Savage Days

In the last few years, Viking Arms, who are a major player in the UK shooting scene, have upped their game considerably with a new and exciting approach to how they interface with the gun trade, shooting journalists, and most importantly, Joe Public.

Friendly face
This friendly face approach, along with their well-trained and experienced staff, has paid dividends. One highlight of their year was to showcase their products (new and old) on their home turf in Yorkshire.

For the last two years, the new venue has been the West London Shooting School. Aimed exclusively at the trade and journalists, we could go hands and trigger fingers on, with guns, ammo, and optics. Overall, a good event and one I always look forward to. The only difference with the 2023 ‘show & tell’, was the announcement that they had now acquired Savage Arms, and their next showcase would revolve around this brand exclusively.

Cherry picking
Savage needs little introduction, as they were founded in 1894 and have gone from strength to strength ever since. Their line-up includes rimfire and centrefire rifles, handguns, and shotguns. Guns aside, they are noted for their AccuTrigger system, which is both easily adjustable and user-safe, along with their later AccuStock bedding and AccuFit adjustment systems. And let’s not forget their reputation for accuracy, which has been appreciated by many shooters wanting top performance.

Their range is massive, and for the UK market, stocking it all represents an investment that might never see fruition, a mistake that others have made in the past. Several British importers have handled them over the years, with varying degrees of success. Now Viking has taken up the torch and from their past record, I feel they’ve adopted the right approach and should do well.

Initially, they have selected five rifles in a small choice of calibres, all aimed at the needs of precision shooting, be it on paper and steel, or hunting. This has also filtered down to the rimfire community, with a slick hi-spec bolt-gun in all the numbers. All of which show Savage’s classic tang-mounted safety catch.

West side hospitality
The West London Shooting School needs little introduction. One of the top shotgun grounds in the UK that offers it all, including three full-bore rifle ranges out to 100 and 200 yards, with fully covered firing points and instruction. We rolled up for a bacon roll and coffee before the start and had an excellent lunch at halftime. Plus, it’s great to catch up with old friends too.

The event was well run as usual, and Viking’s Sporting Division Manager, Andy Norris, hosted the event with his combination of wry humour, knowledge, and efficiency. The day went with a bang. He announced that there would be some fun on the running boar and a rather unusual competition where you could win a Leupold rangefinder. More on that later. On that point, all rifles used that brand of optics which Viking also distributes, along with Lapua Match ammo.

The main event
So, onto the hardware. For centrefire rifles, Savage uses their time-proven 110 action for all their models (hunting or target). Not new, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the 110 certainly ain’t broke! Given Viking’s choices and the roles they would play, there was not a single wood-stocked rifle, with the majority wearing chassis systems, including the rimfire.

Most exciting for me was the fact that Savage now produces a straight-pull action called the Impulse. Which, as a push-pull fan, I have been dying to get my hands on for some time.

Two choices, one rifle
First up - the Elite Precision Rifle series. Two options, but essentially the same build spec, with one major exception, as the Elite uses the standard 110 turn-bolt action, whereas the Impulse Elite is a straight-pull. It’s an interesting design that uses a radial locking system with six ball bearings, making it similar to Heym’s SR30. These are cammed in and out of engagement by a swinging bolt handle, which can be swapped from right to left. However, it only ejects to the right. It’s also possible to change the angle of the handle to suit.

Wearing a hard-anodized, grey, MDT 1-piece aluminium ACC chassis, complete with a fully adjustable skeleton butt, the length of pull (LOP) measurement is 12.75 to 13.75”. There’s also an unusually vertical pistol grip that can be moved backwards and forwards to suit. The M-LOK forend with full-length ARCA rail offers a massive free-float to the heavy, button-rifled, 26” stainless steel barrel. It comes threaded and both guns wear muzzle brakes, which will not be to everyone’s taste.

