Straight-pull rifles are a bit of a European obsession. Over there, where semi-autos are often heavily restricted or banned for hunting, the straight-pull action reigns supreme as the king of speed. Blaser, Merkel, and Browning have dominated that market for years.
Enter Savage with the Impulse, an attempt to bring an “American Straight Pull” to the masses. On paper, it sounds like a winner: an ambidextrous, fast-cycling action built with Savage’s legendary barrel accuracy. But after running this rifle hard, I’m left wondering if Savage solved a problem that no one really had.
Specifications
- Action: Straight Pull “Hexlock”
- Receiver: Aluminum (with integral 20 MOA rail)
- Barrel: Carbon Steel (Savage 110 thread pattern)
- Stock: AccuStock with AccuFit system
- Magazine: AICS (on Predator models) or Savage Rotary
- MSRP: ~$1,500+ USD but have found them retailing around $1300 USD and $1679 CAD
How It Works
The Impulse uses what Savage calls the “Hexlock” mechanism. Instead of locking lugs that rotate into place like a traditional bolt action, the Impulse uses ball bearings that expand outward to lock into the barrel extension when the bolt is closed. When you pull the handle back, the bearings retract, allowing the bolt to move rearward.
It’s a neat concept and because the locking mechanism happens in the barrel extension, the receiver itself can be made of aluminum and lighter.
The Good
There are some genuinely smart engineering choices here.
Ambidextrous Design: The bolt handle is truly ambidextrous. You can swap it to the left side without buying a new bolt, and you can even adjust the angle of the handle to suit your preference. If you’re a lefty living in a right-handed world, this is a nice touch. The mag release is also ambi.
The Receiver: The aluminum receiver is milled with an integral 20 MOA rail. I love integral rails because they’re one less thing to screw up or come loose.
Barrel Compatibility: I hear the Impulse uses standard Savage 110 barrels. That would make barrel swaps much more convenient.
The Bad (and The Ugly)
Unfortunately, the practical experience didn’t match the spec sheet.
Reliability Issues: I experienced persistent light primer strikes with factory ammo. I sent the rifle back to Savage for warranty work, and it came back with the exact same problem. For a rifle that commands a premium price tag ($1,500+), that is unacceptable.
The “Sticky” Action: Savage claims this action is fast, but I found it temperamental. If you cycle the bolt back and forth around the mid-stroke area a few times, it tends to get sticky. Unlike some more expensive straight pulls, the Impulse requires you to run it hard.
Handle Ergonomics: The bolt handle pivots to unlock the action. I am not a fan of this motion. There is absolutely no buffer or “give” in the mechanism. If you are running this gun fast and hard, that metal handle slams into your hand with zero forgiveness. After a few magazines, my hand actually started to hurt.
Magazine compatibility issues: I tested the Predator model, which is supposed to accept AICS pattern magazines. However, the mag well protrudes aggressively from the stock, which looks odd. More importantly, polymer AICS magazines do not work. I tried Magpul and MDT polymer mags, and the stock seems to create an interference fit that prevents them from seating or feeding correctly. You are effectively stuck using metal AICS mags.
Trigger: The rifle comes with the AccuTrigger, which I generally like. However, on this sample, I had issues with the safety blade. I captured video of the blade experiencing a “semi-release” where it didn’t fully disengage, causing the trigger to lock up or drag.
Stock Limitations: The AccuStock is advertised as fully adjustable, but unlike the Magpul Hunter stocks where you can stack spacers to get your length of pull exactly right, the Savage system only allows you to change spacers, not stack them. You can shorten it easily, but lengthening it is limited.
Is It For You?
A pump-action like the Troy PAR is often cheaper and arguably more reliable.
The price point is too high right now. At $1,500+, it was competitively priced against European straight pulls for a hot minute until the Beretta BRX1 arrived. The BRX1 offers a smoother, more refined European straight-pull experience for a very similar price.
Summary
The Savage Impulse has some cool tech, particularly the barrel compatibility and the aluminum receiver. But the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Between the light strikes, the picky magazine well, the painful bolt handle, and the lack of aftermarket support, it’s a hard pass for me.
Pros:
- Ambidextrous bolt (side and angle)
- Uses standard Savage 110 barrels
- Integral 20 MOA rail
- Aluminum receiver (rust-proof)
Cons:
- Reliability issues (light strikes) even after warranty return
- Does not accept polymer AICS mags (Magpul/MDT)
- Action gets sticky/binds at mid-stroke
- Bolt handle pivot is harsh on the hand
- Trigger safety blade malfunctions
- Expensive compared to emerging competition (Beretta BRX1)
- Lacking aftermarket support
If you really want a straight pull, look at the Beretta BRX1. It’s the same price but lacks some of the weirdness of the Impulse. If you just want a Savage, buy a Model 110 and save yourself a few hundred bucks.
