Savage Model 10MLSS .50 caliber Muzzleloader Rifle Blown Up

[Teresa]

I know that there are not a lot of "gun people" in here.. but there are a few that will know what I am talking about with this Savage rifle.. you might want to pass this link on to friends if you want them to see what happens in a case like this.

Got this from a friend:

Caution: The last few pictures are pretty graphic...but they show the magnitude of the mishap

A very good shooting friend of mine from Winnipeg , MB Canada sent me a link to these photos in a web album.  A Winnipeg area shooter by the name of Trent Procter who works for Manitoba Hydro was sighting in his Savage muzzleloader rifle and nearly lost his hand.  Luckily, he had his hand  on the scope instead of the forearm when this happened.  (Incidentally, the Savage is the only muzzleloader that is supposed to withstand the high pressures of smokeless powder.)

I don't know if this failure happened due to a defect in the rifle itself or if the shooter perhaps didn't properly seat the projectile against the powder firmly.  This is VERY important with any muzzleloader, especially when shooting black powder.

Doc Martin

Webmaster Coon 'n Crockett Muzzleloaders Club
Grand Forks, ND - USA
www.coon-n-crockett.org

This is what the rifle looks like:



This is a page I took from the manual that mentions the smokeless loads:



This is the note that was sent with the email I received:
If you guys know of anyone who is shooting a Savage like this let them know that there are many recorded cases of them failing such as Proc's did. Savage is the only muzzle loader that claims it can handle smokeless powder loads. Cabelas won't even carry this product anymore. This email has gone to the CEO of Savage Arms via another hunter who has contacted Trent . The same thing happened to him awhile back, he was lucky as his forend hand was on his scope as he was sighting in. Forward as you feel fit.

[Diane Amberg]

Oh my, it's a shame he lost so much of his thumb. It's amazing how a good hand surgeon can put that back together.