Savage Impulse: the All-American Straight-Pull rifle
The Savage Impulse straight-pull rifle offers all the features that made the Savage Arms bolt-action rifles so widely popular. Now in a new, fast-cycling platform
Savage Arms introduces a new class of product in 2021 with the launch of the Impulse straight-pull action rifle.
Far from being “just another” take on the classic concept of straight-pull rifle – which has been around for ages – the Savage Impulse rifle is a unique platform, blending most of the features that made Savage rifles popular on the American and global hunting, sport shooting and law enforcement markets with an innovative action called Hexlock.
The Hexlock action consists in a standard straight-pull bolt with ball bearings replacing your classic locking lugs; more specifically, six massive, hardened steel ball bearings are placed in seats at the front of the bolt, and lock it in place inside the receiver’s barrel extension.
When a round is fired, pressure increase causes the Hexlock’s hold to tightens, keeping the ball bearings firmly pushed within the barrel extension and making sure that there can be no rearward movement.
Only once the bullet has left the barrel will the pressure subside, allowing the action to be manually cycled. The smooth bolt throw allows a shooter to cycle rounds intuitively, without the need for the standard four changes-of-direction common to a conventional bolt’s path-of-travel.
Savage Impulse Straight-Pull "Big Game" rifle
The Savage Impulse straight-pull rifle is launched in three different variants.
The Savage Impulse Hog Hunter rifle is built around an OD green stock, features a 18” / 45,7 cm, 20” / 50,8 cm or 24” / 61 cm heavy fluted barrel and a matte black receiver, and is available in .308 Winchester / 7.62x51mm, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum.
The Savage Impulse Big Game rifle comes with a KUIU Verde 2.0 camo stock and a hazel green Cerakote finish receiver, a Cerakote-finished fluted barrel, and in the same calibers as the Hog Hunter model, plus .243 Winchester and .300 Winchester Short Magnum. The Impulse Big Game is available with 22” or 24” barrels.
Last, the Savage Impulse Predator rifle features a Mossy Oak Terra Gila camo stock, a matte black receiver and 20” Medium Contour barrel, and is available in .22-250 Remington, .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor.
All models feed through detachable box magazines: the Hog Hunter and Big Game magazines hold four rounds in standard calibers, two rounds in short magnum calibers and three rounds in magnum calibers; the Impulse Predator model offers a capacity of ten rounds in all available chamberings.
Savage Impulse Straight-Pull "Predator" rifle
When every second counts, the Savage Arms Impulse reduces split times and allows for a shooter to manipulate the bolt without losing their cheek weld. The bolt travels out and back and shooters don’t have to take their eyes off the target. This increase in speed is essential to making effective follow-up shots.
“Impulse will redefine the way you think about straight-pull rifles» said Al Kasper, President and CEO of Savage Arms.
“We’ve studied more than a century’s worth of straight-pull actions and kept running up against the same conundrum; straight pull actions are fast, but they don’t inspire confidence. Speed means nothing if you can’t hit what you’re aiming at. IMPULSE changes that. We’ve brought our tradition of accuracy into the mix to make the fastest, most accurate straight-pull rifles ever built.»
All the Savage Arms Impulse rifles feature a cylindrical bolt that’s composed of self-contained modular subassemblies for a simple and quick toolless disassembly and assembly.
Even more interestingly, the rotary handle is multi-position and ambidextrous: the user can install it at any angle according to his or her needs and preferences, and either on the right or the left side, making the Impulse rifles easily convertible to left-handed or right-handed operation. The cocking handle also serves as the security key for the gun.
The cylindrical bolt is hosted in a machined aluminum receiver that features an integral top MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for optics; the barrel itself – a carbon steel barrel on all variants, with a 5/8-24” muzzle thread – is secured to the receiver via Savage’s proven four-bolt barrel clamp with integral lock, providing easy disassembly and repeatable zero.
All the variants in the new Impulse line of rifles also feature Savage’s AccuStock system – a rigid aluminum rail system firmly embedded in the synthetic stock throughout the forend, engaging the action three-dimensionally along its entire length – and the AccuFit system, using a combination of interchangeable comb risers and length-of-pull inserts to create a custom fit for any shooter.
Also featured is Savage’s AccuTrigger, externally adjustable to the user’s preferred weight without disassembly, offering a light, clean pull with no creep and preventing the firearm from discharging if jarred or dropped.
Other features of the Impulse rifles, adding to its ambidextrous operation, include a top tang safety, a single-step quick bolt release button, and a single-step side bolt release lever with no manipulation required on bolt insertion.
No international pricing has been announced at this time.
Read the available documentation:
Savage Impulse Brochure (short)
Savage Impulse Brochure (full)
Savage Impulse Big Game data sheet
Savage Impulse Predator data sheet
Savage Impulse Hog Hunter data sheet
