The New MSR 15 Recon: A Sub-MOA Savage AR in .223 Wylde – Full Review.

For more information, visit https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/msr15recon.

To purchase a Savage MSR rifle on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Savage%20MSR.

Savage has now broken into what is currently the largest segment of the rifle market, bringing along their 123 years of rifle-making history into its MSR (modern sporting rifle) line of AR-style rifles. I was understandably eager to see how they could impact this established market in a state of change.

Savage has brought several rifle/caliber choices to market, with the MSR class. They open with the .223 Wylde Patrol priced at an MSRP of $852, intended as the “entry level” gun of the line (although it has many upgrades and features that set it apart from other ARs classed that way, and costs more accordingly). The next step up from that is the Recon at an MSRP of $999, which has even more improved features. Both guns are based on the traditional direct-gas-impingement AR platform.

The new MSR 15 Recon in .223 Wylde from Savage is priced at an MSRP of $999 and offers a lot of interesting enhancements and upgrades over a standard AR. Image courtesy of manufacturer.

The next two in the lineup are the MSR 10 Hunter in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor at $1,481 MSRP and the MSR 10 Long Range at $2,284 and also in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Both are available in either 308 Win. or 6.5 Creedmoor.  As the name suggests, the Hunter is a rifle that Savage would like you to carry into the woods for game-getting. The Long Range is geared up for the target shooter and big-bore AR enthusiast. Their choice of calibers will fit well in its intended role.

The Blackhawk pistol grip on the Recon is oversized for an enhanced grip with the firing hand.

SPECS

• Chambering: .223 Wylde
• Barrel: 16.125 inches
• OA Length: 33.5 – 36.75 inches
• Weight: 7 pounds
• Stock: Axiom collapsible stock
• Sights: Flip-up Blackhawk
• Action: Direct gas impingement
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 30+1
• MSRP: $999

Waiting On My Box

I did some quick research while waiting on my test rifle to arrive. I discovered that the Recon is an upgrade on the MSR 15 Patrol platform. These upgrades are good looking and also great functioning. The Recon receiver is a custom forged upper/lower set-up while the MSR 15 Patrol features a traditional mil-spec upper and lower receiver. The trigger is upgraded to the AR Blaze single-stage duty trigger (see our full review of the Blaze here: https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/trigger-technology-blackhawks-new-blaze-trigger-ar-15-rifles/) on the Recon over the standard mil-spec trigger on the Patrol. It is boron coated and does not require lubrication.

The custom forged lower receiver is a real eye catcher. Controls are standard AR. The rifle comes standard with the single-stage Blackhawk Blaze trigger.

The barrel for both the Recon and Patrol are both 16.125 inches and chambered for .223 Wylde (more on that in a moment). The barrel itself is hidden gem from Savage; it looks like a standard 16-inch barrel threaded and topped off with an A2-style muzzle brake/flash suppressor, but the secret sauce is something that is referred to as 5R rifling. 5R is an improvement over conventional rifling, achieved by changing the shape and configuration of the lands and grooves. 5R is an upgrade in two ways: the number of lands and grooves is an odd number, and the lands and grooves themselves are sloped.

The rifle proved to be a real performer on the range for the author, running a lot of ammo and doing quite well downrange.

This configuration provides a couple of advantages. With the lands opposite of the grooves, the bullet is not squeezed on opposite sides, keeping the bullet uniform while traveling the barrel, and thus adding to its accuracy. The slope of the lands allows the barrel to be cleaned easily and more effectively, as these corners tend to store lead and copper from shooting, which can cause accuracy issues over time.  The barrel has been treated with Melonite. Without getting too technical, Melonite is a treatment for metal that makes the surface harder than chrome and very slick.

Whereas the Patrol has a Blackhawk handguard and fixed front sight unit, the Recon has a free-floated Midwest Industries M-LOK handguard with a flip-up front sight. This mates up with a Blackhawk flip-up rear sight unit on the flat-topped upper receiver. The top of the handguard has a single, long strip of Picatinny rail while side and bottom rail sections can be added as needed. Whereas the Patrol does not have a forward assist button in the housing, the Recon comes standard with a fully functional forward assist unit. I personally like having one on my rifles and the Recon has it.

Unboxing

When the Recon arrived, I took it out for the usual look-over. The first thing I noticed was that the lower receiver was not of standard fare. This was not billet but a forged lower with a custom design that looked like a billet receiver. This custom piece really set off the gun with its lines.

The rifle’s lower receiver has a distinctive and attractive look. Note the integral, oversized triggerguard.

The pistol grip and six-position buttstock were from Blackhawk, and both felt solid and comfortable. The Blackhawk stock was well-padded and soaked up recoil admirably. The stock has a honeycomb pad on the end that is light and comfortable to mount. The pull is adjusted by depressing a lever at the front of the stock. The pistol grip was also branded Blackhawk, and seemed a bit oversized. With an extended backstrap, it turned out to be quite comfortable.

