New Savage Impulse straight pull bolt. Stout Enough?

[Benjamin]

Just saw there is a new Savage Impulse straight pull rifle. They claim it’s the first American made straight pull. My concern is the lugs. I would describe them as like bearings. Round bearings seem like an odd shape to hold the bolt in place. They have it in fairly large chambers even 06 and 300wsm. Savage claims the more back pressure the tighter the lugs hold. Are they even lugs really? Serious question. Anyways just wanted to get your all’s thoughts. I would shoot one. I’m sure they’ve had extensive validation testing. Still I’m left with concerns. How will it hold up long term? Can it handle magnum calibers like 300wm or 375 H&h. Blaser makes a straight pull in big calibers. Anybody know about straight pull rifles? Chime in. How is this different. How is it similar?

700 style:

Savage Impulse:

 

[IndyDave1776]

Theoretically strength should be the same as a conventional bolt action of similar build. The difference is that the bolt turns by cam action rather than wrist. You could think about it as being like a Garand with no gas system where you had to cycle the bolt manually. That's an oversimplification but should paint an adequate picture.

 

[maxwelhse]

It's an interesting approach to the problem. The straight pulls I've seen (which isn't many) are still rotating bolts and it doesn't look like the Savage design is. I'd be curious to see what they've done to lock them up without having a ton of slop in the mechanism.

 

[Benjamin]

Theoretically strength should be the same as a conventional bolt action of similar build. The difference is that the bolt turns by cam action rather than wrist. You could think about it as being like a Garand with no gas system where you had to cycle the bolt manually. That's an oversimplification but should paint an adequate picture.

This is not a rotating bolt, at least externally. Internally it might be. I don’t know what they use to lock the bearings out. Only other rifle I have seen that’s even close is the Heym SR-30. It’s a German made gun and the patents should be up. Maybe Savage borrowed from the German design. They look similar externally. Both six bearing. I can’t yet figure out what mechanism within the bolt would engage the bearings.

 

[Gaffer]

Pretty simple design really. This video shows the "inside" view.

Impulse Innovation | Straight-Pull Action - YouTube

And a pretty good look at what appears to be the same type of bolt.

Heym SR30: Straight Pull Ball-Bearing Lock? - YouTube

 

[IndyDave1776]

This is not a rotating bolt, at least externally. Internally it might be. I don’t know what they use to lock the bearings out. Only other rifle I have seen that’s even close is the Heym SR-30. It’s a German made gun and the patents should be up. Maybe Savage borrowed from the German design. They look similar externally. Both six bearing. I can’t yet figure out what mechanism within the bolt would engage the bearings.

I was looking at the wrong image without my glasses!

 

[nipprdog]

Blaser r93 is another straight pull bolt action. I got to fire a few rounds through one a few years ago. Pretty sweet.

 

[gregkl]

I read one review on this yesterday and just got another in my inbox. I am sold out of AR's and actually thought about buying a bolt action. This looks interesting but I grew up with the idea that the Mauser action was the way to go.

I know very little about bolt actions. If I got one though, it might be a 6.5 creedmor if I can steer me away from .308...

 

[maxwelhse]

Pretty simple design really. This video shows the "inside" view.

Impulse Innovation | Straight-Pull Action - YouTube

And a pretty good look at what appears to be the same type of bolt.

Heym SR30: Straight Pull Ball-Bearing Lock? - YouTube

Didn't realize the handle rotated! I can see that working just fine.

 

[Tombs]

I'd assume this is stronger than a conventional action.

But that would depend on how tough the ball bearings are and the sleeve that locks them outwards.

I think the main reason straight pulls aren't more common is because of primary extraction. It's hard to achieve the same amount of leverage as a conventional action without making the bolt fairly stiff to operate.

 

[Twangbanger]

That is pretty clever! From a mechanical design standpoint, it seems it would even be possible to design one with a non-rotating bolt for smaller calibers, where the inner sleeve pushing outward on the bearings (and the force on it at a given time) is the only thing holding the bolt shut.

 

[johntheplinker]

Looks like it works in a manner very similar to HSK tool holders for CNC machines. I've spun up some big heavy tooling using HSK tool holders, and yes, the more force applied to them, the tighter they hold. Never had a HSK come out of a machine, not something I can say about a ISO40.

 

[Shootin45super]

Looks like a problem waiting to happen.
Would want to keep everything clean.
I will stick with the conventional style.
Why not design it with a rotating bolt head like a ar?

 

[MrSmitty]

Very interesting, like the design, we have that type of locking system to hold our welding fixtures, that are rotated, and spun, very strong, I'm sure Savage has made them bomb proof in case of liability.

 

[johntheplinker]

Now if only somebody will make a .22 straight pull that is reasonably priced.

 

[maxwelhse]

That is pretty clever! From a mechanical design standpoint, it seems it would even be possible to design one with a non-rotating bolt for smaller calibers, where the inner sleeve pushing outward on the bearings (and the force on it at a given time) is the only thing holding the bolt shut.

That's exactly how I thought this worked at first. I could pretty easily see something a .22LR just operating under spring tension. Basically an improperly operating semi-auto 22 with a handle to rack it.

Looks like a problem waiting to happen.
Would want to keep everything clean.
I will stick with the conventional style.
Why not design it with a rotating bolt head like a ar?

The straight pulls I've seen are exactly as you describe. There's a raceway cam to rotate an AR style bolt, but the handle itself doesn't have to rotate to do it. Straight pulls are a cool idea, but short of being forced to war with a bolt gun and every second between shots is life and death, I'm not sure what the real advantage is in the modern civilian market?

 

[Tombs]

The straight pulls I've seen are exactly as you describe. There's a raceway cam to rotate an AR style bolt, but the handle itself doesn't have to rotate to do it. Straight pulls are a cool idea, but short of being forced to war with a bolt gun and every second between shots is life and death, I'm not sure what the real advantage is in the modern civilian market?

Not racking your knuckles on your scope.

 

[patience0830]

Now if only somebody will make a .22 straight pull that is reasonably priced.

Shame Izhmash is no longer imported. I have a couple and the Anschutz 1727F and they're all pretty slick. Had the one Volquartsen is selling now when it was in the early stages from Summit. Hopefully VQ has improved them.

 

[JEBland]

Now if only somebody will make a .22 straight pull that is reasonably priced.

CDNN has a straight pullback Steyr Scout in 22 LR for $300 - reviews I saw on it were mixed. Some said it was nothing but problems, other said it flawless.

 

[T.Lex]

Interesting - kinda reminds me of the delayed roller system, with manual operation.

Pretty cool!