Accu-all
Unsurprisingly, the rifle comes with an AccuTrigger that’s user-adjustable from 1.5 to 4 lbs, and it’s sweet. On top of the action is a 20 MOA Picatinny rail, which these days seems mandatory for rifles of this type. At 48.75” long and weighing in at 13.7 lbs, it’s a bit of a beast. Only two chamberings are available (6.5 Creedmoor/1-8” twist and .308 Winchester/1-10”). Feed comes from a steel 10-round box mag with an ambi release paddle at the rear of the well. The receiver is stamped ‘Multi Cal’, so I assume changing a barrel or calibre is possible, and it appears the bolt head can be swapped too.

The standard Elite Precision is lighter, at 12.6 lbs, and adds .223 Rem (1-7” twist rate) to the Creedmoor and Winchester offerings. Pleasingly, the .223 offers a left-handed option, which does not extend to the other calibres.

Carbon chique
Next, the Carbon Tactical Long Range Rifle. This is a more simplistic, synthetic-stocked design (flat dark earth) with their AccuFit system that offers interchangeable LOP (14-15.5”) and comb height modules. The bolt handle is seriously extended and feed is from a detachable 10-round Magpul magazine. On top, there’s a 20 MOA Picatinny rail. The same 1.5 to 4 lbs AccuTrigger is used, but most different is the 22” Proof Research carbon fibre barrel (threaded). This and the stock offer a light and potentially highly accurate rifle at 42” and 7.65 lbs. Calibre choice is 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.

Another chassis
The Precision Long Range Rifle uses a 24”, semi-fluted carbon steel barrel that’s fitted with a muzzle brake. Only one chambering is on offer, 6.5 Creedmoor, which seems a bit mean. Savage says the twist is 1-10”, which seems odd for a Creedmoor, but I reckon it’s actually 1-8”. All this is dropped into an MDT LSS XL aluminium chassis with an M-LOK forend. All in flat dark earth. The adjustable skeleton butt is more simplistic than the one on the Elite and Impulse guns, with LOP adjusted by shims (13.5-14.5”) and a more basic comb system. As before, an AccuTrigger and 20 MOA Picatinny rail come as standard. Weight is 8.9 lbs and length 39.5”. Feed is from a 10-round AICS-type magazine. I believe that a 5-rounder will be available for this and the Carbon Tactical, as they use the same system.

Rimfire surprise
Finally, and my personal favourite, the B-Series Precision Rimfires. The receiver/action is familiar and has been around for some time, but everything else has changed and is aimed at improving accuracy and ergonomics. There are two options here and we tested the LITE, which uses an 18” Proof Research carbon fibre-wrapped barrel. The standard version offers the same length and spec steel tube, and both are threaded for a moderator (1/2x24 UNEF). I hope they also offer 1/2x20” UNF. A Picatinny rail is fitted as standard.

All this sits in a minimalistic, MDT, L-shaped aluminium chassis with a pistol grip. It offers LOP adjustment (12.75-13.75”) via spacers and there’s a height-adjustable comb. The forend is M-LOK and the length is 36.6”. Weight differs with the LITE at 6.7 lbs and the steel at 7.38. Feed is from a 10-round rotary magazine and there’s a choice of three calibres - .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR. Overall, a very slick-looking package.

First impressions
I shot all the guns, but determining accuracy on the day and getting a real feel for handling was impossible, due to time constraints. Regardless, my two favourites were the Impulse Elite straight-pull and the B-Series in .17HMR. By the time you read this, I will have received both for review and already be testing them for Gun Mart. But I feel there’s enough choice there to suit most needs and Savage seems to have hit the ground running with these five models.

Perfect day

That’s about it, but a word on the competition is required. The challenge from Viking was to hold out the Impulse Elite at arm’s length for as long as possible, and the time to beat was two minutes, I think. Having spaghetti arms, I did not embarrass myself, but it was fun to watch others, including your Editor, Ed Jackson, having a go. I think he hit 1 minute 14 seconds, which was around what the better people were achieving. But to watch arms start to tremble and wilt, along with clenched teeth and facial expressions was most entertaining. Kudos to them, as I doubt if I could have even made a minute!

So, final thanks to Viking Arms and the master of ceremonies, Andy Norris. Nice one Nozzer! So, get down to your local dealer and see what I’ve been talking about.