All the controls seemed to be standard, until I tried the trigger. The Recon’s Blaze trigger was quite impressive: Short, crisp and easy to pull. My trigger pull gauge said the trigger broke consistently at 3 pounds, 15 ounces, while my calipers indicated that it traveled .11 of an inch, total. This is a great trigger, especially considering that I expected to find some special match trigger with endless set screws and chassis. I was pleased both by the trigger’s feel and its standard-looking parts, right down to the full-mass hammer.

The handguard is a Midwest Industries free-floated M-LOK unit with a top strip of Picatinny rail. The barrel is Melonite coated.

The sights are Blackhawk flip-up front and rear, as noted above. The M-LOK handguard was smooth and firmly-mounted via the barrel nut mount, with locking fingers on either side of the rear of the handguard extending to either side of the upper receiver. Accessories can be mounted on the full-length rail on top of the handguard, and additional Picatinny mounts can be affixed, if you are into that sort of thing. My example did not come with any additional rail sections.

Now, to get technical … . The Melonite on the rifle is applied in a salt bath ferritic nitrocarburizing. This mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon are simultaneously forced into the steel that is being treated. They bind and produce a single layer that impregnates the steel deeper than bluing or chroming. It becomes anywhere from a Rockwell Hardness of 55 to 65. All of this and it only adds .0005-inches of thickness to treated metals.

The author ran the rifle with a Bushnell Elite Tactical optic. Note the functional forward assist assembly.

The twist rate of the Recon is 1:8, meaning simply that for every eight inches of barrel length the bullet will spin one full rotation. This will generally mean the sweet spot for bullet weight will be 62 gr-77 gr.  A 1:9 twist rate would work well for a lighter weight like a 55 grain. A 1:7 twist would work great in a gun you were shooting 80 gr bullets in. The twist rate will not dictate what you can shoot but rather what will shoot most accurately in your rifle.

We pause for a brief discussion of .223 Rem., 5.56 NATO & .223 Wylde. The .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO chambers have slightly different dimensions, and a 5.56 can shoot a .223 Remington safely while a .223 will chamber a 5.56 round but the pressure can make it unsafe. Confused yet?

Bill Wylde of Greenup, Illinois, solved this confusion by introducing the .223 Wylde chamber. The chamber has the external dimensions and lead angle of the military 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the 0.2240-inch free bore diameter of the .223 Remington cartridge. This allows a barrel to safely shoot safely both the .223 and 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition while also increasing accuracy potential across the range of potential pressures.

A Great Optic

My sample rifle came with an Elite Tactical SMRS (Short Midrange Rifle 1-6.5x24mm) from Bushnell, mounted on a Weaver mount.  This second focal plane scope is a great choice for any .223 rifle, with the 1-6X magnification working from close-up all the way out to the effective distance of the bullet. The folding ThrowDown PCL (power change lever) makes quick magnification changes easy. The mil-based illuminated BTR-2 reticle is fast and intuitive, and gives the shooter holdovers. The T-Lok locking target turrets allow secure, repeatable adjustments with simple and robust knobs. This is not included with the rifle out of the box, but makes a great addition.

The sample rifle came with an Elite Tactical SMRS (Short Midrange Rifle 1-6.5x24mm) from Bushnell, mounted on a Weaver mount.

On the Range

The author found that the Recon shot well across the board, but really preferred heavier bullet weights.

I was in the middle of some spring training when I took the Recon to the range, and had the occasion to show the gun off to some of the local LE snipers. They all commented on the trigger and how well it performed without being some finicky custom job. The consensus was that the barrel was the real magic. I quickly found that this gun prefers heavy bullets in its diet. Its performance went from “good” to “WOW” upon transitioning from a 55 gr. to a 68 gr. round. I eventually went up to a 75 gr. bullet during my bench testing. The 55 grain did not perform badly so much as the heavier grain rounds performed spectacularly, and when shooting across 100 yards the difference was simply nice. However, reaching out past 100 yards, the weight of the round begins to make a difference in a meaningful way.

I got the rifle quite hot over the course of my testing and the point of aim would move some from a cold barrel to a hot barrel, but there were no issue beyond what one normally sees in all guns as they heat up.

I had no issues from the gun in terms of reliability. I did put some oil on the bolt as it looked a little dry, but not because of a malfunction. Applying the oil allowed me to get a good look at the bolt and identify it as an M16 bolt. I tested this by putting the Savage upper on an M16 lower I have; it delivered full auto, as expected.

A Modern Sporting Rifle

Without question, this rifle is built for serious purposes. Great choices were made when the plans for this rifle were laid, and those plans were executed well. In my personal opinion, there is just one problem with this rifle: Trump is POTUS, and with the 2^nd Amendment appearing safe for now, the market has moved. Inventory levels are high and prices are in decline. The reality is that Savage may have a hard time competing with the Recon’s current retail price. I feel certain that adjustments will come quickly, and this will become a forgotten problem.

For more information, visit https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/msr15recon.

To purchase a Savage MSR rifle on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Savage%20MSR.