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Savage Impulse

So much for their planned "big bang" fervor at (virtual) SHOT Show this year...
 
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I was just thinking like a week ago why no one makes a straight pull bolt besides Blaser and Heym. Especially with the popularity of PRS style comps, it would make sense for a custom manufacturer to make one. Surprised Savage stepped up, but this looks pretty slick. Hopefully they don't do the typical savage thing and make it another special inlet and barrel thread design. Also, I have no problem with the Accutrigger. I have had multiple Savages and don't have any complaints about it.

And don't forget the Browning Maral. Don't know if it's good, bad, or indifferent ... just saying it's out there: https://en.browning.eu/rifles-straight-pull.shtml
 
Asking because I don’t know, but should there be any concern about the small locking balls bearing surface to the receiver overtime creating dimples and possibly changing headspace I mean I am sure the balls are hardened as well as the receiver just a thought?

My thoughts as well. Many point forces.

Cool to see someone doing something “different “ though.
 
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I wouldn't worry. K-31's have been around over a hundred dred years, and I haven't heard of one of those wearing out.
That's still basically a turn bolt rifle though. Square locking lugs and all, it's just the op rod does the turning for you. Not much to wear out.
 
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My thoughts as well. Many point forces.

Cool to see someone doing something “different “ though.

Spherical contact against slightly larger circular cutout means the point contact very quickly spreads out to much higher contact area, and should be well within the elastic limit of the material. It’s not a problem with the right materials - I assume they’re using standard hardened bearing balls.
 
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That's still basically a turn bolt rifle though. Square locking lugs and all, it's just the op rod does the turning for you. Not much to wear out.
I was referring to the ball bearings in the sliding sleeve of the bolt on the K-31...
 
It's been a long time since I took my K31 bolt apart but I don't remember any ball bearings? Just a non rotating bolt face surrounded by the sleeve with the lugs, turned by the helical cam groove. It's possible I forgot something though..
 
It's been a long time since I took my K31 bolt apart but I don't remember any ball bearings? Just a non rotating bolt face surrounded by the sleeve with the lugs, turned by the helical cam groove. It's possible I forgot something though..
I only took apart the bolt once on the two I have. Once. 😂 Never again. But I recall the ball bearings, in a turned groove, and sliding sleeve, that forced the ball bearings into the groove, so the bolt could unlock. The "straight pull" handle/rod, just unlocked the sleeve.

It's been a few years, but I remember taking it apart, getting a call that had me flying out of the country on short notice, and coming back home two weeks later, staring at a zip lock bag of bolt parts thinking "How TF did this thing go together?".

Like I said, never again. 😂
 
I hope this becomes a reality and works as well as my R93. I love my R93, I just wish I could get a M24 profile 26” 6.5 cm barrel for it and a KRG-B or some chassis stock for it. It has put all my other hunting rifles in the safe since I got it in 2001. It would easily become my new favorite target rifle if I could get a barrel and stock. Perhaps Savage will make a product that will offer these options.
 
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I hope this becomes a reality and works as well as my R93. I love my R93, I just wish I could get a M24 profile 26” 6.5 cm barrel for it and a KRG-B or some chassis stock for it. It has put all my other hunting rifles in the safe since I got it in 2001. It would easily become my new favorite target rifle if I could get a barrel and stock. Perhaps Savage will make a product that will offer these options.
If Savage doesn't have that barrel as one of their offerings, it looks like they're keeping the same kind of barrel-nut prefits as their other rifles meaning you could probably order exactly the barrel you wanted from Shilen, Criterion, or others.
 
You know, with all the rifles being made capable of taking pre-fits, it makes me wonder why some of the big manufacturers have not gone direct-to-market sales.

As in, go to their website, select what you want, check out and make payment, and the rifle is delivered to your FFL for pick up. Cut out the 3 big distributor houses, lower price point, increase profit margin. I mean, hell, BMW/MINI does it from halfway around the world.

