Your Savage Runs on Ping-Pong Balls: A Look at 10ML-II Compatible Powders
Some may be puzzled at the notion of a ping-pong ball propelled muzzleloader, but that's a common form of nitrocellulose, as are comic books (ink) and counter-top finishes. Since 2002, most other muzzleloaders have been running on sugar cubes. That's what smokeless powder is-- just a form of energetic nitrocellulose, which is a bit peppier than a roll of film or a ping-pong ball. Sugar cubes are what Triple 7 is, just a more energetic form of sugar called gluconic acid. Cubed sugar or pelleted powder, the analogy to Triple 7 is an easy one to make.Right now, the Savage 10ML-II is the most versatile muzzleloader available, and you make the choice of corrosive black powder, fake synthetic black powder hopped up with perchorates (Pyrodex) that leaves behind a variety of toxic, corrosive substances, or the gluconic acid or fructose based substances that also eat barrels and destroy equipment. Enough people have set the woods on fire with Pyrodex, and lost game due to a zero visibility condition after the shot to make ping-pong ball related propellants perfected over the last one hundred and twenty-five years, the type the Savage 10ML-II was specifically designed for, an easy choice. The economy, visibility retention, non-corrosiveness, and inherent safety of these powders are both sensible and of proven benefit. Additionally, cellulose that has been nitrated in propellant form cannot combust properly and does not explode when unconfined as blackpowder does. The lack of a fire hazard is clear, as smokeless powders need confinement and backpressure to work in small arms applications. As any reloader knows, smokeless powder extinguishes itself after it leaves the muzzle. Using an incorrect, too slow of a powder can result in a blooper-- proper ignition never happens, and without enough backpressure to sustain a good burn, it is flame quickly extinguished.
Though some continually look for a mysterious new powder to do the job, after the last twelve years of testing it is largely a waste of time. Flake type shotshell powders burn too fast, quickly destroying sabot integrity to be of much value at ethical power hunting loads. Ball powders are to be avoided as well, as they are generally too hard to ignite (high percentage of coating) in a low-resistance application like a "must load from the muzzle" function with a slippery sabot-- which is precisely what the Savage 10ML-II is. As is, there are many readily available propellants quite suitable, and I will try to touch on those that I have tested myself.
Basically, the valves in a powder plant form dough, and that dough becomes two distinct types of propellants: single-based and double-based. The energy potential from a given family of single-based propellants is all the same. I have to qualify "given family," as the more nitrated our cellulose is, the more energy potential is present in the primary dough. The professional ballistician has primarily geometry of the powder to work with to control burn rate. Doubled-based powders have nitroglycerin (and chemical variants) added that allow the professional ballistician the option of controlling energy content of the powder as well rather than relying on just geometry. Coatings are used in all common consumer powders; to say one coating is thicker, better or less desirable than another is a rather unsophisticated view at a sophisticated subject the encompasses metering, burn rate control, anti-static agents, cleaning agents, and various and sundry characteristics. In any case, let's take a quick peek at Savage 10ML-II propellants, starting with the double-based variety.
It has been established that the most suitable (easiest) bullets to work with are the .451, .452, and .458 diameter varieties he appropriate current formulation MMP sabots for the Savage 10ML-II.
DOUBLE-BASED OPTIONS
1) Alliant 2400
Alliant 2400 got its name from its development and use in the .22 Hornet. It achieved 2400 fps with the .22 Hornet, and the name was born. It contains 15% nitro, and is what I consider fine as frog hair. It has proven to be a very good propellant for 250 grain class bullets, and a bit lighter. It exhibits no temperature sensitivity of note, and like all double-based propellants-- it "helps itself along" after ignition, needing little backpressure. However, its burn rate prohibits it from widespread use with 300 grain projectiles, as you just run out of sabot when you try to gain any respectable velocity. 32 - 34 grains of Alliant 2400 has done a fine job with Barnes 250 gr. MZ-Expanders and Hornady .452 standard XTPs. You don't use much powder, so it is both economical and low-recoil.
2) Alliant Reloder 7
A much slower powder Alliant Reloder 7 happens to be 7% nitro, and is very easy on ventliners and sabots alike. It is a short-cut extruded grain powder, and with a much slower burning rate, is far better for 300 gr. class (minimum) bullets than anything lighter. 60 grains of Reloder 7 generally does a fine job with 300 grain saboted projectiles, and it meters extremely well to boot.
