Blue collar blaser

[CoElkHunter]

@BeeMaa
Typical R8 owner pernicky about the little things ha ha ha ha ha ha ha . It ain't a R8 but it's still neat for the proposed price you could still put a wood stock on it.
We will wait and see how it goes mate you never know it may not take off but still a good idea.
Bob

Yeah Bob, I’m sure you’ll be able to get one in .243! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[TTundra]

I'm excited for this, as a potential R8 customer. I have actions that use the savage barrel but and while not an in field change, still very simple to do in your caliber family. This will likely get more people testing the straight pull. I'm sure it will cannibalize some R8 sales but likely add some later as people test and turn out liking the straight pull system.

 

[Ragman]

I would definitely check this out. Savage rifles may not be the classiest looking gun at the range or in the field, but they are shooters and game getters. Very interesting!

 

[Whacker]

Just looking at the design my only question would be of reliability when you really need it. I think it is definitely a neat idea and I’m sure the ball bearing system works wonderfully in ideal conditions...but how about less than ideal conditions. Just curious to see how well the action functions in a windy dust filled environment or on a cold and wet environment. Sure all weapons should fire the first round...should...have actually saw a firing pin froze in place on one account...but how reliably will the bearings be able to disengage and re-engage in such a situation. Not trying to be negative just pondering...if it’s something that’s already been addressed and worked out I may be in the market for one myself. Then again...Savage has engineers that know far more about firearms than myself so surely that’s been addressed.

 

[sgt_zim]

@Sgt zim
I can see the twinkle in your eye sarge at the thought of a new lefty.
Now just choose your caliber.
Bob

done deal: 280 AI.

had toyed around with the idea of all the 284s up to and incl. 7mm RM

280 AI just checks more of my boxes for what i want out of a .284 than any of the others. doesn't give up much ground to 7mm RM, and no need for a 26" barrel in front of a magnum action.

 

[sgt_zim]

I believe ejection is always to the right.
So you can reverse the bolt handle, but not the ejection.
That's not a true LH rifle by any stretch of the imagination.

it is left-handed enough for those of us who've suffered having to work a RH bolt with our left hands.

if it's stupid but works, it ain't stupid.

 

[samu]

I'm excited for this, as a potential R8 customer. I have actions that use the savage barrel but and while not an in field change, still very simple to do in your caliber family. This will likely get more people testing the straight pull. I'm sure it will cannibalize some R8 sales but likely add some later as people test and turn out liking the straight pull system.

No it won't. If you only want a straight pull rifle, you're much better served eg. by Merkel Helix. It's faster to reload, offers more stock options, uses standard picatinny rail pieces for scope mount and has plenty of options with 5rd magazine that costs less than half of R8 spare mag that only holds 4 rounds in standard calibers.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I consider the Merkel Helix, another market. This rifle is for the American hunting market, big game guys. Blaser, Helix and the rest of the European straight pull, quasi semi-auto market is another animal. Apples and green beans, $1100 vs $$$$$xX.

 

[sgt_zim]

No it won't. If you only want a straight pull rifle, you're much better served eg. by Merkel Helix. It's faster to reload, offers more stock options, uses standard picatinny rail pieces for scope mount and has plenty of options with 5rd magazine that costs less than half of R8 spare mag that only holds 4 rounds in standard calibers.

2 totally different markets. somebody who might buy that savage today because of its price point and is curious about straight pull might be in the market for a Merkel or Blaser in 5 or 10 years.

it is very easy for non-Americans to totally not get the very egalitarian, everyman kind of hunting and shooting available here.

 

[TTundra]

2 totally different markets. somebody who might buy that savage today because of its price point and is curious about straight pull might be in the market for a Merkel or Blaser in 5 or 10 years.

it is very easy for non-Americans to totally not get the very egalitarian, everyman kind of hunting and shooting available here.

@sgt_zim couldn't have said it any better!

 

[sgt_zim]

fair enough. easy enough for Americans to forget or not understand that scandinavians and finns have cultures quite distinct from the rest of the continent.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Like the EU, if I wasn't really allowed to use an autoloader (two round limit), and wanted to throw rounds down range, I'd go with a Remington 760 pump, aka the Amish AR.

For the record, I own one Savage rifle action that wears an H.S. Precision stock and a .45 caliber PacNor smokeless muzzleloader barrel.

 

[samu]

fair enough. easy enough for Americans to forget or not understand that scandinavians and finns have cultures quite distinct from the rest of the continent.

