NRA Gun of the Week: Savage MSR 15 Recon Rifle

by
posted on September 2, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Savage Arms entered the AR market early in 2017, and its premium entry in the category—the MSR 15 Recon—is the focus of this week's NRA Gun of the Week. Chambered for .223 Wylde, the MSR 15 Recon features parts from BLACKHAWK!: a six-position Axiom buttstock, Knoxx pistol grip, flip-up backup irons, and the company’s nickel-boron-treated trigger. The rifle functions with a mid-length, direct-gas-impingement system, which feeds from the supplied 30-round Magul polymer magazine. The rifle’s 16.1” barrel features 5R rifling and is Melonite-treated. An aluminum handguard with M-LOK accessory slots provide plenty of room for accessories.

To learn more about the MSR 15 Recon, watch this week's NRA Gun of the Week video, and visit savagearms.com.

Specifications:
Model: MSR 15 Recon
Manufacturer: Savage Arms
Chambering: .223 Wylde
Action Type: direct-gas-impingement, center-fire semi-automatic rifle
Receiver: forged aluminum; hardcoat anodized matte black
Barrel: 16.13”; 1:8” RH twist, Melonite finish
Sights: Blackhawk flip-up
Trigger: 6-lb., 9.5-oz. pull
Stock: Blackhawk Knoxx Axiom six-position collapsible
Handguard: free-float M-LOK
Magazine: 30-round detachable box
Weight: 7 lbs.
MSRP: $999

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.