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. 55 - 60 grains of Reloder 7 does
a fine job, 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.