Hell, I could even see a niche market for an FFL verification/validation business to service the broader industry (think credit score type business, that accepts some liability for authorization of approved FFL shipments) that holds copies of verified FFLs.

Hmmm.....
 
Hi,

Well I do not count because we are not a big manufacturer but we are going that exact route as I said it a couple years ago that IMO it is the future of the industry.

There is pretty much no distributor nor dealer that will ever know more about my product than my Team, nor want to sell my product more than my Team.

With forums, social media, video hostings, etc etc it is pretty easy for a manufacturer to reach a vast audience as to where they once required "stocking dealers" all over the place for people to put their hands on the products.

Sincerely,
Theis
 
Interesting set up. I own several blasers, so am intrigued.
Other brands listed have done it before, including anschutz and don't forget about the Merkel Helix.
 
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If Savage doesn't have that barrel as one of their offerings, it looks like they're keeping the same kind of barrel-nut prefits as their other rifles meaning you could probably order exactly the barrel you wanted from Shilen, Criterion, or others.

It all depends on what the Hexlock bearings expand out into to lock the bolt and seal the breech; the barrel, as the R93, or the receiver. From watching the video, it looks like it might be the receiver which would allow prefit barrels to work and work even better if they are the standard Savage small shank, at least with a barrel nut. Just think of all the options if this is true. It’s one thing that holds the R93 back in the US besides cost; the radial recess that the collet expands out into to seal the breach and lock the bolt, is cut into each barrel. If this thing is as good as it looks, I’ll be selling some guns to downsize and fund it. I love straight pulls.

For now, anyone know who makes a target barrel for a R93 and a chassis?
 
I have two R8's, the design does not lend itself to being a PRS type rifle, as the magazine capacity is limited by the fact that the trigger is below the magazine and the trigger and magazine are one unit. Unless you have the finances to buy like 8 magazine trigger units at $300 each.

The R93 was even less tacticool, though there was the LRS2 and CISM versions that included an integral magazine.

I am really excited about this, it looks like it borrowed heavily from the Fortner design of the Anshcutz and Heym SR30. I would guess that Fortner's patents were never registered in the USA or that Savage has paid Fortner (or his Estate) for the rights.
 
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One video says the 20MOA rail is machined into the aluminum receiver. Aluminum receiver? So do the hex lock bearings engage in a steel ring or barrel extension? Just trying to wrap my head around this. At that price might be worth at least playing around with one. I don’t mind accutriggers so ok with that part and looks like it actually throws brass out of the side with some force
 
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What is going on here in red? I know nothing about straight pull, but looking at this, looks like three screws going through the barrel tenon.
 

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They hold what is basically a barrel extension.
Think that dashes our hopes of their already popular small shank threading? Or would the barrel thread into the extension? And the extension is a replaceable part in case damage occurs to it and not the action it self?
 
Think that dashes our hopes of their already popular small shank threading? Or would the barrel thread into the extension? And the extension is a replaceable part in case damage occurs to it and not the action it self?
Looks like the barrel threads into the extension and the nut locks it.
 
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I just watched the video again for like the 5th time. I know it's hard to tell, but the barrel/action doesn't look like any other size than what they typically offer.
Only way I am going to buy one though is if it drops into already common savage inletted chassis and stocks. If it utilizes their common small shank barrels.
Bonus if I can swap out their trigger with common aftermarket triggers. (I hate the feel of the blade in the trigger.)

Another video I located.
 
I just watched the video again for like the 5th time. I know it's hard to tell, but the barrel/action doesn't look like any other size than what they typically offer.
Only way I am going to buy one though is if it drops into already common savage inletted chassis and stocks. If it utilizes their common small shank barrels.
Bonus if I can swap out their trigger with common aftermarket triggers. (I hate the feel of the blade in the trigger.)

Another video I located.


Looks like the same stock inlet - the same screw spacing at least - but a different trigger mechanism, and as above probably a different barrel.
 
Meh.

