Why Doesn't the
Savage 10ML-II Kick?
Many,
many shooters have written to ask why the Savage 10ML-II has so
very little recoil compared to some other muzzleloaders. Some rather
wild explanations have been tossed about, including the craziest
one I've ever heard: "It happens so fast just you can't
feel it!"
It is a combination
of factors. For starters, the classic stock design of the Savage
10ML-II is inherently soft shooting compared to some stock styles.
This is easily demonstrated: even though the Thompson Encore is
of similar weight to the Savage-- a 100 gr. by volume Triple 7 charge
pushing a 375 Buffalo SSB out of my Encore has recoil that I can
only describe as painful. The same, identical combination out of
the Savage 10ML-II is a very comfortable load to shoot by comparison.
Another clear factor
is the weight of the powder charge for a given muzzle velocity.
In the Savage, 42 grains of Vihtavouri N110 pushing a 250 gr. Hornady
XTP shows a recoil energy of approximately 19.14 ft. lbs., and a
recoil velocity of about 11.54 feet per second. To approach this
level of performance out of other muzzeloaders (if allowed by
the manufacturer) you will need three Pyrodex pellets. I just
weighed three "50 gr. equivalent" Pyrodex pellets on my
RCBS electronic scale-- they weigh 111 grains by actual weight.
Recoil energy now skyrockets to 39.35 ft. lbs., with a recoil velocity
of 16.55 feet per second. Directly put, shooting corrosive Pyrodex
at equivalent velocities inflicts more than DOUBLE the recoil on
your shoulder and your equipment, at a more punishing velocity as
well.
If that isn't enough
(don't you think it ought to be?), there is a third, if more
esoteric factor involved. As Pyrodex burns, so-called "burnt"
propellant is not completely combusted-about half of the mass of
burnt, "dead" Pyrodex is left behind in your muzzle as
fouling and corrosive smoke. Once that dead weight that no longer
can produce expanding gas is formed as a nasty, partially combusted
solid-you might as well add at least a portion of it to your bullet
weight. It is considered ejecta, just as your sabot must also be.
By contrast, the N110 load cited has about a 95% powder burn and
burns almost ash-free in the Savage application-- no swabbing or
patch licking ever required. This is not to say that the Savage
10ML-II cannot be made to kick; it certainly can. But, that is mostly
due to people with bad habits.
Often overlooked is
the fact with 100% of the game-getting ability, and less than half
the recoil of other muzzleloaders, the Savage 10ML-II is the ideal
muzzleloader for the young, the old, anyone that is recoil sensitive
or might have a sore back or perhaps a touch of bursitis in their
shoulder. It is also a very smart choice for shooters that just
do not care to needlessly punish their scopes or themselves while
shooting and hunting.
I believe that the Savage
10ML-II has been sorely overlooked as the ideal youth muzzleloader
and the ideal muzzleloader for the recoil-sensitive. All the ethical
game getting ability you could hope for, without the scope-eye,
broken scopes, or aching back. Your shoulder will tell you the difference
in a far more meaningful way than this little missive can.
As
far As I'm concerned, ALL the performance yet with less than HALF
of the recoil is a very, very good thing indeed.
