Savage ML....switch barrel?

[El Lobo]

Hey Guys,

My understanding is that the Savage Smokeless Muzzleloader is based on their Model 110 action.  This action has a collar on it that makes removing and replacing the barrel relatively easy.... a switch barrel if you will, so that you could have a 25-06 and a 35 Whelan on the same action.

Now, if this is the case, does that make the Savage ML a switch barrel.....a .32 caliber for plinking, a .50 cal for general hunting, and a .72 cal for close encounters of the throbing heart kind???

Lobo in West Virginia

[simonkenton]

You may be referring to the original Savage, the ML1. This rifle had locking lugs on the bolt, and was supposedly capable of having a centerfire barrel put on it, although I understand it would have taken a little work. So, ATF classified this gun as a modern firearm.
Savage redesigned it to make ATF happy, and the Savage ML2 does not have locking lugs on the bolt, so I doubt that you could put a centerfire barrel on it.
Savage made the change about 4 years ago. There are very few ML1 rifles on the market.