Savage Muzzleloader KABOOM
UPDATE: There is more to this story than meet the eye.
There have been a lot of recently publicized KBs. I was emailed these photos of a Savage Model 10ML II “Smokeless” Muzzleloader. The accident happened last October.
The Model 10ML II is designed so that it can be used with smokeless powder, which generates much higher pressure than blackpowder.
The shooters hand, which was holding the fore end of the stock, suffered a lot of damage. I decided not to publish photos of his hand because they are far too graphic, but can be seen here (YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!).
The North American Muzzleloader Hunting Association published the shooters account of the incident ..
“On October 24th, 2009, I went to Broad Valley, Manitoba where I had purchased a hunting cabin with a couple of friends, to do some work on the cabin. And we thought we would get in a hunt that afternoon and the next morning. I had not sighted my muzzleloader this year, so went to a pit south of town to do so. I loaded the gun with 42.5 grains of IMR 4759 powder, using a 250 grain Barnes bullet. One of my buddies suggested I shoot over the hood of his truck, but I did not have ear protection, so decided to shoot off of a canvas duffle bag full of clothes. First shot was my last shot – as there was a large explosion…with my hand under the barrel on the forestock. The barrel and forestock blew apart (per pictures), and some part of the gun blew off and dented the door of the truck. My buddies took me to Hodgson General Hospital 20 minutes away. From there, I was transported by ambulance to Winnipeg Health Science Center 2 hours away, where I underwent 6 hours of surgery. Doctors expect 2-3 more surgeries, and I will be off work for 6 months to a year.
[ Many thanks to Frank for emailing me the photo. ]
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Some 9,000-10,000 smokeless shots later I still have all of my appendages.This has user error written all over it. I have taken these guns to extremes with approved and non approved powders. The amount of safety built in to these guns is incedible. They are by far the safest muzzeloaders on the market bar non! I feel the man but stupid is as stupid does...PAY ATTENTION PERIOd!
HI! I HAD TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A SAVAGE 10MLII AND HAVE BEEN SHOOTING IT FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW. THIS GUN PERFORMS FLAWLESSLY AND I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN IT. MINE IS STAINLESS AND I HAVE BEEN SHOOTING 45 GRAINS OF IMR 4227 AND A 250 GRAIN HORNADY HOLLOW POINT, THE GUN IS DEADLY ACCURATE. NOW TO THE 1ST ISSUE: I HAVE AT TIMES NOT TOTALLY SEATED THE BULLET ON THE POWDER CHARGE ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS I MISSED SOME NICE DEER. THE CAP WILL POP BUT THE GUN WILL NOT DISCHARGE. THIS GUN IS TOTALLY SAFE IN MY OPINION. ISSUE 2: IF YOU OVER CHARGE THE GUN YOU WILL JUST GET BLOW BY AROUND THE SABOT AND LOOSE VELOSITY SO IT'S A WASTE TO OVER CHARGE THIS GUN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY OPERATOR ERROR, I SIDE WITH THE DOUBLE LOAD THEORY, I FEEL FOR THIS GUY BUT IT LOOKS LIKE CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE.