Savage 10ML-II 2006: A Mini Retrospective
Sixteen years ago, Henry C. Ball and William C. Ball began development of their smokeless muzzleloaders. Inspired by an injury Henry suffered by a Pyrodex corroded smokepole that Henry felt could have cost one of his shooting buddies their life-- Henry and Bill sought to make muzzleloading a safer, cleaner place with muzzleloading rifles specifically designed for the use of non-corrosive, non water soluble smokeless powder that destroyed no equipment or vision, and were capable of harvesting game faster and more humanely. This story is told, in part, in an article entitled "Instant Slamification."
The Savage Arms Team, spearheaded by CEO Ronald C. Coburn, was already blazing their own trail of accuracy, quality, strength, and value using the most modern manufacturing methods and materials-- and the American consumer had already recognized their efforts by realizing no better value could be had in today's marketplace than Savage product. Savage Arms was growing rapidly based on the quality, value, and customer service of the products-- and has only accelerated that pace since that time. Ron Coburn recognized the intrinsic superiority of the Ball approach, and Savage decided to apply their modern production techniques, engineering, and rigorous preproduction testing to the Ball's custom rifles. Still working hand-in-hand with Henry Ball, they did not just apply Ball's ideas to their respected short action center fire rifle, they improved upon it. The patented 209 primer carrier idea is a fine example of this. Both the original "Type 1" and the current 10ML-II passed an astounding series of tests prior to production, surviving 129,000 PSI pressure without damage-- something no muzzleloader before or since has done, and most of today's magnum centerfire cartridge rifles cannot do.
2003 was a huge year for Savage Arms. The Shooting Sports Industry recognized Savage Arms' as the Manufacturer of the Year. Savage's heavy barreled varmint rifle, the Model 12BVSS, was awarded the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence "Rifle of the Year Award." 2004 was a watershed year for the Savage 10ML-II: it was improved yet again by the addition of the heavily lauded Savage Accu-Trigger and an easier to use ambidextrous safety.
It is important to realize, as the Savage muzzleloader enters its sixth consecutive year of production, that it is the muzzleloading "Big Brother" to their 2003 Rifle of the Year. It is built on the same frame, uses the same heavy barrel, has the same industry-leading 1.6 millisecond locktime short action, and even the stocks are interchangeable. It has the same generous recoil lug augmented by Savage's dual pillar bedding. Its Accu-Trigger has been proven superior by the TriggerScan System, the Accu-Trigger passes the "jar-off" test not just by the SAAMI minimum of inches, but the rifle has been dropped from a height of twenty feet in safety-off position without firing. It is the only muzzleloader ever made that exceeds all known SAAMI and ANSI specifications; it is the only muzzleloader that you can buy that is 100% SAAMI centerfire spec proof tested and function tested prior to shipment-- there is no other.
Over eighteen months, I fired in excess of 3500 rounds through my personal 10ML-II, and sent it off for inspection. Though all firearms wear with use, there was no wear visible to me at all save for a small burr I had raised on the receiver by my heavy-handed bolt closing, that was a cinch to smooth out. It still easily shot sub-MOA after all that time, having taken a varied assortment of deer, boar, mouflon, and caribou over that time cleanly with one shot. Savage Arms completely disassembled the gun, and air gaged the barrel. All parts were found to still remain within Savage new 10ML-II tolerances, the tightest of any muzzleloader. For the average muzzleloading enthusiast, that is some 140 years of use.
Hopefully, this will give you an idea of the tremendous design integrity present in every Savage 10ML-II, with a designed in, built-in service factor of over 250%. I have tested most every major inline muzzleloading rifle on the market today, and many that are no longer on the market. When I first tested a Savage 10ML-II, I remember phoning Savage Vice-President Brian Herrick and gushing, "Do you have any idea what you have here!" I could envision Brian confidently smiling to himself as he replied, "Why, yes Randy-- I believe we do."
Now I do too.
One of the most revered, strongest, and accurate heavy barreled precision centerfire varmint rifles ever produced:
Is now offered to the muzzleloading community with standards of strength, quality, and accuracy never before made available:
The common parentage of quality and performance could not be more clear.
© November, 2005 by Randy Wakeman
