Splitting Barrels on Savage Arms Stainless Steel 10 ML-II Muzzleloaders

[wew3]

Lawyer: Gun Maker Knew About Exploding Rifles
A major gun manufacturer knew for years about extensive problems with the barrel of a rifle that has injured several people.

https://www.ien.com/safety/news/2098...ploding-rifles

Bill



Contributor: Ryan J. Foley


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Newly disclosed records show a major gun manufacturer knew for years about extensive problems with the barrel of a rifle that has injured several hunters in explosions, a plaintiff's lawyer alleged Wednesday.

Savage Arms has produced a list of nearly 300 customers who returned their stainless steel 10 ML-II muzzleloaders due to bulging or split barrels dating to 2003, attorney Steve Crowley said. The company has also faced 45 legal claims from customers over similar issues, he said, including several who suffered injuries to their hands, faces and hearing when the barrel exploded upon firing.

Crowley represents Ronald Hansen of Hampton, Iowa, who says he suffered permanent damage to his right hand and ear and facial burns when his rifle exploded in December 2014. Crowley and attorneys for Savage Arms appeared in federal court Wednesday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a motions hearing in Hansen's lawsuit, which alleges the company knowingly marketed a product with a steel barrel prone to catastrophic failure after repeated firings.

Westfield, Massachusetts-based Savage Arms has insisted that the 10 ML-II, which was discontinued in 2010 after about 41,000 were produced, is not defective and is safe when used properly. It has blamed the explosions on operator error, saying users likely loaded two bullets by mistake or the wrong type or amount of gunpowder.

Savage Arms lawyer Danny Lallis on Wednesday questioned whether Hansen's hearing damage was caused by the explosion, citing a company-hired expert who suggests it came from exposure to other noises. He asked U.S. Magistrate C.J. Williams to order Hansen, who began wearing a hearing aid after the explosion and testified that he still struggles to communicate, to submit to an independent medical examination with the expert.

Crowley argued that the examination was unnecessary given that Hansen's treating doctors diagnosed him with a blown eardrum after the explosion, and that the company's expert has already reached his conclusion.

Williams said he would soon rule on the company's request and on Crowley's motion for an order to compel Savage Arms to release additional information about the muzzleloader's barrel problems.

Crowley said that Savage Arms only recently disclosed thousands of records related to the rifle's development, which he had sought on multiple occasions since February. He accused Savage Arms and its lawyers of evading and delaying his information requests in "a game of keep away" intended to undermine his client's case.

"We have finally gotten a look inside the curtain and we know now this problem is much deeper than the company has ever acknowledged," Crowley said.

Crowley said the documents reveal that Savage Arms created a special muzzleloader return team to evaluate the problems, but the company hasn't released the group's communications or findings. Other documents show that a high-ranking company executive reported that he loaded two projectiles into his muzzleloader at once but that it didn't explode, he said.

Crowley said he needs "straight answers" from the company as he seeks to build a case that Savage Arms acted recklessly and should be ordered to pay punitive damages at trial next year.

Lallis said the company has been releasing information in response to Crowley's requests and as it discovers additional relevant documents. He said the company has made a "diligent and good-faith effort" to comply with its discovery obligations while making appropriate objections to requests that were too broad or confusing.

[Gunsnwater]

Were the bullets seated on top of the powder? Hard to believe modern steel can't handle black powder. Maybe china import steel?

[Delkal]

Were the bullets seated on top of the powder? Hard to believe modern steel can't handle black powder. Maybe china import steel?

I think these were the models that could take smokeless powder. A great idea on paper. Higher velocity and no fowling. The problem is all charges must be carefully weighed or you can get into trouble fast. I will bet the blowups were operator error.

[Qtrborecrazy]

Isn’t the 10 ML able to use smokeless powder or do I have my models wrong?

[knight0334]

Isn’t the 10 ML able to use smokeless powder or do I have my models wrong?

The 10 ML is a smokeless muzzleloader. However, it still has limitations, and then factor in human error.

Some folks don't understand that smokeless is measured by weight and blackpowder is measured by volume. BP requires the bullet to be fully seated on the powder. Smokeless doesn't, and with some powders - seating the bullet on the powder will create a bomb.

It is practically impossible to overload blackpowder. Smokeless on the other hand, some powders only have an operating window of 5 grains given the bore, bullet weight, chamber size, and even the primer type. And Savage listed some specific loads to use, if any of those shooters varied their charge by weight or powder type - Savage isn't to blame for the individual event.

300 out of 41000 can easily be explained by bad shooter practice. Especially with a gun design that is relatively "revolutionary".

My uncle has been using his 10 ML since about the time they started making them. ...no issues for him. He measures 2-3 charges and puts them into "speedloader" powder capsules.