Editor’s note: GunsAmerica contributor Austin Van Gilder had a chance to shoot the new IMPULSE at an industry event last month. Check out his first impressions HERE.
WESTFIELD, Massachusetts – January 05, 2021 – Savage Arms, makers of the most trusted hunting and target rifles in the United States, is proud to introduce IMPULSE. The new American-made rifles feature a unique straight-pull action that refines the basic function of the conventional bolt into one fast and intuitive movement. The key to IMPULSE’s lightning-fast functionality is the new action, which is built around Hexlock, a game-changing lockup that allows for IMPULSE’s reliability, speed, safety and accuracy.
“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.”
IMPULSE rifles are built for speed. 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. When every second counts, 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.
SEE ALSO: New Savage Impulse Straight Pull Rifle – First Look
At the heart of IMPULSE’s bolt is Hexlock. Six hardened steel bearings lock the bolt in place inside the receiver’s barrel extension. As pressure increases, Hexlock’s hold tightens, ensuring that there can be no rearward movement of the bolt. Once the round has left the barrel, the pressure subsides, and the action can safely open again with the straight pull of the bolt handle.
In addition to IMPULSE’s new features, these rifles draw upon decades of Savage innovation. Each model is equipped with AccuStock®, Accufit®, and AccuTrigger®.
IMPULSE is available in three model variations:
IMPULSE Big Game: From the versatility of .243 WIN to stopping power of 300 Win Mag, IMPULSE Big Game is ready for one-shot drops and fast follow-ups.
IMPULSE Predator: From the speed of 22-250 REM. to the do-it-all potential of 6.5 Creedmoor, IMPULSE Predator provides an advantage to anyone hunting at the top of the food chain.
IMPULSE Hog Hunter: From the ready availability of .308 to the long-range reach of 300 Win Mag, IMPULSE Hog Hunter offers efficient pest control in a variety of proven .30 caliber chamberings.
About Savage
Headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts, Savage has been producing firearms for more than 125 years. Savage is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting, competition and targeting shooting centerfire and rimfire rifles, and shotguns. Their firearms are best known for accuracy, performance and innovation. The entrepreneurial spirit that originally defined the company is still evident in its ongoing focus on continuous innovation, craftsmanship, quality and service. Learn more at www.savagearms.com.
Obviously, this rifle is intended for those who can not shoot well enough to take advantage of the 270 Winchester’s superior ballistics. That’s why they are not even bothering to release it in 270 Win.
Odd that someone thought that straight-pull rifles didn’t foster confidence in accuracy since the Schmidt Rubin rifles are considered at the top of accuracy for military rifles.
Or was is only the Swiss who could get it right?
What’s the point of a quick following shot when the first shot is the one that counts?
I think it would be a good idea for your reviews to stat the MSRP in the first paragraph of the article. All the other information about them firearm is great, but if the reader can’t afford it, why bother. I the price isn’t mentioned until the end, or at all, the whole thing becomes nothing but an advertisement for the gun.
I don’t see a price in the article ? went to the link to find it……
Doesn’t matter, way too many moving parts in that bolt to buy my confidence.
Hmmm… the Swiss used straight pull bolt guns in their military for years from 1889 through the early 60s (for non-front-line troops — started replacing in 1958 for front-line). There were other military straight-pulls in the early 1900s also, notably the 1886-1945 Austro-Hungarian Mannlichers. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_straight_pull_rifles for more). I have a K31, and it’s a work of art for a military rifle of the era. A friend did look at it and say he didn’t trust it though, because he couldn’t see how the bolt locked! Same friend has a .308 Browning semi-auto rifle. Told him he couldn’t see how it locked but had no problem with it, no real difference except the K31 STAYED LOCKED until the bolt was pulled — no different than if he had to manually charge the Browning or even an AR15 — locking mechanism was similar.
Wow. As someone who’s eyes are cross dominant, and thus shoots lefty, I gotta say I think the bigger(or equally big) story here is the way you can switch the bolt from the right side to the left. I always question whether I should buy a left handed bolt gun(or AR for that matter), or just a “regular” one, but with this I don’t have to worry about that. I don’t have to buy an entire left handed rifle just to find out if I like it or not.
I’d like to see other companies come out with something like this, particular a precision type bolt gun, assuming they can’t get around the patents.