SMI makes a barrel for the NEF, and Toby Bridges has written
about it at hpmuzzleloading mentioned above.

Yep I clean my savage once a year if it needs it or not,,,

Toby blew a Savage up. You might want to read this thread and go to the links posted in it.
http://www.huntamerica.com/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=575667&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=1&vc=1

That was after 7500 rounds through the rifle. Some of which were way over listed loads in the Savage Manual. The Steel had been stressed far too much and finally failed.

The Savage 10 ML is still the strongest Muzzleloader on the market today and w/ recommended loads it should be just as safe as ever.

If you push things over the limits set by the manufacturer for too long well, something is going to give.

I intend on shooting my Savage for many more years to come but, I will definitely use recommended loads listed by Savage. I feel very confident in shooting this rifle, I have tested loads (Just a couple of times) of far greater pressures than what I hunt and shoot w/.

I don't encourage anyone to go over the loadings listed by the manufacturer.

The fact is that most Muzzleloading Manufacturers that suggest the use of three pellet loads of Pyrodex and 777 are much much more dangerous than the Savage w/ Smokless. I wont call any names but some of the ML manus are putting very cheap steel on there MLs.

This one occurrence is nothing compared to the many failed ML rifles of other manufacturers.

Lets just thank god that Toby wasn't hurt.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Reloader

That's why I posted to read all the links. Toby, himself, is concerned with the safety of the Savage now, and he stated he didn't shoot any duplex or hot loads in this particular gun.

The loads he shot in that rifle were over the recomended manual loadings but, were not considered hot by him.

He put over 7500 rounds through that rifle, 2000 rounds in the last 3 months of its life, much of which were w/ higher than recommended loads.

This is still by far the strongest ML on the Market today and you are at greater dangers w/ the 3 pellet 777 loads in other ML rifles. If you stay w/ the recommended loads you will be fine.

Steel can only take so much fatigue wheter you are talking Bridge Beams, Centerfire Rifles, Muzzleloaders, etc.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Upon doing some searching, There are alot of Modern Inline Muzzleloaders Blowing up these days while using BP subs.

These ML Manus need to start using quality materials!

Savage does have them all beat on the strength of their barrels. None of the Popular MLs out can w/stand smokeless.

In case you all were not aware, The Savage shoots well w/ up to 140-150 grains of loose Triple 7. 140 grns of FFF 777 will produce velocitiies of around 2250 w/ 250 grn saboted bullets and it will shoot those tiny groups the Savage MLs are known for.

You guys that are shooting other brands of Muzzleloaders should be Dang Sure they are rated for 150 grain charges. Most say only 100 grn Max.

777 says on the container, "100 grain Max."

Good Luck and Be Safe!

Reloader

Well if I load my 30-30 win Model 94 to 308 or 30-06 levels then sooner or later I will blow it up ehhhhhh,,,

Toby has pushed his Savages to the max for years, always trying to up the speed and pressure, that is how he gets the hits on his website and makes some bucks. He finally blew one up,,,,,

Savage tried to blow one up with souble loads even double sabots and double powder and they held. You load it hot enough long enough and yep it will go boom.

Still the best ML out there,,,I will shoot mine with no concerns using factory recomended loads and not putting extra stuff down the barrell as Toby has always been fond of doing such as extra sabot bases, or factory sub bases to up the pressure and speed.