animals shot with the savage by my sons, my friends, and myself only one needed a second shot and that one couldn't get up. I usually carry 4 or 5 quick loaders in the field have never used them all up even on multiple targets.

[duff]

Yea hunting it would not be that big of a deal. I was curious when I saw you were breaking it down to 42 and 45 grains, I know the way I measure my BP substitute I am propbably within 1 or 2 grains either direction of 90. Not a real exact measuring device. I don't have any measuring device that would give me that exact of a charge. Definatly a hobby you appreciate doing.

So do you guarentee 95% kill with one shot from these since 29 out of 30 have been killed with one shot? ;D That just tells me you all are good shooters and know where to put the slug to get the job done. You guys would do the same with any muzzleloader, shotgun or bow I am sure.

Thanks for the details.
Duff

[corvair]

I have shot the following loads in my Savage HB Limited:

42-44 gr. 5744,MMP sabot, 250gr.XTP
42-43 gr. 4759,MMP sabot,250Gr. XTP or 250gr. SST
70-75 gr. H322,MMP .458 sabot,300 gr.Barnes original or 300gr. XTP
56-60gr. VVN120.MMP .458 sabot,300 gr.Barnes original

All the above loads shoot MOA or less, some consistantly shoot .6-.75 inches. Outside temperature has a great deal to do with it. Also as mentioned by another poster, sabot fit is important. You want it as tight as possible,with good seating pressure on the powder charge. You have to remember that with smokeless powder, without proper seating pressure the charge will not ignite.
My personal experience though, I have not had a single ignition failure out of 500 plus shots.

Powder cost hovers around $20.00/lb,but can be as high as $25-26.00/lb..Just depends on waht powders you shoot. If you shoot 5744, withXTP's, a 42gr. charge ends up getting you a considerable number of shots per 1 pound can. That load is also powerfull enough to have great killing ability out to 200 yards or so, if the shooter is capable.

[mbogo]

With those odd powder charges, how do you measure out consistently 42 grains compaired to 45 or the other charges you are speaking of.

I use a Lee dipper which is calibrated to appoximately 45 grains when I use AA 5744 because it doesn't seem to be very sensitive to slight variations in powder charge. If I were using any other powder I would weigh each charge to ensure the best accuracy.

[jackc99]

I think it would be wise to weigh all your charges also. Had a guy come into the store last week looking for "powder and bullets" for his Savage ML. Had no idea what powder or how much. I sent him home to read the instruction manual before I would sell him the needed ingredients. Some of these guys scare me.

Jack

[randywakeman]

My best load is 57.1 gr. of N120 and a 300 gr. saboted bullet.

[hornharvester]

All the reliable and accurate load information has been done by the boys at Doug's Message Board. These boys were the first ones to share and compare loads and theyve done some outstanding work, especially RB. If you need help with a Savage 10 ML II or with any load development go there and ask. They are a friendly bunch and will gladly help. h.h.

Heres the link dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=Savage

[randywakeman]

www.chuckhawks.com/savage_10ML_pet_loads.htm