I'd have been happy if Savage would have spent a little of their R&D budget on (in order) reliable feeding from factory magazines, reliable ejection and extraction out of the box that doesn't drop shorter cases into the ejection port, and tweaking the bolt geometry that contributes to heavy bolt lift on cocking.

Every 10/110 rifle I've owned (a half dozen now?) has shot very well for a "cheap" rifle but OH MAH GAWD the frustrations of a brand new rifle not feeding or ejecting worth a damn...
 
You know, with all the rifles being made capable of taking pre-fits, it makes me wonder why some of the big manufacturers have not gone direct-to-market sales.

As in, go to their website, select what you want, check out and make payment, and the rifle is delivered to your FFL for pick up. Cut out the 3 big distributor houses, lower price point, increase profit margin. I mean, hell, BMW/MINI does it from halfway around the world.

Hell, I could even see a niche market for an FFL verification/validation business to service the broader industry (think credit score type business, that accepts some liability for authorization of approved FFL shipments) that holds copies of verified FFLs.

Hmmm.....
Many businesses are moving that direction.
 
Meh.
Every 10/110 rifle I've owned (a half dozen now?) has shot very well for a "cheap" rifle but OH MAH GAWD the frustrations of a brand new rifle not feeding or ejecting worth a damn...
I've had two Savage rifles, and both shot like laser beams. I currently have the 110 Tactical 24" barrel. I apparently never experienced any of the negative issues that others have. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
 
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The Heym SR30 and Anschutz Fortner are both Fortner designs. The Lynx is a copy of the Swiss K-31 (though much improved).

This Savage looks like it fixes the problems with the Fortners, and at an American price point $1300.

What are the problems with the Fortners?
 
I wouldn't worry. K-31's have been around over a hundred dred years, and I haven't heard of one of those wearing out.
Not quite, but getting close, K 31 was first fielded I think in 1933, design standardized in 1931, So really around for only 87 years. One of my favorite milsurp rifles, I have six, along with an earlier 1911 Schmit RUbin
 
It's been a long time since I took my K31 bolt apart but I don't remember any ball bearings? Just a non rotating bolt face surrounded by the sleeve with the lugs, turned by the helical cam groove. It's possible I forgot something though..
I have six of these, plus a 1911 Schmit Rubin and have never seen any ball bearings. You described it pretty well, functions much like a M1, or AR15 for that matter, just manually operated instead of gas powered.
 
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Personally, I don't disagree. But I would imagine they had some contractual agreements with media outlets, etc.

The videos are back up. Looks like it will take 10/110 barrels.

This can be a great rifle. I will likely be in for a predator when they become available. I have been waiting for a good straight pull that wasn’t 3500 dollars.
 
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K props to savage for continuing to evolve. Slick design
 
Excuse my ignorance but can someone summarize the reasons for the less than sterling reputation of Savage? Has there been lots of past reliability issues?
 
Excuse my ignorance but can someone summarize the reasons for the less than sterling reputation of Savage? Has there been lots of past reliability issues?
short answer yes

extractors

poor bolt feel as far as running it. larger clearances and it just is sticky, binds, and doesnt run as smooth especially compared to the customs

but...you can see a lot of inspiration in actions like zermatt (especially) and arc/ultimatum

take whats good. fix the complaints.
 
Excuse my ignorance but can someone summarize the reasons for the less than sterling reputation of Savage? Has there been lots of past reliability issues?

As mentioned...poor ejection, poor extraction, sloppy bolt fit, heavy bolt lift, unreliable feeding.

Some of these issues are due to design, but many of these issues could be fairly easily addressed with manufacturing tweaks (slight change to cocking ramp geometry on bolt to alleviate bolt lift, for example)...but to date have not.

For the "half a box o' shells each year to get ready for deer season" they're fine, for a square range recreational shooter who can live with occasional misfeeds or dropping cases into action they're fine...but many of us feel a rifle that has been made in some variant for 4+ decades should not need aftermarket parts straight out of the box to function properly.

They're accurate rifles out of the box, but failure to improve how they run is frustrating.
 
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