Stag Arms used to be the company that sold $650 AR-15s. These guns functioned well—and sold like popcorn at the cinema—but they were basic mil-spec carbines without any bells and whistles. In 2016, however, after the company was sold and later moved its headquarters to Wyoming, Stag’s new management dreamed big. It began producing and marketing high-end ARs, some of which cost nearly three times that of the originals. Today the company continues to expand its product lines, with one of the most exotic being its new Pursuit Bolt Action rifle.
The Pursuit Bolt Action is innovative, versatile, practical and contains about as many bells and whistles as ever found on a rifle. What follows is its full review.
Out of the box, it’s obvious that Stag knew it wasn’t offering just another rifle, because if it had been, the box wouldn’t contain a quick reference card to inform buyers of all its hidden features, some of which come on the rifle and others that are found in the provided doc kit-style “Savior” bag.
The rifle’s heart is a Remington 700-style, short-action footprint, made from a solid billet of 7075 steel and highly customized by Stag, including bottom metal machined to accept a detachable box magazine. The mag detaches via an ambidextrous release mounted to the front of the trigger guard so it can be dropped without displacing the shooter’s grip. (The rifle comes with a five-round mag, but 10-rounders can be purchased separately.)
The bolt design is also unique in that it features a three-lug, push-feed design that’s enhanced by dual ejectors. The bolt can be fully disassembled without tools so that the firing pin can easily be cleaned and lubed. The bolt features a quick 60-degree throw and a cocking indicator on its tang. The bolt slides within the action as smoothly as Remington 700s of the 1960s, which is to say it’s incredibly smooth with notably less play than many of the factory bolt actions currently being produced.
For its fire-control system, Stag chose TriggerTech’s exceptional Primary flat-faced trigger that broke consistently at 2.75 pounds. To me, this is perfect. The safety is a tang-mounted, two-position unit that does not lock the bolt closed when on safe. In use the safety feels very tactile and positive, yet it is also quiet. Like the trigger, the safety, though very simple, is outstanding.
The action provides a solid platform to the Pursuit’s very short and stiff 416 stainless steel barrel. This .83-inch-thick, 18-, 20- or 22-inch pipe (depending on caliber) is aggressively fluted to reduce weight and hasten cooling, yet its surface area ensures that it remains extremely rigid. Its muzzle features ⅝x24 threading for mounting a suppressor.
As innovative as the action is, the stock is even more so. Made of polymer, the stock features a beavertail fore-end that allows ample clearance to free-float the barrel. At its end, Stag embedded a 3-inch “spigot” Pic rail, presumably meant to anchor a bipod. The stock features a total of five quick-detach sling mount cups, while the fore-end also features a row of M-LOK slots and a removable ARCA Swiss plate for attaching the rifle to the new generation of heavyweight shooting tripods. The molded buttstock features a vertical pistol grip that hides a storage compartment. But more importantly the rifle’s comb is adjustable for height, as is its buttpad for length of pull, from 12 to 14 inches. A cutout underneath allows a comfortable grip for the support hand when shooting from a rest.
Although the stock looks radical at first glance, I found it’s actually very practical, and, with the exception of the weirdly molded palm swell, it fits great. But most innovative is that it breaks into two parts for storage and travel via an AR-10-style hinge pin located on the action’s tail. Simply push out the pin to pull the stock from its grooved mount, and presto, you have a long-range rifle that will fit in a 27-inch-long case. I was skeptical of the stock at first, because I know that the wobbly AR-15-style removable stocks are not all that conducive to accuracy. But this one fits tight, with no wobble. Well done, Stag.
Performance-wise, the rifle was very surprising. My first 12 groups or so were not all that good, even with premium ammo, averaging around 1.6 inches. Immediately I began thinking, Why would anyone want such a heavy and “innovative” rifle if it doesn’t shoot? The bare rifle weighs more than 8.5 pounds. But then, after 10 groups, my groups began to shrink. Eventually I shot one of the smallest three-shot groups I’ve ever recorded, a .170-inch cloverleaf. At the time I called it a fluke. But as I continued to shoot, the rifle’s groups kept shrinking until the rifle began averaging under an inch (after tossing out those initial groups.) It was obvious that the barrel needed a break-in period. Then after looking at Stag’s website, I learned that the company says as much.
Overall, due to this rifle’s weight and target-style stock, it wouldn’t be my first choice as a pure hunting rifle, though it certainly could be used in that capacity. But because of its weight—and the calibers for which it’s chambered (.308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC), its wonderful trigger, its customizable fit and its accuracy, the Pursuit Bolt Action is an absolute pleasure to shoot, especially with a suppressor. It’s also reliable: I had zero malfunctions of any kind.
As for negatives, I can find just one in function: Its buttstock is very thin at the buttpad, so that it digs into the shoulder pocket more than it would if it were wider and had more surface area, thereby mitigating what little recoil it has. Secondly, at the rifle’s price, it seems to me that it should come with a high-quality case, preferably a 30-inch case to show off the rifle’s takedown capability. All in all, though, the Pursuit is a fantastic, mid-weight rifle geared toward shooters who desire one rifle that will do nearly everything—and one that’s fun to shoot while doing it.
You’ve come a long way, Stag, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Technical Specifications
• Type: bolt-action centerfire rifle
• Caliber: .308 Win. (tested); 6.5 Creedmoor; 6.5 PRC
• Magazine: detachable box; 5-round capacity (Magpul for .308 Win., 6.5 CM; Meta Accurate Mag. for 6.5 PRC)
• Barrel: 416 stainless steel; 18" (.308 Win.); sporter contour; 1:10" RH twist; spiral fluted; threaded ⅝x24
• Trigger: TriggerTech Primary; single-stage; adjustable 1.5 lbs. - 4 lbs.
• Sights: none; 20 MOA Biased 1913 rail pre-installed
• Safety: two-position toggle
• Stock: Stag Arms Hybrid Hunter; polymer, two-piece, adjustable LOP 12"-14"; available in black, OD green or tan
• Metal Finish: black Cerakote
• Overall Length: 37.5" (w/two LOP spacers)
• Weight: 8. lbs., 9 ozs.
• Accessories: savior bag, trigger lock, LOP spacers, bag rider, ARCA Swiss plate adaptor
• MSRP: $1,899; stagarms.com
