Yes, production costs are reduced due to the chambering and headspacing being automated because of the barrel-nut design. The Savage system enables a truly “free floated” barrel. The other Savage bolt-action trait misconstrued solely as a cost-saving measure is the barrel nut.Īlmost perfect headspacing is achieved using the Savage method. This also contributes to relieving any stress on the action from the barrel constantly exerting pressure downward from to gravity. The Savage bolt finds its own “sweet spot” when it locks up, due to the floating boat head behaving independently of the bolts main body. This eliminates any minor misalignment between the axis of the receiver and the bore. It is better understood as an ingenious alternative method of producing accuracy without spending undo time and money on tedious hand fitting in this age of CNC machines. The purpose of the floating bolt head is to allow the bolt’s locking lugs to line up independently from the bolt body. Many critics mistakenly label the Savage floating bolt head and barrel nut arrangement as strictly cost saving measures. This is meant as a compliment to the new Ultralite, not as an offense to previous Savage rifles. Misunderstandings surround the Savage bolt-action design, most attributed to ill-informed conjecture regarding the floating bolt-head design and barrel-nut arrangement. with overall length slightly over 42”.Īesthetically, the Ultralight is unrecognizable as a Savage bolt action. The weight of the Savage Ultralight is 5.85 lbs. The Savage Ultralite takes a back seat to no rifle in terms of aesthetics, precision, repeatable accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, portability, trigger quailty and safety. This provides a solid background for objectively analyzing the Savage Ultralite. I have been privileged to evaluate rifles from numerous other manufactures, including some very high end rifles.