Well now the message chain got messed up properly. Could've picked my words better. I meant that R8 has plenty of options in that price point.

What I really wonder though, is how much is there market for straight pull in US when semi-autos are readily available for most?

 

[TTundra]

Well now the message chain got messed up properly. Could've picked my words better. I meant that R8 has plenty of options in that price point.

What I really wonder though, is how much is there market for straight pull in US when semi-autos are readily available for most?

As much of a market as any bolt action. Local laws may prohibit semi auto rifles in hunting and many hunters simply prefer a bolt. There is absolutely the market for one to succeed if done right, and Savage seems to be doing quite a bit right for the American hunting consumer.

 

[sgt_zim]

Well now the message chain got messed up properly. Could've picked my words better. I meant that R8 has plenty of options in that price point.

What I really wonder though, is how much is there market for straight pull in US when semi-autos are readily available for most?

The big difference is that lots of traditional hunting calibers are not available in semi-auto, and they will be with this new Savage. I could always build an AR-10 in .243 Win or 7mm-08, but why would I go to that trouble?

But even apart from that, 12 or 15 years ago, we didn't realize how badly we "needed" Smart Phones, either.

It looks to me like Savage is just trying to create a new market in the US. That's as American as it gets. They may ultimately fail at this, but that is the nature of freedom: the freedom to fail.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Well now the message chain got messed up properly. Could've picked my words better. I meant that R8 has plenty of options in that price point.

What I really wonder though, is how much is there market for straight pull in US when semi-autos are readily available for most?

Let's cut to the chase here. Straight pull in Europe is a result of hunting regulations and old world mores. Having said that, over half of the states don't allow semi-autos for big game hunting, hence the push in to the unserved straight pull economy market. European made straight pull rifles are a microscopic part of the overall U.S. firearm market. Last check I made is that 80% of new firearm sales here are for handguns.
OT, While in RSA, I noticed the old men used antiques to hunt with while their youngsters were wielding ARs.

 

[CoElkHunter]

2 totally different markets. somebody who might buy that savage today because of its price point and is curious about straight pull might be in the market for a Merkel or Blaser in 5 or 10 years.

it is very easy for non-Americans to totally not get the very egalitarian, everyman kind of hunting and shooting available here.

The Blaser R8 seems to be a very well designed rifle from everything I’ve read about it here on AH. Don’t know for sure, because I’ve NEVER seen ONE in thirty plus years of hunting/gun shows/gun stores, etc. Neither has ANY other hunter I’ve ever hunted with or anyone else I’ve spoken with hunting here in Colorado. In fact, nobody has ever heard of the Blaser brand here that I’ve spoken to for the most part! It seems to be a “one percenter” or less niche rifle brand as well built as it is, probably due to it’s cost? On the other hand, Savage is a well known brand. Whether this new Savage straight pull actioned rifle is worth a damn or not, I predict they will sell a BUNCH of them to the millennial, 6.5 “man bun” crowd, due to it’s innovativeness and price point. I wouldn’t buy one cause I’m older and like traditional bolt actions, but then again, I’m not the majority millennial firearms buyers of today. Wish I had bought some Savage stock!

 

[dchamp]

I hope it works well and is proven safe and accurate. If it does I think they will have a winner.

 

[samu]

As much of a market as any bolt action. Local laws may prohibit semi auto rifles in hunting and many hunters simply prefer a bolt. There is absolutely the market for one to succeed if done right, and Savage seems to be doing quite a bit right for the American hunting consumer.

Savage Axis is hugely popular here as well since Sako raised Tikka T3x prices..

Let's cut to the chase here. Straight pull in Europe is a result of hunting regulations and old world mores. Having said that, over half of the states don't allow semi-autos for big game hunting, hence the push in to the unserved straight pull economy market. European made straight pull rifles are a microscopic part of the overall U.S. firearm market. Last check I made is that 80% of new firearm sales here are for handguns.

Limit for big game I didn't know about. Just thought people didn't like hauling extra weight on elk hunts. Honestly it's pretty rare situation where you need to get second shot out faster than one can with a bolt gun. Usually the limiting factor is being able to get the crosshair back on the target.

 

[mikecatt13]

How much faster is a straight pull?

Significantly. If I felt like wasting ammo when it's hard to find, I'd put it on a timer. But a straight pull is impressive...well, at least the R8 I have personal experience with is. Practical situation, it could easily mean the difference between a follow up shot in an animal and it disappearing before you're able