Is
Vihtavuori N120 is the Very Best Savage 10ML-II Powder?
In
my opinion, yes! I've been handloading for a very long time, and
like many people-- I go about the load selection process in a very
simple way: I test most every suitable powder available, and find
the combination that suits me and my weapons the best. It is time-consuming,
and shotshell reloading and Savage 10ML-II load work are kindred
spirits. Both use 209 primers, give you a variety of plastic wads
to choose from (sabots of course in the Savage), and a variety
of projectiles as well. Pattern quality is foremost in shotgun land,
and naturally accuracy takes precedence in muzzleloading. Ancillary
considerations are fouling levels (gas guns don't like it), felt
recoil, and so forth. It has all boiled down to Alliant Green Dot
(thanks to Don Zutz) for most 12 ga. loads, and Winchester
Super-Field for 12 ga. pheasant loads and most 20 ga. loads for
cumulative reasons relatively unimportant here.
When
it comes to the 10ML-II, the current Savage recommended powders
of Accurate Arms 5744 and Vihtavuori N110 are hard to beat--
with SR4759 a notch back in my view due to the lot-to-lot inconsistency
apparent in many IMR powders. Savage Arms recommends bullet weights
from only 250 to 300 grains; to deviate from that would require
different propellant parameters.
The
fact that the 10ML-II is best designed, best made, and best performing
muzzleloader available today is hardly in dispute; only those who
have settled for less could possibly make that assumption. The Savage
10ML-II is the real deal is rediscovered by muzzleloading enthusiasts
all over again, year after year. It was the twinkle in Savage Sports
Corporation Chairman & CEO Ronald Coburn that made Henry Ball's
dream a reality at the 1999 SHOT Show. As such, Savage muzzleloading
is already nearing its seventh anniversary. Many are surprised that
this rifle has been established for this long; and this of course
does not count the many years of development the preceded the Savage
application of the most modern production materials, methods, tolerances,
and quality control to achieve the current Accu-Triggered 10ML-II
models that have inspired such a devout following among hunters
across the country.
Propellant
selection is important; in fact one of the greatest errors in judgment
that can be made by a new owner is to ignore the current Savage
recommended powders, forsaking them for just what happens to be
lying around. Every competent reloader knows the adage, "when
in doubt, throw it out." Good advice for any muzzleloader
that is, by definition, a handloader in the field.
I've
tested pounds of most all the historical Henry Ball and son propellants,
and many powders on behalf of powder companies that are not yet
on the market. I've been reticent to lobby for or promote powder
changes, as most of the frivolous powder discussions offer no real-world
hunting benefit over the three Savage recommended powders. In fact,
the match of Vihtavuori N110 and 250 grain saboted projectiles just
couldn't be much better. For volumetric measuring, Accurate Arms
5744 has yet to be equaled, and has been my preferred propellant
for some time due to this, availability, packaging, and other factors.
For
300 grain projectiles only, though, one powder has emerged as a
superior propellant above the rest-- that being Vihtavuori N120.
It took me a while to become completely convinced of this for a
couple of reasons. The preexisting data put out by amateurish sources
was horribly flawed; something to be expected if the majority of
the shooting is done by keyboard instead of with a Savage 10ML-II.
Also, after my own testing proved far more promising than I could
have possibly imagined, DOT paperwork made N120 unavailable for
a time-and fully load workup was aborted. The availability problem
has been resolved for good; anyone who wants this powder can either
have their dealer bring it in for them, or order themselves from
Graf & Sons, or even Vihtavuori direct. As cheap as the 10ML-II
is to shoot, and with the cost per mile of operating a vehicle these
days-- the Haz-Mat fee quickly becomes a non-issue for those that
want to get the most out of their 10ML-II.
The
Savage 10ML-II was designed around 300 grain projectiles, its 1:24
rate of twist barrel stabilizes them where slower twist-rate frontloaders
cannot, and the wounding capability is greater with a 300 grain
bullet vs. its lighter sisters. Whether you prefer a Barnes MZ-Expander,
a Sierra .4515 JSP Sportsmaster, a Barnes Original, or a .452 Hornady
XTP-the 300 grain bullet when launched at similar or even slower
velocities yields less velocity erosion, less vertical drop, less
wind drift, and better penetration. It strikes your game animal
with more energy at all ranges, the difference becoming more remarkable
as ranges increase. All always, saboted projectiles only are allowed
in the Savage when used with the smokeless powder it has been specifically
designed for, and utilizes so superbly.