3) Accurate Arms 5744
Developed from a variation of the old Hercules "Spotter Tracer" propellant, AA 5744 is 20% nitro, perhaps the easiest to ignite 10ML-II powder of all, the best bet for use with the 3.1cc and 3.4cc Lee Dippers (or 40 to 45 grains by weight) and it works fabulously with most any bullet weight from 200 grains to 300 grains. Temperature insensitive, remarkably consistent from lot to lot, easy metering, and its general "position insensitivity" make it the only propellant most 10ML-II shooters will ever need. It is likely the most forging and reliable powder you can use, and gets a 300 gr. Barnes MZ-Expander or Hornady XTP out the muzzle at 2050 fps or so. Not quite as fast as some of the 3 pellet sugar cube burners, the complete dependability of this powder under all conditions make it a top choice for deer-sized game under all conditions. Forgiving in loading exactitude (+/- 2 grains load to load gives astonishingly good accuracy), its combination of desirable features and flexibility with a variety of bullet weights makes it the true hunter's choice. Deer don't care how fast you miss them, and nothing much matters if your gun is not reliable under all conditions. For this long list of reasons, it remains the true hunter's first choice as a Savage 10ML-II propellant.
SINGLE-BASED PROPELLANTS
1) Vihtavouri N110
42 grains of N110 pushing a .452 250 grain Hornady defines the Savage 10ML-II factory accuracy load. Single based powders burn a bit cleaner than many of their double-based counterparts (relative, as all Savage 10ML-II propellants are spectacularly clean compared to sugar-burners). Perfectly matched in burn rate to the 250 gr. Barnes 250 MZ-Expander and Hornady XTP, it is an ideal 250 grain bullet propellant that gives reasonably low recoil and good velocity.
2) Vihtavouri N120
For 300 grain bullet use at 2200 fps velocities, this has no equal in my experience. 55 to 60 grains by weight of N120 is just a great powder with 300 grain bullets, it is currently my pick for Savage 10ML-II powders, along with Accurate Arms 5744 for more general purpose. Use of these two powders covers ever North American hunting muzzleloading hunting scenario I can think of. As perfectly matched as N110 is to 250 grain bullets, the same hold true for N120 with 300 grain bullets-and that is really saying something.
3) Hodgdon / IMR SR4759
If anything, a wee notch slower than Vihtavouri N110, SR4759 has generally good availability, its primary attribute, and is best used as a 250 grain bullet propellant only. The 42 grain area is a guideline, with a cautionary note. Good powder from the same can, poor Hodgdon / IMR quality control has resulted in up to 200 fps lot-to-lot variations. Several shooters like this powder, but if you change to a new can from a different lot-well, you better bring your chronograph to the range with you, as you may have to go down two full grains to eliminate sabot damage, or go up two full grains to get the same performance as before. The lot to lot consistency makes it not worth my time these days, particularly when hunting out of state. A new can of this stuff can be a brave new world.
4) Accurate Arms 2015
For those who just prefer, or think they need bullet weights of 325, 350, or 375 grains, Accurate Arms (67 gr. by weight) becomes an efficient, balanced load with heavier bullets while keeping pressures low. It has given me some remarkable groups, but the recoil from 350 grain bullets at reasonable hunting speeds is something that I have enjoyed as much as I care to at present. For dangerous game, or really tough game, 67 to 70 grains of AA 2015 pushing a Barnes .458 350 grain "X" bullet is a splendid choice, though. For deer family game, inclusive of caribou, elk, and moose- the needless burning of the by nature high weight, high recoil charges strikes me as, well, needless.
As you might imagine, I prefer ping-pong balls to sugar cubes. They are more fun to play with, encourage exercise, and don't rot your teeth. More connected to the topic is they do not destroy equipment or visibility, and the unlike fragile, porous sugar-smoking propellants-- their coatings displace the moisture sucking qualities that may make the fake blackpowders inconsistent and erratic under rugged, high humidity field conditions.
There are certainly more propellants that can be used in the Savage 10ML-II, but here are seven suitable propellants that are very good-- far more than for any other muzzleloader ever made. Of course, you still have the ability to use Goex, Pyrodex, American Pioneer, Black Mag 3, and Triple Se7en if you elect to.
NOTE:
All ball powders are to be avoided, Hodgdon Lil' Gun is to be specifically avoided, and shotshell type (flake) powders are to be strictly avoided.
