The "walking varminter" is a new class of rifle finding favor with those who pursue fuzzy nuisances on a regular basis. The new Predator Hunter from Savage Arms is a great addition to the category.
By J. Guthrie
To enlarge this photo of the Savage Model 10 Predator Hunter, please click HERE
A new class of rifle is finding favor with those who pursue predators on a regular basis. The "walking varminter" is a cross between the precision varmint rifle with a serious bull barrel and a lightweight hunting rifle that is comfortable to carry all day. Savage Arms recently got in the game with the new Predator Hunter.
Savage introduced the rifle late last year after consulting with serious predator hunters. Carl Hildebrandt, a senior product engineer who has worked for Savage for 45 years, said he and a game call company representative walked around the plant picking and choosing parts for the new gun. The gun is built around a standard Model 10 action, synthetic stock, and the exceptional AccuTrigger. The oversized bolt handle came from Savage's line of tactical rifles.
"He wanted a light gun, and I wanted a stiff barrel," Hildebrandt said. "We settled on a barrel profile we developed for our .338 Winchester Magnum guns some years ago. It has a very aggressive taper but still has enough diameter for a target crown. We also used this profile in the '70s on a .22-250 before heavy-profile barrels were popular."
None; drilled and tapped for scope mounts and comes with Weaver bases
Metal Finish:
Mossy Oak Brush camo
Safety:
3-position thumb safety
Trigger Type:
Adjustable AccuTrigger
Pull weight:
1.5 to 6 pounds
Stock:
Synthetic
Stock finish:
Mossy Oak Brush camo
Drop at heel:
1.881 inches
Drop at comb:
1.448 inches
Length of pull:
13.75 inches
Buttpad:
Green rubber
Sling studs/swivels:
Fixed studs
Weight, empty
7.25 pounds
Overall Length:
43 inches
Price:
$691
The Predator Hunter's barrel is 22 inches long. It measures 1.047 inches ahead of the locking nut and .740 inch at the muzzle. Savage turns all its barrels from a proprietary carbon-steel alloy stock and uses button rifling exclusively. The recessed, target-style crown does a great job protecting the barrel's business end when it meets a pick-up's gritty floorboard.
The Predator's barrel has a 1:9 twist rate that stabilizes all but the longest and heaviest .223 bullets. My sample rifle, chambered for .223, had a sweet spot between 55 and 69 grains. Hornady's 55-grain TAP was the most accurate load tested. Off the bench, the Predator routinely stacked five shots into 0.480 inch at 100 yards without letting the barrel cool between shots. Black Hills 69-grain MatchKing HP ammo also produced excellent results with five-shot groups, producing a 0.767-inch average.
The Model 10 action does not need an introduction; it has been around in one form or another since the 1950s. Machined from 4140 carbon steel, it is strong and durable, and it will never be described as svelte. A four-cartridge, blind magazine feeds the action. Note that I was able to squeeze five rounds of .223 ammo into the review rifle's magazine.The bolt release is located on the right side of the receiver bridge, and the three-position safety is positioned on the receiver's tang behind the bolt.
The bolt, with twin opposing locking lugs, has a lot of parts. The bolt handle and front and rear baffles are castings. The bolt body is machined from tubing, and the bolt head is either machined from bar or contoured stock. A combination of several pins, ball detents, and the firing pin holds the assembly together. A plunger-style ejector sits at five o'clock on the boltface, and a massive claw extractor is built into the right locking lug. All the parts come together to provide positive extraction and ejection and a smooth ride through the receiver.
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