Welcome to another “American Rifleman” Gun Of The Week video. Today, we’re hitting the range with a brand-new lever-action rifle from Savage Arms. The Revel is a rimfire lever gun that’s made in North America and loaded with features that belie its affordable price point. Watch our video above to see it in use on the range.
Savage Arms, of course, has a history with the lever-action concept. Arthur Savage, when he set out to establish his firearm company, did so with what became the vaunted Model 99 lever-action rifle, and the company ultimately made more than one million of these guns before production ceased in the late 1990s. Now, Savage Arms is back in the lever-action business with a new option designed with affordability, shootability and ease of transport in mind.
Made at the Savage Arms facility in Lakefield, Ontario, this Savage Revel is a wood-stocked, lever-action rifle chambered for .22 Long Rifle. Currently, the gun we have on the range is the Revel Classic, with traditionally configured furniture made from Turkish walnut. A separate model, the Revel DLX (Deluxe) features upgraded walnut furniture with a pistol-grip design. The straight stock on the Classic is mated to an aluminum trigger housing that is secured to the aluminum receiver body via two captured takedown pins. This configuration allows the rifle to be separated into two components for easy, compact storage and transport.
Attached to the aluminum receiver body is an 18” carbon-steel barrel, underneath of which sits a tubular magazine. In .22 Long Rifle, capacity tops out at 12 rounds. Savage also offers the Revel in .22 WMR and .17 HMR chamberings, each of which have a magazine capacity of nine rounds. To load the gun, simply twist the end of the magazine cap and withdraw the internal brass sleeve. Drop cartridges into the cutout on the underside of the magazine tube, then re-insert the brass sleeve and twist it back onto the tube until it locks.
Control-wise, the Savage Revel Classic comes with an oversized lever loop that provides room for larger hands, and users can operate the rifle easily with gloves, if needed. There’s an external hammer, and a crossbolt safety is located at the rear of the receiver, near the gun’s stock wrist. Sights consist of a drift-adjustable front post and an elevation-adjustable, leaf-style rear sight. The receiver is drilled and tapped for optic bases as well.
On the range, the Savage Arms Revel was lightweight and comfortable to operate. It’s worth noting that Savage sets up the Revel with a 14.5” length of pull to fit most adults, and that stands out considering the many youth-sized rimfire rifles on the market. The trigger pull on our sample was crisp and clean, and operating the lever was smooth and easy. Thanks to the 12-round tubular magazine, we were able to send plenty of .22 LR downrange. When it comes to a fun, casual afternoon plinking away at targets, there’s nothing like a classic lever-action to do it with, and the Savage Revel fits the bill for a fun, range-ready rimfire rifle that won’t break the bank.
Savage Arms Revel Classic Specifications
Importer: Savage Arms
Action Type: lever-action, repeating, rimfire rifle
Chambering: .22 Long Rifle
Barrel: 18″ carbon steel; 1:16″ twist; matte-black finish
Sights: post front, adjustable leaf rear notch
Stock: satin-finished Turkish walnut
Overall Length: 36.5″
Weight: 6 lbs., 1.6 ozs.
MSRP: $439
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