Self Defense

2019 Editor’s Choice Award – Savage MSR-10 Precision Rifle

The heavy-profile, 22.5-inch, match-grade, stainless steel barrel is 5R button rifled, and is fitted with a four-port compensator and adjustable gas block, which is easily adjusted through a cut-out in the top rail. Between this brake and the overall weight of the rifle, this thing barely moves under recoil. The forward end of the upper receiver is very different—designed specifically for rock-solid mounting of the Arca hand guard.

Hornady’s 147-gr. ELD Match and Federal’s Gold Medal Berger 130-gr. Hybrid Open-Tipped Match both turned in 0.45-inch groups at 100-yards, and on the same target no less. The MSR-10 Precision proved rifle ridiculously-good at its intended roll in life.

For testing we mounted a Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56mm F1 riflescope with 34mm tube and MOAR F1 reticle in a BOBRO 1-piece base with integral rings—a formidable long-range optics combination. Seven different match loads were run through the MSR-10 Precision Rifle from the 100-yard line, all with impressive results. The best results, however, were an even tie, and both shot on the same target—something that’s never happened in On Target’s 18-years. Hornady’s 147-gr. ELD Match and Federal’s Gold Medal Berger 130-gr. Hybrid Open-Tipped Match both turned in 0.45-inch (exactly) groups. It’s tough to complain about this level of performance—even if you spent twice as much. Several other loads were knocking at the half-MOA door and all loads were able to stay under the 1-MOA threshold with relative ease.

If you want to win matches for a small fraction of the cost of a custom-built rifle, the MSR-10 Precision Rifle receives our complete and full endorsement. Contact Savage Arms; Tel.: (800) 370-0708; Web: www.savagearms.com