First Look: Savage Arms 110 KLYM and Impulse KLYM

While hunters have pursued and desired lightweight hunting rifles for many decades, it seems like in the past 10 or 15 years, there's been a bigger push for them. Look around, and you’ll see evidence of this in most manufacturers’ product lines.

Demand drives some of this. Hunters want rifles they can easily carry into the backcountry, on long stalks or, really, anywhere. Many are also employing more powerful, heavier riflescopes to shoot at long distances. And if you add a suppressor, which more shooters are seeing the advantages of using, that can add even more weight.

Recent advances in materials have also spurred weight-saving developments in rifle design. Lots of manufacturers are turning to lightweight materials, like carbon fiber, to reduce weight without sacrificing durability.

This is exactly what Savage Arms has done with its launch of two new rifles tailor-made for hunters: the 110 KLYM and the Impulse KLYM. Both rifles sport an FBT (Fine Ballistic Tools) Custom Carbon Fiber stock and forend with an additive manufactured center section, as well as an exclusive, threaded PROOF Research carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel cut rifled barrel.

The result is two lightweight yet highly accurate rifles, with the 110 KLYM weighing between 5.9 and 6.1 pounds and the Impulse KLYM weighing between 6.6 and 6.7 pounds.

PROOF Research is, of course, highly regarded for producing accurate, lightweight barrels, and this one is threaded 5/8 x 24 and comes with an included Omniport muzzle brake installed. However, FBT’s carbon-fiber stock is equally impressive, featuring a thumbhole design with a palm swell and the ability to adjust comb height with a single button. Stock and forend include two sling studs, and the popular MagnaSwitch system is installed.

The new 110 KLYM, naturally, relies on Savage’s time-proven factory blueprinted 110 action, while the Impulse KLYM features the manufacturer’s innovative—and quick—straight-pull action.

Both bolt handles are threaded (5/16 x 24) and sport a carbon fiber bolt knob; however, the straight-pull Impulse KLYM’s bolt handle is ambidextrous, removable and multi-positional. The bolt on the 110 KLYM is also diamond fluted and coated with a Blackout Cerakote finish.

Each of the rifles utilize a tang safety, with the 110 KLYM’s being a three-position model and the Impulse KLYM’s being a two-position design. Both rifles come equipped with Savage’s excellent AccuTrigger, which is user-adjustable from 1.5 to 4 pounds.

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Atop the rifle, each also has a one-piece 20 MOA rail. The 110 KLYM’s lightweight stainless-steel receiver with Blackout Cerakote finish is drilled and tapped, too, while the rail is integral to the Impulse KLYM’s aluminum receiver.

The new Savage Arms 110 KLYM and Impulse KLYM will initially be available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 WSM. Barrel lengths will be either 22 or 24 inches, depending on caliber. The 110 KLYM and Impulse KLYM are available for $2,699 and $3,299, respectively.

For more information check out the specifications below, and stay tuned for a more detailed report on these rifles, one of which I used to successfully tag a pronghorn buck earlier this fall.

Savage Arms 110 KLYM Specifications

• Type: Bolt-action, centerfire
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 WSM
• Capacity: 4 (6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester), 2 (6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .300 WSM), 3 (.300 Win. Mag.)
• Barrel: 22 or 24 in., PROOF Research carbon-fiber wrapped stainless steel, threaded 5/8x24, muzzle brake
• Overall Length: 44.75-47.60 in.
• Weight: 5.9-6.1 lbs.
• Receiver: Lightweight stainless steel, Blackout Cerakote finish
• Stock: FBT (Fine Ballistic Tools) Custom Carbon Fiber stock and forend
• Sights: None, drilled and tapped, one-piece 20 MOA picatinny rail
• Safety: Three-position tang
• Trigger: AccuTrigger, user-adjustable 1.5-4 lbs.
• Price: $2,699
• Info: Savage Arms; savagearms.com

Savage Arms Impulse KLYM Specifications

• Type: Straight-pull bolt-action, centerfire
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 WSM
• Capacity: 4 (6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester), 2 (6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .300 WSM), 3 (.300 Win. Mag.)
• Barrel: 22 or 24 in., PROOF Research carbon-fiber wrapped stainless steel, threaded 5/8x24, muzzle brake
• Overall Length: 45.37-47.37 in.
• Weight: 6.6-6.7 lbs.
• Receiver: Aluminum
• Stock: FBT (Fine Ballistic Tools) Custom Carbon Fiber stock and forend
• Sights: None, integral one-piece 20 MOA rail
• Safety: Two-position tang
• Trigger: AccuTrigger, user-adjustable 1.5-4 lbs.
• Price: $3,299
• Info: Savage Arms; savagearms.com