First Impressions: Savage MSR Recon

Savage enters the “black rifle” market with its MSR-15 and MSR-10. In all, the company is releasing four different rifle builds—two chambered in .223 Rem. and two chambered in .308 Win. or 6.5 Creedmoor. The MSR-15s include the Patrol and the the Recon. The MSR Hunter, the big game-capable rifle in the bunch, is chambered in .308 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor. So is the MSR Long Range. All rifles are built with mil-spec uppers and lowers; some use mil-spec trigger groups. But the most interesting aspect of this new bunch of rifles is the fact that Savage has leaned on sister company Blackhawk to outfit the guns with proprietary furniture.

The MSR-15 Patrol, for instance, wears a Blackhawk telescoping buttstock, pistol grip and hand guards. The Recon, a rifle I used recently on a Texas whitetail hunt, wears a Blackhawk collapsible buttstock and pistol grip, and unique, aluminum hand guardsl. It’s a cool look—and it’s practical, too, as the aluminum provides a smooth, sure grip almost the entire length of the 16-inch barrel. The gun sports a kind of 3-gun look—and I like it.

Are they accurate? Oh yeah. In Texas, the Patrol and Recon we used shot half-minute groups with Federal ammo. I don’t think buyers will be disappointed with any of these rifles.