Straight-Pull Sensation: Savage Impulse Big Game Rifle It’s fast. It’s accurate. It’s modular. It’s much more affordable than its closest competitors. Could
Savage be turning the straight-pull action into the Superman of the hunting world, or is this misplaced hype? Guns.com goes in-depth with the new Savage One of the most appealing aspects of straight-pull rifles like the Impulse is the ability for the hunter to swap the bolt from right to left and change out barrels and bolt heads for caliber modularity. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com) Based in Westfield, Massachusetts, Savage Arms introduced its straight-pull bolt-action Impulse rifle without the usual fanfare of the industry’s SHOT Show, canceled amid the turmoil of the Covid-era. Still, the rifle’s launch has created exceptional hubbub as the only currently produced, American-made, straight-pull centerfire rifle.
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.
Savage Arms Impulse Rifle - First Look
Savage introduces a must-shoot straight-pull rifle: the Impulse. January 05, 2021 By Joe Kurtenbach
When a company has been around for more than 125 years, there are not a lot of opportunities for “firsts.” However, Savage Arms (savagearms.com) of Westfield, Massachusetts, has achieved just that with its introduction of an American-made straight-pull rifle. Dubbed “Impulse,” Savage hopes to combine the renowned speed and smooth operation afforded by a straight-pull action with the accuracy, safety and reliability that characterizes the gunmaker’s flagship Model 10 and 110 bolt-action rifles. Coming from Savage, American sportsmen can also expect that the Impulse will be competitively priced (MSRPs starting from $1,379).