First Look: Savage MSR 10 Hunter Rifle in .308 Winchester, 6.5mm Creedmoor

The all-new Savage MSR 10 Hunter semi-auto rifle (AR-10) is a compact sporting platform packing the punch of .308 Winchester and 6.5mm Creedmoor chamberings. The rifle squeezes every ounce of performance from the cartridges with an upgraded Savage 5R rifling barrel, a BLACKHAWK AR Blaze trigger, and a tough Melonite QPQ finish.

The chance to zero in on building a better AR-10 rifle was a perfect fit for Savage; offering opportunities to play to the brand’s strong suits, including long-range accuracy and innovation.

Savage and accuracy have been synonymous for more than a century. The firearm company is deadly at the art of downrange diligence in its proven long-range bolt guns, including the F Class Target and Long Range Precision models. Applying these long-distance lessons and resulting technology to the AR-10 format gave Savage an opportunity.

The AR-10 also offered a chance to innovate. One of the stumbling blocks to unbridled creativity with the AR-15 platform is the nagging need for conformity. In other words, keeping the rifle compatible with a variety of accessories.

With AR-10s, there are fewer constraints. Savage engineers were able to think outside the box to bring more features to the MSR 10 Hunter.

While developing its modern, precision AR-10 Hunter, Savage addressed other longstanding shortcomings of MSRs designed for larger cartridges.

For example, AR-10s have traditionally been heavy, bulky and unwieldy. Savage tackled these issues head-on, shaving off unnecessary weight and trimming size with a smaller, lighter chassis that strikes a perfect balance between performance, fit and function. As a result, the MSR 10 Hunte rifle features a compact AR-10 design that feels and handles more like an AR-15.

MSR 10 Hunter Features and Specs:

• .308 Winchester (1:10-inch twist, 5R barrel) and 6.5mm Creedmoor (1:8-inch twist, 5R barrel)
• Compact AR-10 design
• 16 1/8-inch fluted barrel with Melonite QPQ finish; 18-inch barrel for 6.5 Creedmoor
• 7.8 pounds, .308 Winchester; 8.0 pounds, 6.5mm Creedmoor
• Custom forged upper/lower for unique look and compact size
• Free-float M-LOK handguard
• BLACKHAWK! KNOXX AR Pistol Grip and AXIOM Carbine Stock
• BLACKHAWK! AR Blaze trigger