Many American hunters may wonder why they should try a straight-pull bolt action. Getting hands-on experience with the Impulse proved the benefits. The action is fast and reliable, and the rifle puts out excellent accuracy. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
A conventional bolt action uses four motions to cycle the action – lifting up, pulling back, pushing forward, and rotating down. Meanwhile, a straight-pull bolt action does just what its name suggests – drawing directly rearward and pushing forward in two quick in-line movements.
Q: How does the bolt function? Is it safe?
Savage uses what they call Hexlock, a locking mechanism that uses ball bearings to secure the bolt. When the Impulse’s bolt handle is closed, six solid ball bearings are forced outward into locking recesses machined into the barrel extension. When a round is fired, the ball bearings tighten relative to the pressure increase, providing a robust and secure lockup.