Savage Impulse Rifles

Savage holds a firm spot on the rifle market for low-priced, highly accurate bolt-action rifles. With the introduction of the Impulse series, they moved up a few notches to the realm of higher priced, high end, high quality long guns. The Impulse runs a wide gamut of calibers beginning with the .22-250, a favorite cartridge for coyote and other predator hunters to the .338 Lapua Magnum, a powerful caliber suitable for any North American big game and a cartridge frequently found on African safaris.

The barrel lengths, weight and overall dimensions of the Savage Impulse are impressive. The Impulse is available in the base model, the Predator, Elite Precision, Mountain Hunter, and Big Game versions. The base model is the least expensive, while the Mountain Hunter is about double the price of the base Impulse.

You’ll find traditional bolt-action model Savage designs, perforated high-impact synthetic stock models with external box magazines, and barrel lengths from 18 to 26-inches in most models, with the Elite Precision sporting an extended 30-inch barrel.

Savage created a straight pull bolt for the Impulse. It is a marvel of engineering with a six-ball bearing design that moves easily to chamber cartridges. Savage designed a system they call the Hexlock that utilizes a plunger to force the six ball bearings into a recess in the barrel extension when the bolt is closed. When the bolt is pulled or the quick release bolt button is pushed the bearings retract and the bolt cycles. It’s not an entirely new design, but it works well on the Impulse.

The bolt is also ambidextrous, meaning you can have the bolt handle on the left if you’re left-handed or in the traditional position if you’re right-handed. The ejection port stays on the right so shooting the Impulse in left-handed configuration might seem a little strange at first. The bolt works well with longer cartridges like the .338 Lapua Magnum or with shorter calibers like the .243 Winchester, .22-250 Remington or the 6.5 Creedmoor and PRC.

Savage even allowed for personal preference on the bolt handle. They threaded the bolt handle and a one-quarter inch Allen wrench is all you need to remove and replace the factory bolt handle with your choice.

• Impulse – This is the base model with barrel lengths from 18 to 22-inches and sold at the lower end of the scale. A heavier rifle weighing between 8.4 and 9.1 pounds depending on caliber, it has an internal magazine with capacities ranging from two to four rounds. It includes a Picatinny optics rail and a synthetic stock.
• Predator -The Impulse predator is available in two of the most popular predator cartridges, the .22-250 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor. Each has an ample 10-round external magazine. The .22-250 has a 1:12-inch twist and the Creedmoor an even tighter twist at 1:8. They’re both excellent for distant shots.
• Elite Precision – This is a heavy hitter with barrel lengths of 26 and 30-inches. Chambered in 6.5 PRC, .308, .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Magnum these are heavy rifles weighing over 13 pounds each. These are long distance specialty rifles and are competition grade.
• Mountain Hunter -Designed to be carried on long stalking hunts, the weight on these rifles varies from 7.14 to 7.44 pounds. They are available in popular big game calibers 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester, .300 Win Short Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 PRC, 7mm PRC, .270, 28 Nosler and the venerable .30—06.
• Big Game – A step up from the standard Impulse, the Big Game comes in barrel lengths of 22 to 24 inches, weighs a hefty 8.8 pounds in all models and comes in calibers ranging from .243 to .300 Win Mag.