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Why cops should check out the Savage MSR 15 Patrol rifle

This impressive AR clone is remarkably different than others in this saturated market

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We discovered very quickly that the Savage MSR 15 wasn’t just another AR clone. It operated smoothly and showed promising improvements in accuracy. It is an excellent choice for agencies looking to upgrade their long gun inventory.

Photo/Gene Whisenand, Trident Firearms Academy www.tridentfirearms.com

Hello from SHOT 2017.

I checked out Savage’s new MSR 15 Patrol at range day, an M4 clone with BLACKHAWK! furniture, including the BLACKHAWK! KNOXX AR Pistol Grip and AXIOM Carbine Stock.

This AR clone is remarkably different than others in this saturated market. It uses 5R rifling, which is an old school way to draw out more accuracy from a cartridge. I put some rounds downrange and it was smooth, well-engineered and showed very promising accuracy with my limited skills.

I got to shoot the longer suppressed version with a mid-length gas system and some decent glass to steer it. The Mil-Spec trigger was very smooth for this type of gun, but I have competed with a box stock Savage before and should’ve expected that.

5R rifling was originally designed by a guy named Barrett “Boots” Obermeyer. This rifling is cut with five lands and grooves that use sloping, rather than straight, walls on the lands. In traditional rifling, the number of lands and grooves are usually even. If the barrel is viewed in cross section, lands are opposite lands and grooves are opposite grooves. With 5R rifling, the bullet isn’t squeezed between opposing grooves. With the sloping sides in the lands, the sharp edges theoretically collect less lead, produce higher velocities and barrels are easier to clean.

By the numbers, the Savage MSR 15 Patrol has:

  • Mil-spec upper and lower receiver
  • 16 1/8-inch barrel with 5R rifling and Melonite QPQ finish
  • 223 Wylde target chamber for use with 223 Rem. or 5.56x45mm
  • Mil-spec trigger
  • Mid-length gas system
  • BLACKHAWK! KNOXX AR Pistol Grip and AXIOM Carbine Stock
  • Custom A-frame gas block front sight
  • BLACKHAWK! flip-up sights

MSRP $852

Lindsey Bertomen is a retired police officer and retired military small arms trainer. He teaches criminal justice at Hartnell College in Salinas, California. He has a BS in Criminal Justice and an MS in Online Teaching and Learning. Lindsey has taught shooting techniques for over a decade. His articles on firearms tactics have appeared in print for over a decade. Lindsey enjoys competing in shooting sports, running, and cycling events.
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