Do-It-All Rifle
So, what do I mean by a do-it-all, end-of-the-world rifle? For me, this is a rifle that is:
- light enough to be carried all day in the field
- accurate enough to hit targets at long range
- shoots a cartridge that can drop those targets at those ranges
- able to effectively fight at CQB distances
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affordable enough for the average person and uses ammunition that is widely available
Now, the MSR 10 is Savage Arms’ redesigned version of the large-frame AR, also known as the AR-10. The MSR (Modern Savage Rifle) debuted in 2017. It’s a magazine-fed, semi-automatic, direct impingement rifle.
This Hunter version in 6.5 Creedmoor has an 18-inch, Melonite QPQ-coated barrel that has 5R Button Rifling. It has a 1:8 twist and a two-port compensator screwed onto standard muzzle threading.
The rifle is American-built and offers an M-LOK handguard, adjustable gas system, Blackhawk furniture, and standard AR controls. The trigger is a milspec-esque single stage with a nickel boron coating that breaks at a nice 4 pounds. The MSR uses AR-10 magazines, and I used a mix of Magpul, D&H, and Lancer mags.
Weight
First, let’s talk about weight. This MSR Hunter is only 8 pounds. There are lighter bolt-action rifles, but no one wants a defensive bolt action. For a semi-auto AR-10 pattern gun, 8 pounds is very good. Savage did this by shortening the AR-10 design with a proprietary bolt carrier, charging handle, and upper receiver.
Now, it’s not the lightest large-format AR on the market, but I think the 18-inch barrel is a good compromise between ballistic performance and maneuverability for close-range shooting. That’s why 18 inches is a popular barrel length in 3-Gun competition.
Accuracy
Of the four loads I shot, three were under 1 MOA. The SIG Marksman Elite 140-grain OTM gave me the best group at .439 MOA. Half MOA performance from a value-priced production gun is astounding.
On the day of filming, I didn’t get as good of groups, but in general, I think you can expect 1 MOA performance or better with good ammo.
Savage included several features that contribute to this precision. One is that the bolt is individually matched to the barrel to ensure proper fit and lockup. To keep them together during production, the receiver serial number is printed on the bolt.
Another feature is that the handguard is attached to the upper receiver using four screws. Traditionally, handguards are secured to the barrel nut with some kind of clamp. Bolting the handguard to the upper makes the receiver even more rigid and totally isolates the handguard from the barrel assembly. Many handguards are called free-floated, but this one is extra free-floated.
Reliability
Other companies have redesigned the AR-10 to be shorter and lighter with varying success. Because it’s Savage, this rifle is built right. By all reports, it’s just as reliable as any Savage rifle, plus it’s totally backed by Savage’s warranty. They did some really interesting things such as integrate the gas key with the carrier. It’s one piece now, so there is no possibility of it coming loose or leaking gas.
Besides the good engineering of the action, the MSR 10 has a nickel boron coat carrier, dual ejectors on the bolt, and an adjustable gas system to aid in cycling.
On my test gun, I did have a few malfunctions initially until I found the correct setting on the gas block. That’s the thing about adjustable gas systems – they add flexibility, but if they are not properly adjusted, they will do more harm than good. Also, they add a level of intricacy that can create a failure point.
Value
The last part of this system I wanted to talk about is value. A jack-of-all-trades gun needs to be attainable for the average consumer. Savage has always offered price-oriented options, and this Hunter is no exception.
At an MSRP of under $1,500 with street prices and used prices well under that, it is an excellent deal for a lightened AR-10 design.
Leupold Optics
This value proposition is also why I choose to install the brand-new Leupold Mark 4HD 4.5-18 with a 12 o’clock DeltaPoint Pro. The Leupold Mark 5HD is my favorite long-range riflescope. Long story short, the glass is on par with any top-end scope, and it has all the features a precision rifle shooter wants. But the real selling point is that it’s significantly lighter than anything else in its class.
Related Review: Precision Optic – Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x Scope
The Mark 4HD line takes everything that makes the Mark 5HD great and offers it at a more value-oriented price range, starting at only $999. The things that changed are barely noticeable and would only register with the most discerning scope snob.
The construction is a little different, and the zoom ratio has changed. Also, the illumination on the Mark 4 is push-button controlled as opposed to dial. It is still made in America and super lightweight, and glass-wise, I can’t really tell the difference. The only thing I noticed was that on max power, the eye box of the Mark 4 was less forgiving than on the Mark 5.
The other optic I added is the Leupold Delta Point Pro red dot. The DDP is Leupold’s premier competition RDS, known for its extremely clear glass and large window. I mounted it in the 12 o’clock position as a sight for fast, up-close shooting at targets under 50 yards.
Both these optics performed superbly but didn’t overload the rifle. Overall weight was still only 10.6 pounds, which is amazing for a do-it-all gun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Savage MSR 10 Hunter with Mark 4 scope and DeltaPoint Pro is a great example of a weight- and value-conscious multi-role rifle. It’s not cheapest or the lightest, but it’s close. With the slightly higher cost and weight, you get great accuracy and versatility. You can carry it all day, hunt, shoot long-range matches, and defend yourself up-close with this system.
Yes, it does emphasize long range more than CQB. But you will have to compromise when looking for a “SHTF” gun. Even at close range, the muzzle brake and adjustable gas system make it a soft shooter that can get back on target fast. Personally, I would want to try to keep my distance from problems in an end-of-the-world scenario. I hope to have the Savage MSR 10 Hunter on hand if that happens.