The
name of the game for consistent performance is protecting the item
in the system that gets the most abuse; that being the polyethylene
sabot. The best sabots, such as those manufactured by MMP, must
necessarily be soft and pliable enough to be easily loaded by hand
from the muzzle-a severe restriction in the durometer of the material
that can be used. It is the load from the muzzle containment of
sabot strength that means the Savage, like all muzzleloaders,
is a relatively short range weapon that must necessarily use relatively
large diameter, heavy bullets than just won't fly all that flat.
The accuracy of the 10ML-II and its ability to handle 300 grain
saboted projectiles allows it to harvest game quicker and more humanely
than other muzzleloaders at all ranges-- however, in no way can
the 10ML-II shoot as flat as a 7mm RemMag, .22-250, or a .300 WinMag
centerfire. That type of comparison has no basis.
The
10ML-II is indeed the most powerful muzzleloader there is, second
to none in that department. However, just like the very best muzzleloaders--
the ballistics remain comparable to a blackpowder cartridge, the
.45-70 Government. It well should be, as we use the same or similar
bullets.
There
are reasons for everything, so allow me to list the reasons that
find Vihtavuori N120 as the best 300 gr. saboted propellant there
is. In doing so, I'll compare it to a few other powders as well.
Heat
of Explosion is a value not often looked at, but a cooler burning
powder automatically inflicts less punishment on our sabots and
ventliners alike. The Heat of Explosion value for Vihtavuori N120
is about 22% less than Accurate Arms 5744; hardly a trivial amount.
It is lower than the faster burning N110, and even lower than the
slower burning N130. Surprisingly, it is lower than a wide variety
of slow-burning powders-inclusive of Reloder 7, Reloader 10x, Accurate
Arms 2015, IMR 4198, and Hodgdon H322. All of these powders would
require heavier charges than N120 to achieve the same performance,
and that means unnecessary cost and recoil. N120 offers a more complete
powder burn as well in the 10ML-II which translates to less unburnt
powder fouling. In fact, the percentage of propellant burnt exceeds
the efficiency of 5744. So, it does all this, yet gives a significant
velocity increase over 5744 with a cooler burn, a more complete
burn, less peak pressure, less ventliner erosion, less fouling,
and less sabot damage. That is a compendium of cumulative benefits
that no other propellant I've found can approach.
For
reference, lets take a look at the interior ballistics prediction
for 55 gr. of N120 using a 300 gr. saboted projectile:
With peak pressure in the calculated sub-25,000 area, it isn't hard
to see why a load like this is easy on your sabot, vent-liner, and
barrel. It still gives us an approximately 90% propellant burn inside
the barrel, and if you can hit it with this load, you can eat it.
Average actual chronographed velocity for the 55 gr. load is 2187
fps. The accuracy I've experienced has been phenomenal, in this
case stepping up to a max. charge of 60 grains: 
This was with the Barnes Original 300 gr. Spitzer Soft Point, in
the MMP Orange .50-.458 sabot.
If you'd
like a wonderfully soft shooting load that mirrors or exceeds the
exterior ballistics of 5744, 50 grains by weight of N120 is all
you need. For all full powder hunting load, I've settled on
57 grains which coincides with my day-at-the-range recoil tolerance.
Those who actually enjoy recoil can go up to 60 grains by weight
(as above, but that load starts to talk to you)-- but any
more than that just gives you recoil without much benefit, and starts
to destroy what we have sought to achieve in the first place-- minimal
ventliner wear, and most importantly, no danger of sabot destruction
or accuracy degradation when using current formulation MMP sabots.
52 - 57 grains has proven to be the ideal min. max. range, contingent
on your personal needs and preferences.
Vihtavuori
N120 is the best I've found with 300 gr. bullets; it responds nicely
to .033" ventliners and Federal 209A primers which I use whenever
possible, but works quite proficiently with Winchester 209s and
factory ventliners also. Vihtavuori N120 is simply a superb 10ML-II
powder, the very best I know of.
Now
that this is out of the way, it is time to continue with what the
Savage 10ML-II was born to do: quickly, cleanly, ethically take
game with one shot at close range-- like no other muzzleloader can,
remaining true to the Savage muzzleloading heritage of performance
and accuracy that Henry Ball and Ronald Coburn gave us nearly seven
years ago.
PS
The
Savage preferred powders as listed in the current manual are N110,
5744, and SR4759. Savage specifically recommends saboted .452 Hornady
XTPs and SST's, 250 or 300 grain. Savage does not recommend sabots
with smokeless over 300 grains in weight. In a few instances (Maryland)
the regs dictate a minimum of 60 grains of powder. You cannot
use 60 grains of the three Savage preferred powders, that will quickly
destroy sabots and is well over the limit. N120 gets you there,
however-- quite nicely.
©
October, 2005 by Randy Wakeman
