Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.
The Savage 110 Professional Pursuit Rifle (PPR) is a fully-featured rifle designed to be lightweight and high-performance. The rifle is based on the Savage Model 110 action given a Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel and a Grayboe Phoenix 2 stock with a flush-fit detachable box magazine. The ensemble tips the scales at 7 pounds, 3 ounces, so it is a good blend of offering everything the hunter needs while keeping the weight reasonable for long foot movements.
The less obvious — but perhaps most significant feature of the PPR — is what Savage calls an “upgraded bolt head with dual ejectors and enhanced extractor.” The Model 110 embodies Savage’s reputation for accuracy, but empty cases don’t always make it out of the receiver just fine. Spent cases occasionally dribble out the side and don’t inspire confidence. The fix for that is on the 110 PPR.
Savage installed a second ejector in the bolt face to assist the original. Standard Savage 110 actions have a plunger-type ejector that sits at about the 5 o’clock position on the bolt face as you look at it. The extractor is located at the 9 o’clock position. The PPR bolt face retains the original ejector and extractor locations but adds a second plunger ejector at the 12:30 position, closer to the bolt’s centerline. Using two ejectors allowed Savage engineers to put a lighter load on both when compared to the original design. This means the ejector springs on the PPR don’t have to work as hard and will last longer. Moving the new ejector closer to the bolt face’s center also means that the ejector stays in contact with the case head longer. The result is that the two ejectors put a lot more pressure on the case head, and fired brass leaves the receiver with more enthusiasm.
Advertisement
The enhanced extractor looks similar to every other Savage extractor until it is put under close inspection. The bottom of the PPR extractor is cut at an angle and radiused to allow the fired case to roll off it early during the extraction process. This feature has been in custom actions for years, so Guns & Ammo’s rifle shooters were glad to see it make it into the Savage 110. The cut and radiused extractor — when combined with the dual ejectors — gives the PPR wonderful ejection where fired cases land a couple of feet away and slightly behind the shooter. This is a winning combination for the Model 110.
Taking Stock
The stock is a big change from other Savage models. Grayboe forms the Phoenix 2 out of a fiberglass and epoxy matrix, making it more rigid than injection-molded polymer stocks. The barreled action sits atop two aluminum pillars that are buried in the fiberglass/epoxy matrix. The Phoenix 2 is a lightweight stock that has a hollow grip and relief cuts in either side of the butt. While the Phoenix 2 is lightweight, it is also good for field use.
The forend is approximately 2 inches wide and flat on the bottom to ride supports and field rests well. The sides of the forend are radiused for comfort in the hand, and there are grooves along both sides to allow for a firm grip. The Phoenix 2 forend is about 2 inches longer than most Savage stocks, so there is some additional real estate up front to make positional shooting easier. The underside of the forend has an aluminum insert molded into it with integrated M-Lok slots. It leaves the underside smooth but allows for mounting sections of rail for bipod use.
Advertisement
The stock also has seven flush cups for sling mounting in a number of ways. There are two flush cups on each side of the stock. One is near the buttpad, by the comb, and the other is at the forend’s tip. These allow the shooter to have the rifle lay flat along their back, by far the most comfortable way to sling a rifle for long periods of time. There are also flush cups on the forend’s underside at the tip, in front of the magazine well, and at the toe. These allow conventional sling positioning.
The PPR feeds from AICS-pattern detachable box magazines and includes a flush three-round magazine. While the magazine makes the most sense for hunting applications, any AICS-pattern magazine will work in the PPR. There is no shortage of magazine options with the AICS footprint. The “bottom metal” on the PPR is actually made of plastic, having a metal paddle that straddles the front of the triggerguard. A quick extension of the trigger finger is all that’s required to release an empty magazine or to unload the rifle.
The PPR has an adjustable comb that pairs well with the 20 MOA-biased optic rail atop the receiver. Mount any scope and the adjustable comb allows the shooter to build a firm cheek support for obtaining a full field of view. The length of pull adjusts with spacers, so the PPR can be made to fit just about any size and frame of a shooter.
The barreled action uses Proof Research’s lightweight contour, saving a handful of ounces over the Sendero contour. The muzzle of the PPR is threaded with a 5/8-24 pitch, and an omnidirectional muzzlebrake comes installed. Savage provided aesthetic bolt flutes and finished the receiver and bolt body in Cerakote to give the rifle an attractive and durable finish.
At the Range
Performance at the range was excellent. The best group came while using Fiocchi Hyperformance ammunition. A three-shot group measured a scant .38 inch. All ammunition grouped well, but groups opened as the barrel heated. This isn’t a concern for hunters, but when testing for accuracy or doing load development, it’s best to stop and let this gun cool after 10 rounds or less.
The Savage 110 PPR is the result of a collaboration between Savage and a British chef who shoots a pile of deer to keep his restaurant stocked with venison. While some are hesitant to take rifle-shooting tips from the British, the collaboration is a big win for the rest of us.
Savage 110 PPR
- Type: Bolt action
- Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), .28 Nosler, .308 Win., .300 WSM, 6.5 PRC, 30-’06 Spr., .270 Win., .300 Win. Mag., 7mm PRC
- Capacity: 3+1 rds.
- Barrel: Proof Research 20 in.; 1:8-in. twist rate
- Length: 41.5 in.
- Weight: 7 lbs., 3 oz.
- Stock: Grayboe Phoenix 2
- Grip: Vertical
- Sights: None
- Finish: Cerakote (stainless steel)
- Trigger: AccuTrigger, 2 lbs., 12 oz. (tested)
- Safety: Two-position, tang-mounted selector switch
- MSRP: $2,399
- Manufacturer: Savage Arms, 800-370-0708, savagearms.com
Read the full article here