Has anyone tried shooting round balls or traditional lea bullets in the Savage ML? THe law in Montana states that you must shoot an "all lead projectile, no sabots" in areas where rifles are not allowed. I want one these rifles, but if it wont shoot lead bullets well I'll probably get a more traditional muzzleloader or a shotgun.

I have shot 50 cal maxi's, I used 777 since they do not recomend smokeless powder with anything but sabot
This gun will shoot anything that a normal ML will do however they do not want smokeless used without sabots, what they say if for some reason their is a pressure problem the sabot will disenegrate inside the barrel to remedy. Black powder will not create peak pressure like smokeless.
Personally, accidental discharge was created for situations wherein you have the wrong propellant...kidding
Illinois allowed the ML10 smokeless for the first time. I donot know why some states are making a stink, if they want to go totally primitive eliminate scopes special sights and anything but round ball projectiles results more wounded game

I was not sure how the faster twist rate would work with round balls or shorter bullets. Did you get good groups?

One turn in 48" is the best twist for using round balls and conicals ! 1 in 28" /24"/ or anything faster than 1 in 48" is not goint to shoot round balls accurately !48" up to 72" is for round balls !

Elkhunter,

Try the Powerbelts, I've heard they were legal there since they are a conical. I know a fella that hunts elk in Montana w/ them.

The PBs shoot pretty good from the Savage. Although Savage recomends using only saboted bullets w/ smokeless powder, that's to give it a safety release (Blow the sabot past the bullet if pressure is too high). You can use smokeless w/ PBs, you just have to back your charges down. Probably back them down to BP sub velocities but, you'll still have the added advantage of not having to clean after a shot. I'd try AA XMR5744 under the Power Belts, a charge of about 35 grains or so. Vary the charge and see how accuracy improves.

You can also use 777 or Black Mag 3 w/ the PBs.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Powerbelts are illegal in MT. I contacted the game nad fish and talked to a warden. The bullet must be ALL lead; plastic gas checks are not legal.

It seems rather stupid to me personally. I can shoot sabot rounds out of a shotgun legally using smokeless powder, but both are illegal in a muzzleloader.

That's strange because they make a solid lead Power Belt and they are considered conicals.

I've heard from others that they were legal in MT. Humm, I wonder if you called and talked to a different office what they'd say?

That's kind of like when you call here and ask them a question, you get a different answer depending on which town you called.

I know they are legal in CO.

Good Luck!

Reloader

I'm sure you get some different answers depending on who you talk to. The only powerbelts I have seen have a plastic gas check.
If they make an all lead bullet that would work. I'll look around on-line.

Thanks.

The maxis shot fine not as good as sabots but good enough for deer to 150 yds

Elkhunter,

Those Lead PowerBelts I was talking about do have the Black Plastic gas check on the Bottom. They are conical bullets.

There are Maxi Conicals in very similar weights so, they'd probably be just as good.

The only thing I dont like about the Maxi is the lube touching the powder. It probably doesn't make a noticeable difference but, I have a thing about any lube touching the powder. I guess you could clean the bottoms of each one.

I'd check again on those gas checks. Seems to me that it's no different than a Patch on a round ball or a Wonder wad. I'd make that arguement as well and see what they say.

Good Luck!

Reloader

I definately agree with you. I don't think the gas check is any different than a patch on a round ball. I know the sporting goods stores sell lots of powerbelt bullets. The verbage in the regs. doesn't say no plastic gas checks etc.. It just says an "all lead bullet... no sabots". I am not sure that the enforcement is uniform from Warden to Warden. I'll talk to a couple of other guys to see what their opinion is. Right now I'm considering a shotgun, I can legally shoot a 300 grain SST sabot out of a bolt action shotgun with smokeless powder, but it's against the law for me to shoot the same bullet out of a muzzleloader. It seems really stupid to me personally.

Here is a trick that some ML10 shooter use to handle higher pressure, use it at your own risk but I have used it in conjunction with smokeless propellant and sabot; bullets at the lower charge setting.
I don't see why it would not work perfectly with lead maxi's at lower charges I again have not done this s\but I would try it
[/B] buy some 28 gauge wads ( perfect fit for a 50 cal), cut off the over powder pressure cup/seal and ram that in the barrel after the powder charge and place your maxi over it.
It will prevent lube touching the powder create a better seal but increase the velocity and pressure.

If you are considering using conicals over smokeless in the Savage, don't do it.
http://www.savagearms.com/images/pdf/manuals/MLII_loads.pdf

If you are contemplating same with black or a sub, you might have some luck but I don't recall reading any success stories with that rifle using conicals. Don't see why the lead Power Belts wouldn't work okay though.

In my earlier post I stated only smokeless with sabots, maxi and round ball with Black powder or 777 or similar Black powder equivalents with anything including sabots

Underclocked,

Of course you don't need to try an achieve Smokeless velocities like achieved w/ Sabots but, a light charge of one of the Slower ML10 Powders under a Conical will achieve BP Sub Pressures (if not lower).

Reloader