I wasn't there either. Just commenting on what the pictures tell me and what I've read of this matter.
Having others standing around doesn't exactly guarentee they know exactly what you're doing. To the contrary, others standing around while talking, etc can be a distraction and lead to mistakes.......has happened to me and probably a lot of others here.
My opinion is it could have been any of those things I brought up before, including what I forgot to mention the possibility of not fully seating the projectile. Common sense reveals in the pics the gun experienced a hugh overpressure.
It'll most likely never be known what caused the failure. My OPINION from what I've read and seen is operator error, not the gun's problem.
Just my .02, find below Savage's response:
Savage's Response
Here is Savage's Statement in it's entirety.
STATEMENT CONCERNING RECENT CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE SAVAGE 10MLII AND MR. TOBY BRIDGES
As is often the case in life, there are two sides to every story and things are rarely what they seem, especially when one party is angry and has lost a substantial source of income through his own actions.
Fact:
Since the introduction of the 10ML smokeless technology, Savage Arms has used the contract services of Toby Bridges to test bullets, powders, sabots and primers on their behalf. The intent was to have Toby run concurrent tests with the factory and compare engineering notes. Savage also wanted to insure that new (evolving) technologies received a systematic and documented analysis so Savage could respond to customers and continue to gain more knowledge on the subject.
Fact:
Having sold thousands of 10ML rifles over the last 4 years, Savage is not aware of ONE catastrophic barrel failure (other than Tobys), not one.
Fact:
Toby is both a very competent shooter and a knowledgeable technician. He is also a pioneer, which by nature, tends to push the boundaries of trial and error in order to arrive at a conclusion and determine the limits of various components, including the firearm steel.
Fact:
Savage knows that Toby ran more than 7,500 rounds through the rifle in question, according to his own admission and Savage knows he was experimenting with various sub bases placed above the powder and before the sabot, in an attempt to contain more pressure so it would not blow past the commercial sabot.
Toby also experimented with layering powders in one load, which Savage considered dangerous and found it necessary to advise him to cease that practice. Savage considers that particular experiment to be unsafe and not in the best interests of the consumer.
Fact:
Savage had NEVER heard about a weak breech plug design, or any other safety related issue before Toby issued his statement--this observation came out of the blue and surprised the heck out of Savage.
Fact:
Toby lost his contract with the smokeless muzzleloader inventor (Henry Ball) for reasons that are not Savages business.
Fact:
After losing his employment with Henry, Toby became more aggressive about Savage providing him with greater involvement in the marketing and promotion of the 10ML, to help make up for the income loss. At no time did Toby suggest the 10ML materials, engineering, design or assembly was in any way dangerous or suspect.
Fact:
Tobys agreement with Savage was terminated because he was unable to follow proper business protocol, was argumentative and on occasion, darn right insulting to management and accounts. While Savage appreciated his skills, they could not tolerate his unsafe test practices, lack of diplomacy and intolerance for input from others.
Fact:
Toby did not advise Savage he considered the barrel/breech plug manufacturing design to be weak, nor did he suggest that when the barrel separated, that it was anything other than progressive stress over thousands of rounds, some that pushed the pressure envelope and did untold successive damage.
Fact:
There is no design problem with the breech plug. Savages extensive testing has confirmed the integrity of the breech plug design.
Savage Arms regrets Toby has taken this direction and has chosen to discredit both Henry Ball and Savage, after being such an avid supporter of the smokeless technology for so long. Savage is surprised and disappointed that Toby has turned his frustration on the very technology he helped promote and has not been able to acknowledge his own business and personal failings.
Savage would never compromise their integrity, or offer a product they felt was in any way dangerous when used as intended and recommended by the user manual. Savage has been in business for 109 years, and has earned a reputation for making safe and affordable firearms.
Do not use smokeless powder in any other muzzleloading firearm unless expressly recommended to do so by the manufacturer.
