couple questions, looking to get a MLII

[tondar15]

I live in Michigan so for now I have to shoot BP subs.  I still like the savage (although I've never had/shot/held one) because it's bolt action and you can change the barrel (wouldn't mind trying sabotless one day).  In stock form however I think the 24" barrel is too short for BP subs.  So my choice is to buy the cabelas offering of get an MLII used and swap the barrel.  Which would you do?

From what I've read the MLII will probably still have the old style breech plug and require me to remove an action screw to pull the bolt.  Is all that solved by getting the updated breech plug from Randy?  (How much are they?)  Apparently the cabelas gun already has these upgrades.

Decisions... decisions...

Thanks in advance for the help!!

[EC]

I don't know about the breech plug questions you raised, but I was at Cabela's the other day and pulled one their BP-only Savages down from the rack to look it over.  I noticed 2 things, one good and one not.  First, the camo composite stock seems quite solid and the fore end is stiff, no "give" to the one I held.  It has an excellent recoil pad, BTW.

 But the negative impression for me was that the rifle is ungainly, due to it's length.  The extra 2" of barrel just adds to an already-long rifle. (due to the long action -- at least compared to a plunger-action gun).  So for someone like me who values handiness over the velocity gain of the extra barrel length, I'd not get Cabela's version.

Regarding your barrel question:  I don't know this other than from reading about it, but the barrels on the Cabela version won't fit a regular Savage Smokeless and visa-versa --- if so then swapping barrels is not an option.

[tondar15]

Yeah the cabelas is supposedly large shank while the MLII is small shank?

Anyway, If I got the MLII I wouldn't swap the barrel with a cabelas BP.  I would end up getting a Pac-Nor or similar.  I currently have a Traditions with a 28" barrel that I don't mind carrying at all.  But you're probably right, an MLII with a 28" barrel vs. my tranditions the Savage would probably be longer and might be a problem.

[doegirl]

I must ask, why would you go with a PacNor barrel if all you are limited to is BP subs

[tondar15]

shooting sabotless doesn't require one to use smokeless powder.  That applies if I go with a .45 cal barrel.  I could get a .50 cal barrel and continue to use sabots and just know I have a higher quality barrel with a length optimized for BP subs.

[RandyWakeman]

This should hopefully cover your questions about the Cabela's version:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/savage_10ML-BP.htm