In-line muzzeloader opinions. UPDATE

Jemclimber · August 18, 2015, 06:29:23 AM

I'm usually on sawmilling and woodworking and almost forgot to show this, but here is a picture after it happened.

rooster 58 · August 18, 2015, 08:11:53 AM

Wow

. I hope the shooter is ok after that!

Magicman · August 18, 2015, 09:02:06 AM

WOW is right.

As they say, "nothing that a little superglue and paint can't fix". Wrong.

gspren · August 18, 2015, 10:13:56 AM

I've seen barrels like that at work where it was done during testing and it was either a very defective barrel or a serious over pressure like a plugged bore, maybe both.

rooster 58 · August 18, 2015, 05:10:56 PM

Gspren,
Do you work at e.r. shaw?

gspren · August 18, 2015, 05:34:15 PM

Quote from: rooster 58 on August 18, 2015, 05:10:56 PM
Gspren,
Do you work at e.r. shaw?

I'm happily retired now but for 26+ years I worked for the Army Research Lab where I was in the Experimental Fabrication Branch of the Weapons and Materials Division. Last 8 years I was in charge, saw and built some neat stuff.

sandhills · August 19, 2015, 10:24:28 AM

Well, with a little duct tape and some bailing wire.......

rooster 58 · August 19, 2015, 06:15:04 PM

And maybe some j.b. weld.........

gspren · September 03, 2015, 08:41:08 AM

Yesterday I ordered a Traditions Pursuit G3 in 50 cal with a 3-9 Leopold, should be here by end of next week. That should give me a few weeks to figure a good load in time for some mid October hunting. Thanks all.

Magicman · September 03, 2015, 03:01:44 PM

Reading the specs it looks like you made a wise decision. Can you use sabots there, or Powerbelts which are my favorite?

Did you catch any fish?

Ron Scott · September 03, 2015, 03:20:03 PM

Yes the Traditions should be a good choice from what I know about it. Leupold is also a great optics company. I also favor the Powerbelt for ammo.

gspren · September 03, 2015, 08:12:10 PM

Quote from: Magicman on September 03, 2015, 03:01:44 PM
Reading the specs it looks like you made a wise decision. Can you use sabots there, or Powerbelts which are my favorite?

Did you catch any fish?

In DE I can use this gun with sabots during muzzleloader season and shotgun season, DE doesn't allow center fire rifles at all. In PA I can use it in the early antlerless muzzleloader season but not the late flintlock only season.
Fish weren't biting but had a few nice boat rides, should get better when things cool down.

Gearbox · September 03, 2015, 09:04:16 PM

Good luck with it hope you can match rooster58 300 yard shots . Just for fun I checked the ballistic calculator 0 at 100 1100 fps 117 inches drop at 300 . Gearbox

gspren · September 04, 2015, 03:51:28 PM

Thanks all! I'll start another thread about ammo for it.

rooster 58 · September 05, 2015, 08:26:36 AM

I hope you ordered the muzzle loader scope with the different yardage dots. It really helps alot

Delawhere Jack · September 05, 2015, 06:31:25 PM

Quote from: gspren on August 12, 2015, 08:24:26 AM
DE Jack, are there any public deer hunting areas in northern DE? I have located some areas in lower DE which is near my Fenwick house but up in your area would be handy from my PA house. I think the in-line muzzleloader can be used in any DE gun season which is why I want one.

Sorry, haven't looked at this thread lately. Very few public hunting areas in New Castle Co. Basically White Clay Creek park and Bombay Hook (which might actually be in Kent Co.). Not 100% sure, but I think both of those are limited to bow hunting.

Delawhere Jack · September 05, 2015, 06:41:25 PM

Quote from: Jemclimber on August 18, 2015, 06:29:23 AM
I'm usually on sawmilling and woodworking and almost forgot to show this, but here is a picture after it happened.

There was another fellow (at least one) who wasn't quite so lucky, got his left hand shredded pretty good, lost some fingers. I think it was a Savage also. It's been a while, but I recall that they determined he used the wrong powder or over charged it. In either case, those incidents are why Savage stopped making the rifle.

tmarch · September 06, 2015, 09:12:08 PM

Most, if not all the blow ups with the Savage were the result of improper loading or trying to get more out of the rifle than it was designed for. Many were trying to get true center fire performance with heavier projectiles than any rifle would handle. With a factory recommended load it's as safe as any other rifle.

repmma · September 07, 2015, 09:39:07 PM

I have the Vortek, I do not care for the cerakote. Stainless is the way to go. It is a nice shooting rifle though. Got my buck last year with it. At about 15yrds... maybe.

I shot a bolt action i guess it was the "Timberwolf" once. Rifle didn't seal well powder all over my face. Not inpressed. I like the break actions and Omega falling block style.

gspren · October 10, 2015, 09:56:39 PM

As of about 10AM today my new Traditions ML is no virgin, a 295gr powerbelt pushed by 2 50gr white hot pellets and a 3x1 Delaware buck is at the butcher shop.

Magicman · October 10, 2015, 10:09:58 PM

Sounds like you have adapted quite well. Congrats!

Ron Scott · October 11, 2015, 10:59:56 PM

Well done!

maple flats · October 18, 2015, 10:58:15 AM

As far as issues with the Savage 10ML, I've heard that the BIGGEST issue is that smokeless powder must be weighed and a little as .1 or .2 grains too much makes a big difference in the pressure.
That was my thoughts back when I first heard that Savage had built a smokeless powder ML, far too may risks for a muzzle loader. I reload centerfire cartridges, and getting the press adjusted correctly is time consuming, on the reloading bench, even on a Dillon RL550. I can't imagine doing the measure safely in the field. I think that was a poor decision for Savage to build.
As for the gun pictured above, a few issues come to mind. 1st, the powder load may have been too much, 2nd, the bullet may not have been seated against the powder tightly. With any ML, not seating the projectile tight is a good way to blow up a gun, and with smokeless powder it is even more critical.
For anyone shooting a ML, be sure the bullet is seated tight. The best way to test that is to drop the ram rod in the barrel, even use some force. If it is seated properly the rod will bounce, if not there is essentially no bounce. If you get no bounce, seat the bullet harder, before you put on the primer, cap or prime the flash pan.