What is “Smokeless Muzzleloading,” and Why Bother?

That’s a reasonable question, one that is still asked from time to time. Somewhat ironically, no one ever asks what smokeless shotgunning, smokeless handgunning, smokeless rimfiring,  or smokeless centerfire rifling is all about as all of this is well over a century old. Most of the shotguns that go bang every day use what is generically referred to as smokeless powder, yet that isn’t taken as novel or even interesting. With muzzleloaders, it sometimes is.

What defines a “smokeless powder” is just a matter of classification, as there are hundreds of gas-generating compounds out there with no single compound usable for everything. To move a projectile, we need to make gas. What people think of as smokeless powder is used in many, many applications including inflation of airbags in passenger cars. Not all propellants are suitable for all applications, though, though we like to use a very broad paintbrush when referring to propellants.

The reason for using specific types of nitrocellulose or ester-based propellants in a muzzleloading firearm is safety, visibility, economy, low corrosion, and performance– the very same reasons that colloid-based propellants are the standard in your 12 gauge shotgun, .22 rimfire, or in commercially available .45-70 Government rounds. Ping-pong balls are made from nitrocellulose, for example, but not an “energetic” or efficient gas-producing type of nitrocellulose. The newly invented marketing term of “blackpowder subs,” which smokeless powder was originally developed to be, also means nothing specific. Inline muzzleloading propellants today run on a variety of propellants, many bearing more similarity to solid rocket fuels than organic blackpowder. Indeed, model rocket engines are  mainly composed of an ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, mixed a plastic binding agent, and hydroxyl terminated polybutadene in pellet form. What remains vitally important, in any firearm, is merely to use only loads that are approved for use by the respective manufacturer.

Savage Arms, has invested the time, effort, and development into a muzzleloader that was designed and intended to be used with inexpensive, reliable, high-performance propellants that don’t rot your bore or obstruct your vision. Modern Savage Arms rifles are designed for use with so-called smokeless powder. The Savage 10ML-II muzzleloader merely carries on that tradition of excellence.

To make the Savage 10ML-II the unique smokeless product that it is, it was developed the same way all Savage product is developed: the “Savage Way.” This means the finest certified metals obtainable, 100% proof-testing, and a very long series of abusive and destructive testing before the first 10ML was ever offered for sale. It is this same type of thinking outside the box that has seen the introduction of the “AccuStock” and the user-adjustable “AccuTrigger”– two other Savage innovations that some said could not be done, and that no other company before Savage Arms was able to do. Just as important features of other Savage intellectual property are exclusive to Savage Arms and protected by patent, so are the multiple patents embodied in the Savage 10ML-II muzzleloader.

Corrosion is the bane of old-style muzzleloaders, along with spit-patching between shots and a requirement for lengthy, immediate cleaning. These type of issues would be considered unacceptable in any firearm, and Savage found the corrosive approach unacceptable in their muzzleloader. Savage also decided that their muzzleloader needed to perform like their other rifles, meaning a floated barrel, a proper trigger, a one-piece stock, dual pillar bedding, a silent safety, and a proper trigger that enhances any shooters ability to put the bullet where it belongs. Considering all of this, it should be no surprise to anyone that the Savage 10ML-II is built upon the legendary, fast locktime Savage 110 short action. This is the same action that just dominated the F Class World Championships in Bisley, England with Savage factory rifles, and the same short action awarded “Best of the Best” and “Golden Bullseye” awards in its varminter configuration.

So as to what makes smokeless muzzleloading better, far better than expensive pellet burning and other options is the clean, economical, low-residue, virtually non-corrosive, high-performance nature of specific Savage recommended conventional smokeless powders (Accurate Arms 5744, Hodgdon/IMR SR4759, Vihtavuori N110, Alliant Reloder 7) when used with 250-300 grain projectiles only and in the exact amounts allowed by Savage Arms.

This is not to say that you can’t use other propellants and projectiles; not at all. In fact, Blackhorn 209 performs better in a Savage 10ML-II than any other muzzleloader I’ve tried it in. You can use any load from Blackhorn 209 in your Savage muzzleloader that you like. The Savage’s 1:24 rate of twist barrel is ideal for heavy bore-sized conicals. Never with smokeless, but with traditional inline loads of 90 grains of Pyrodex P or with better propellants like Blackhorn 209, I think you’ll be impressed.

One thing that has surprised Savage 10ML hunters is the low recoil for the velocity compared to other muzzleloaders. There is a reason for that as well: propellant weight. Propellant weight is part of the recoil equation, so when you use 150 grains of another propellant to attempt to approach smokeless performance, the efficiency of the far lower charge weights of smokeless propellants reduces recoil significantly.

There has never been a mass-produced muzzleloader in history that comes with an 1-1/2 in. at 100 yards three-shot group accuracy promise. Most come with no accuracy guarantee at all and muzzleloading has been stuck in the 3 – 4 MOA world for a very long time, in large measure. All rifles remain individuals, of course, so we can’t expect everything we blow out of a barrel to group superbly. Yet, all Savage 10ML-II’s made are capable of 1-1/2 inch 100 yard accuracy, with 1 inch 200 yard groups not uncommon. I’ve shot more than a few myself, though my friends tell me mysterious things can happen when you learn how to flinch correctly, even the blind hog finds the lucky acorn once in a while.

My 81-year old father calls his 10ML-II his “lucky rifle.” As Dad says, he’s fired his five times and has five trophies to show for it, one for every shot ranging from deer to boar to javelina and black bear. Well, it does take just a tiny bit more effort than that to get the best out of your 10ML-II. But, I’m old enough to know it isn’t all that smart to debate these things with Dad.

The short version of “smokeless” is that it is proven superior in any firearm, shotgun, rifle, or muzzleloader that is specifically designed for its use. Specifically designed, tested, and engineered for its use is what defines the Savage 10ML-II, and sets it apart from all other readily available inline muzzleloaders. The 110 short-action, the pillar bedding, the floated barrel, the one-piece stock, and the Accu-Trigger all combine with the superior propellants to bring you a superior rifle made the “Savage Way” in Westfield, Massachusetts by a group of talented men and women that really care about what they are doing, and it shows.

Last 5 posts by Randy Wakeman

• Savage EDGE, Best for the dollar ever? - April 20th, 2010
• Wakeman Father & Son Bear Hunt - February 8th, 2010

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 5:18 am and is filed under Instructional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.