Sounds odd doesn't it??? Well take a look at this...

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/cowboy/lrrd.php#50-140

The data for the 50-140 smokeless should be easily adaptable to the Savage 10ML. Both .50 caliber, and you can use 350-500gr .458 bullets paired with MMP sabots. It stays well below 30,000psi. I've never tried these loads. I don't even own a Savage 10ML... Yet. Does anyone see anything VERY wrong with these assumptions? No, this is not a trick question

I had a .50-140-3.25" Sharps once upon a time, but I used it as a black-powder (well, Pyrodex) cartridge rifle to shoot lead bullets. It was a fun rifle to shoot, but I never used it for hunting.

I had a M70 .458 Win too, and mostly shot jacketed bullets in it, I never tried to work up a lead bullet load.

I would suggest asking Savage what they think about these loads transferred to their ML rifle. I have one coming, but no experience with it yet. I don't know how good the seal is in practice.

jim

Been using 4198 powder in my savage for alittle over a year now, went to the slower burning powder for heavier bullets with reduced pressures. Have had good success with the imr powder which produces a little faster speeds than the Hodgsdon for the same charges. I wouldn't exceed 67gr. for 300 gr. bullets.

Like most muzzleloader manufacturers, Savage provides a list of recommended and approved loads. http://www.savagearms.com/images/pdf/manuals/MLII_loads.pdf

The Savage uses saboted projectiles with smokeless; no projectile heavier than 300 grains is allowed by Savage Arms with smokeless powder.

It will safely meet and exceed the 458WM when using powders such as H4198.

There's a pile of interesting data over on the Savage Muzzleloading Message Board at Doug's site.

Good Luck

Reloader

Shhhhhh....