Hi , I am looking for some load info for my newly acquired Savage MD 10 ML II . I am wanting to know what primers , most accurate bullets and powder combinations , my gun is a 50 cal. and I have equipped it with a Leu. 4.5x14 CDS I am hoping the gun is accurate enough to use a CDS dial for further than 100 yrd shots .I know all guns are different but any info would be appreciated . Many Thanks

You'll get a lot of information here: http://dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/board/23/savage-smokeless-muzzleloading

Mine sure likes Federal 209 primers, Hornady XTP bullets in 250 and 300 grain in short black MMP sabots powered by 42 gr SR5744. You'll also find a lot of info if you do a search for Randy Wakeman.

If you go with 5744, you should realize its a dog in the FPS department. Dirty too for smokeless but if you dont mind the slower MV its a very good powder.

SR4759 is my favorite but its no longer made. Grab some if you see any.

N110 is becoming available again. I love it but its a little hard on sabots. The Savage manual lists about 43gr as max but ive had far better luck with it in the 40gr range.

If you want to shoot mostly 300gr or 325gr bullets, H4198, N120 and Reloder7 all work well. 58gr of N120 being my personal favorite with a 300gr. 63-65gr of Re7 will give you about the same velocity as 58gr of N120....fairly close anyway

You could always take the easy way out and ditch that 50cal tomato stake for a good match grade 45cal barrel. Then all you need is some IMR or H4198 and a sizing die.

Muzzleloaders real one use Black powder or a substitute black powder

n110 and a 250 grain xtp here. You will need the dial if you try this combo to 250.

67 grains 4198 and 300 grain Barnes Original. Federal 209A primer.

That's terribly helpful, thanks for the contribution you pedant. They load through the muzzle so they are muzzle loading rifles.

OP,

Try a 300gn Barnes Original in a Harvester Black Crush Rib over H4198, Reloder7, or if you can find it N120. If you shoot anything under 300gn see if you can find N110 (saw it in a gunstore in Charlotte the other day for the first time in years).

At some point you may find that you are finished with the .50 if you aren't required to shoot one by law. Too much pressure destroys them. Heat destroys them. That's why you need cooling rods and about 15 minutes between shots. The sabot is the weak link.

As mentioned, a barrel swap is the real fix. If you choose to go this route take a look at my blog . There is a series of articles that take you through my thought process on how to select and build a gun and then on how to feed it.

Good luck with your pursuit.

When I had my Savage,my go to load was 67 grains Reloader 7 300 gr. Barnes Original, Harvester Black Crush Rib Sabot and Federal 209A Magnum Primers.Hope this helps........

Thanks for all the info help , keep it coming . Greatly Appreciated .

44 grains 5744 powder, 300 grain dead center bullet, MMP sabots. Very accurate load. It kills pig and deer DRT.

My savage likes 37 grains VV110 ,250 hornady XTP,winchester primer.
Killed plenty of deer with it. Shot one at almost 200 yards last year with that load.

I am actually hunting with mine right now next to my daughter that also has one. Mine has killed over 50 deer, never missed. The longest being 274 yards. I will send you some load info later when I get home. Great guns.

"Muzzleloaders real one use Black powder or a substitute black powder"

Yea, that's some real stupidness

44 grains IMR 4759
Hornady 45 cal. 250 grain SST
MMP Black Sabot
MMP 50 cal. BBSB Sub Base
Winchester Triple 7 primers

42 grains of SR4759 and the 300 grain SST for me. Black MMP sabots. They've proven quite capable of shooting through moose and terminal effect on deer seems to be about like a .300 Win. The 250 shoots a tiny bit better inmy two guns but they they are on the edge of too soft at this velocity.


I went through a stage of hot rodding velocity, knurling bullets, trying different sabots and base wads. The one thing that I know for sure is that what happens with a cold barrel is the only thing that matters. I like shooting a lot, and like a good wild goose chase as much as anyone, which is probably why it took so long to pick up on the idea. Cold means cold, not lukewarm.

44gr of AA5744
300gr Hornady SST with black MMP sabot


I have shot deer out to 200 yards and this load give me right at 2,000 fps at the muzzle. I don't think I could ask for more.

My Savage has proven to be not particularly finicky.
I have enjoyed great performance from Hornady's XTP and FTX bullets over 4759 tucked into the black sabot. The XTP's can be had in a magnum version and I prefer these. My rifle shoots both the 250 and 300 gr versions pretty well. I haven't decided on a favorite as all have been devastatingly effective on whitetails out to 165 yards.
The FTX will likely perform a little better as the range stretches out.
Lots of good excuses to shoot your rifle and let it tell you what it prefers.

Seems like every powder mentioned in this string is some sort of black powder substitiute.
I love the capability to use smokeless in a muzzleloader.

You must be joking. Using a T7 primer is about the worst advice ive ever heard when i comes to igniting smokeless. They are the weakest primer available.

Why in the hell would you want to use the weakest 209 primer with smokeless?

You must be a know it all. I have used these primers for 7 years and killed dozens of deer, never with a mis-fire. Try using some tact with your next post.

That does not answer the question but im sure you know that since you refused to address the message and attack the messenger instead.

So lets try again.

Why in the hell would you want to use the weakest 209 primer with smokeless?

Why would anyone want to pay more for those weak primers and have less reliability with smokeless? A T7 primer has about half the energy of a mag primer. Ive seen a T7 primer fail to fire smokeless under ideal conditions. Ive never seen a Win209 or any Mag primer fail under ideal conditions.

Ok, let me try again. When I bought the gun 7 years ago, this was the load combo the guy I bought it from used. I didn't change it and have never had an issue. Was certainly not attacking you. That's what your post seemed like to me. Peace

I've found it difficult to argue against something that works. Congrats for taking the high road tmc.

I use 44 grains of 5744. Very accurate.