10 ml11 help?

First off I'll just say that I'm a big fan of the Savage 10ml II. However, i could use some help with loads. I have a stainless MLII with synthetic stock. I've work pretty extensively with hornadys 250 gn xtp with short mmp sabot and sst with mmp hph12 sabots. I've used both 4759 and Vih N110. I've tried anywhere from about 42-45 gns 4759 and 42 gns n110. I have shot a few good groups with both if the barrel is clean. However, after about 3 shots accuracy is terrible even if barrel cools for hours. I've also drilled out breach plug, changed vent liners,etc... I hunt with about 7 other guys that shoot the savage and none experience what my gun does. I have noticed that my gun loads much easier than theirs. Theirs load very tight with the hph12 sabot while mine does not. They all shoot the 250 sst and all shoot around 45 gns of 4759. Anyone have any advice for other loads? One aspect of the savage was not having to clean the muzzleloader as often.

I have the same rig, Mine shoots real well with 44 grains of AA5744 grains under a hornady 300. I never looked back or played around with it. It works.

Bingo. 44 gr. 5744 and a 300 gr. std. .452 XTP is a classic. Same powder / MMP .458 / 50 Orange sabot / #4500 Hornady 300 gr. HP (or 300 grain Barnes Original) are generally excellent as well.

I'm not sure what you mean by "cooling a barrel for hours" though.

after I shoot 3 shots and let barrel cool down and try again....accuracy isn't the same. I know that doesn't really make sense. Doesn't make sense to me why as the barrel gets dirty, it doesn't seem to shoot at all. Will the 300's have any tighter fit. I know diameter is still .452 I think i need something to load tighter than what I've been trying. Also, how about N120 powder? What is your opinion on it? Also what sabot do you recommend?

sorry i didn't see what you said about sabots.

are you seating the bullet with enough and consistent pressure.

You mentioned that your gun does not load tight with the HPH-12, does it load fairly tight with the MMP short black? which is the correct sabot to use with the 250gr xtp

Yes I use a spinjag and try to load with the same pressure.....I can't tell much difference in how tight the hph12 with the sst and the short black with the xtp. Like I said earlier in a post, several buddies of mine shoot the 250 sst with the hph12 and I can tell a big difference in how tight theirs loads. They all shoot good groups and on a consistant basis. I feel like my bore is much more loose than theirs. I can shoot decent groups but not consistantly. My best groups at the range are my first shots with a clean barrel. I'm hoping a load that will fit a little tighter will help.

You might want to give the Harvester red crush-rib a try. They seem to do a better job with the seemingly larger barrels of some guns.

DC

if it is not a snug fit with the MMP short black and Hornady XTP I would send it back to Savage to have the inside bore(land to land) diameter measured. If it is .504 or better they will replace the Barrel for you.

My best load by far is Hornady 300 gr. .458 (#4500) ,black crush rib sabot, IMR 4759. Personally I have my best luck in cold weather with 46 gr. With a multi-plex scope I have excellent results out to 300 yds. on paper. Killed deer to 230 yds. in perfect conditions . No cripples, no track jobs and having fun. It just don't get any better than this. ;D

I shoot 250 grain Hornady 's in front of 44 grains of 110, with HP24 sabots. The sabot is a little long for the shorter bullet, but gets me a lot better groups. My rifle will shoot 3 holes in a clove leaf @ 100 yards over a clean barrel, but will start to open up considerably after the first three shots. This is fine for hunting, as I will go home if I shoot three times during season and don't hit my deer. But at the range, it is a must to clean the barrel out after every three shots, if you want to keep a good group. I have seen some rifles that will shoot all day without cleaning, but they are few and far between.
The debris you are seeing in your barrel comes mostly from the primers, not the powder. If you think about a cartridge type shell, the brass catches most of the debris from primers, and is ejected after firing. In a muzzle loader, the barrel catches the debris, and the longer you shoot, the more debris builds up in the barrel, and will eventually cause problems with accuracy.
My suggestion is, if the rifle shoots well over a clean barrel, then hunt with it. When useing it at the range, just give it a clean-up every 2 or 3 rounds.

thanks everyone

The standby 250 Hornady XTP bullet 0.452 VVith 44 GR of N110 has always been my favorite load. Ive tried many others but prefer the flatter trajectory of the .50 cal with the 250 Gr XTP