First steps with a ML-II
Provided By Doug
Carefully
unpack the rifle and make sure gun is unloaded. The ramrod should be in the
barrel. Inspect the rifle for any damage that might have occurred during shipment.
Make sure safety will keep the rifle from snapping (firing). Disassemble the
gun by backing the rear action screw (in front of the trigger guard) out several
turns, then raise the bolt handle and pull the bolt out of the action. If
the bolt won’t come out turn the action screw out a few more turns. Using
the breech plug wrench supplied with the rifle remove the breech plug. Take
the vent liner out with the Allen wrench supplied. THIS
IS IMPORTAND BECAUSE THE GUN IS SHIPPED WITHOUT ANY ANTI-SEIZE GREASE ON EITHER
THE BREECHPLUG OR THE VENT LINER THREADS!
With a good anti-seize grease apply to the threads to BOTH the breech plug
and vent liner threads. You can get a good quality grease from most auto parts
stores. I use the brass based grease, but any high temperature anti-seize
grease will work. Re assembly is the reverse of taking it down. Replace the
vent liner in the breech plug and snug, replace the breech plug into the gun
using the wrench and snug. Replace the bolt back into the receiver and close
the bolt, then snug the back action screw back down. Now you are ready to
adjust the trigger, (posted elsewhere), scoping your gun (posted elsewhere),
lapping the bore with J-B compound (posted elsewhere), or trying out your
gun. The recommended loads are in your owner’s manual.
About powder/Load choices
Posted on Doug's Savage Muzzleloading Message Board by: 1SHOT-1KILL - 1/11/2002
Welcome to the board. The powders of choice are Accurate Arms
XMP-5744, IMR-4227 (H-4227 can be used interchangeabily), and VihtaVouri N110.
Bullets of choice are Hornday .452 250gr and 300gr XTP's. Sabots are the MMP
(Muzzleload magnum Products) .50 cal high pressure sabots and some guys have
been getting good results with Hornady .50 cal high pressure sabots.
Two load that seem to shoot well in every 10Ml & 10Ml-II Ive shot is 45 grains
of AA XMP-5744, MMP high pressure sabot, and the Hornday .452 250gr XTP. This
same load works great with the Hornady .452 300gr XTP. Another good load is
48 grains of IMR-4227, MMP high pressure sabot, and .452 300gr XTP. 44.5 grains
of VihtaVouri N110, MMP high pressure sabot, and .452 250gr XTP, is another
great load.
A couple of tips; Don't get in a hurry to shot a rapid string of shots. The
barrel will heat up quick, like on a centerfire, but unlike a centerfire,
there is the sabot to consider. it is the weak link. When the barrel get warm
or hot, it heats the sabot. The sabot, in turn, will become soft and pliable.
When the sabots become soft and pliable, they will not stand up to the high
pressure and velocity, and will blow or burn htru at the base and/or the fingers
will shred or tear off. This is devasting to accuracy.
When it comes to positive ignition and good accuracy, the tighter the sabot/bullet
fit to bore the better. It may require considerable effort and pressure to
ram a sabot/bullet home, more so than you may be accustom to. But seat it
firmly on the powder charge and you should not have any problems with ignition.
Unlike using BP or Pyrodex, you will feel the positive stop when the sabot/bullet
is seated, not the soft spongy feeling you get with BP or Pyrodex, which requires
a few extra tamps to fully seat a sabot/bullet. Swabbing or patching is not
neccessary for acceptable accuracy, but you may want to do it to get great
accuracy.
If
you have any questions or need any advice just ask. The guys here are outstanding
to say the least. And like all of us, we are learning something new time
at the range.