Pet Loads for the Savage 10ML-II
All loads have been tested with both Winchester 209 and Federal 209A primers. All loads have yielded sub 1-1/2" 100 yard accuracy in multiple Savage 10ML-II rifles, over many thousands of rounds. All loads have proved to be devastating on deer-sized game. For tougher or larger game, the 275 grain and 300 grain saboted bullets are the preferred choices. All smokeless powder charges are by weight. My two favorite loads are in blue italics.
SMOKELESS POWDER LOADS: 250 grain bullets
MMP short black sabot, Hornady .452 XTP Start load: 40 gr. Accurate Arms 5744.
Do not exceed load 45 gr.MMP short black sabot, Hornady .452 XTP Start load: 37 gr. Vihtavuori N110.
Do not exceed load 44 gr.SMOKELESS POWDER LOADS: 275 grain bullets
MMP 50 x .451 HPH12 sabot, Barnes #45105 "XPB." Start load: 57 gr. Vihtavuori N120. Do not exceed 62 grains N120. (Personally, I use 59 grains.)
SMOKELESS POWDER LOADS: 300 grain bullets
MMP 50 x .458 Orange Sabot, Barnes Original .458 Spitzer Soft Point. Start load: 55 gr. Vihtavuori N120. Do not exceed 60 gr. N120. (Personally, I use 57 grains.)
Barnes MZ-Expander 300 grain, supplied sabot, Start load 40 gr. Accurate Arms 5744.
Do not exceed 45 grains 5744.MMP short black sabot, Hornady .452 XTP, Start load 40 gr. Accurate Arms 5744.
Do not exceed 45 grains 5744.MMP 50 x .458 Orange Sabot, Hornady .458 Hollow Point #4500. Start load: 55 gr. Vihtavuori N120. Do not exceed 60 gr. N120.
BLACKPOWDER, PYRODEX, and Triple 7 Loads:
Start load for all loads: 90 gr. BY VOLUME blackpowder FFg, Triple 7 FFg, Pyrodex RS, or Pyrodex P. USE Winchester "Triple Se7en" primers.
Do not exceed load for all loads: 120 gr. by volume.
MMP short black sabot, Hornady 250 grain .452 XTP.
Barnes MZ-Expander 300 grain, supplied sabot.
MMP 50 x .458 Orange Sabot, Hornady .458 300 gr. Hollow Point #4500
348 gr. Powerbelt, Hollow point or AeroTip. (Do NOT use with smokeless.)
405 gr. Powerbelt, Hollow point. (Do NOT use with smokeless.)Bullet note: it is easy to confuse the Hornady XTP "Mag" with the standard Hornady XTP. The standard .452 Hornady XTP generally groups extremely well, the XTP "Mag" bullets do not. Avoid them.
Sabot note: get current formulation sabots direct from http://mmpsabots.com or phone MMP at 870-741-5019. That's the only way to insure current formulation product, and consistent accuracy. Barnes MZ-Expanders come with current formulation MMP sabots.
Triple Se7en note: Triple Se7en is notorious for forming a hard, slag-like fouling ring in the breechplug area. Immediately after the first two shots, crack your breechplug and retighten it when shooting Triple 7. This breaks the bond line, and helps avoid a stuck breech plug. Use of Winchester "Triple Se7en primers" helps reduce crud formation.
Blackpowder, Pyrodex, and Triple Se7en note: As always, when using these corrosive propellants, your gun must be thoroughly cleaned at the end of the day to avoid damage to your barrel. This is true with any muzzleloader. Start at "start load" working up in 5 grain volumetric increments until group size starts to open, then back down 5 grains by volume.
Smokeless Powder Note: the best performance with 250 grain bullets has been with Vihtavuori N110 or Accurate Arms 5744. The best performance with the Barnes 275 gr. XPB, and all 300 grain saboted bullets has been with Vihtavuori N120 or Accurate Arms 5744. All smokeless charges are BY WEIGHT. Start at "start load." Those are all very effective deer hunting loads right there. Work up a load in 1 grain increments by weight if you wish, until group size begins to open up, then back down one grain of powder charge by weight
NOTE ON IMR/HODGDON 4227: DO NOT USE!
Now in its 6th consecutive year of production, the Savage 10ML-II is fully developed product. Savage has strived to give their customers choices of powder, but of course has no control over local availability. That why THREE different powder manufacturers are offered as Savage recommended powders: Accurate Arms 5744, Vihtavuori N110, and IMR SR4759 in the current owner's manual, free for the download from http://www.savagearms.com . While IMR 4227 has been a Savage approved powder for some time, it has proven to be extremely hard to ignite with certain sabot / bullet combinations, and has also suffered from IMR lot-to-lot quality / velocity variations. Save yourself a headache, and throw it out in favor of Accurate Arms 5744. No Savage powder is more dependable from -20 deg. F. to 110 deg. F.
Please Note: Randy Wakeman, his agents, heirs and assigns, hereby disclaims all possible liability for damages including, actual, incidental and consequential, resulting from usage of the information or advice contained in this article.
Use the data and advice at your own risk, and with extreme caution. The suggested loads listed here are for reference only, and are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Savage Arms.
© 2004, 2005, 2006 by Randy Wakeman
