Savage Revel DLX, a .22 LR lever-action "fun gun"

The Savage Revel DLX in .22 LR is one of the latest interpretations of the American rimfire rifle dedicated to recreational shooting and quality plinking. The name "Revel" recalls the idea of fun, a precise reference to the philosophy of use of this gun, designed for leisure and informal shooting. The acronym DLX, on the other hand, an abbreviation of "Deluxe", identifies the more aesthetically pleasing and finished version. Savage Arms has focused on a lightweight, intuitive platform that is easily accessible even to less experienced shooters, while maintaining high construction standards. Chambered for the very popular .22 Long Rifle (in the USA it is also available in .22 Magnum and .17 HMR), the Savage Revel DLX fits into that very large American market of rimfire rifles for outdoor shooting. In fact, in the US the .22 LR continues to be the most widely used cartridge for sport shooting, pest control, and recreational shooting thanks to the low cost of ammunition and the  near complete lack of recoil. The Revel DLX perfectly interprets this spirit, offering a handy and enjoyable firearm for informal shooting or small game hunting in the vast plains or forests of America.

The Revel DLX therefore positions itself in the "fun gun" segment, a category that maintains huge sales volumes and a cross-sectional following in the USA. The success of these firearms also stems from their ability to introduce new enthusiasts to the world of sport shooting without technical intimidation or high costs.

Savage has taken care with the overall ergonomics to make the rifle suitable for both young shooters and more experienced users looking for a rimfire gun that is refined yet economical to handle. The Turkish walnut stock is an interesting mix of classic and modern, with a pistol design and aesthetic cuts on the buttstock. The thick synthetic rubber recoil pad is almost oversized compared to the tasks it has to perform, but the practical effect is remarkable.

The fore-end, on which we also find the linear cuts, is very well made too, and above all ergonomic. With its nice stippling on the grip areas, the satin-finished of the wood is worthy of a high-end rifle and contrasts nicely with the matte finish of the metal parts.

The new Savage logo, a stylized "S", is also marked on the blade and fore-end. The barrel of the Revel DLX is made of carbon steel, is 45.7 cm long and has a medium profile. At the muzzle it features the now ubiquitous1/2-28 threading that allows for the mounting of accessories. Underneath the barrel we find the tubular barrel. In the .22 LR version it has a capacity of 12 rounds.

The cartridges are inserted into the tubular magazine through a shaped port, after the inner brass tube has been unlocked and removed. The loop lever is oversized for operation when wearing winter gloves, or more simply for users with XL-sized hands. The Savage Revel can be easily separated into two assemblies for ease of transport. The receiver and the lower section that supports the trigger group are connected by two captive pins: after securing the rifle, simply press them to the right to separate the two assemblies. This lightning-fast operation is naturally also very convenient for cleaning and routine maintenance.

Shooting impressions with the Savage Revel DLX in .22 LR

Firing this lever-action rifle was a real revelation: it is a gun that cab be underestimated, due to its small size reminiscent of the toy rifles we played with as children. On the other hand, the little Savage takes the matter very seriously, proving to be much more than a recreational firearm: although, as always, this was our first contact with the rifle, we managed to achieve very good results right from the start, despite the fact that the ammunition used was the inexpensive variety that is normally used for plinking (CCI Standard Velocity with 40-grain bullet).

Once shouldered, the Revel feels a little slender, especially the fore-end, but also decidedly rugged and very stable when firing. The feed system works flawlessly and allows the bolt to be operated while remaining in the aiming position, concentrating solely on the shot. The trigger too is surprisingly – crisp and predictable, well beyond the minimum required to blow cans off your ranch fence. Also very convenient is the cross-bolt safety, located at the bottom rear of the receiver, immediately behind the trigger.

The real limitation of the Savage Revel are the standard sights, which are spartan and understandably designed for rapid fire rather than accuracy, and which do not allow you to squeeze out all the inherent precision the rifle seems to have. Let's be clear: they are perfectly in line with the gun's intended use, but everything else is so good that one ends up wondering what grouping could be achieved using higher-end cartridges and being able to aim at the target more accurately. There is, however, a set of holes on the receiver that allows the mounting of an optics base, so the operation is technically possible: we will repeat the test on the next occasion by mounting a scope on the Revel.

Wrapping up: with the Revel DLX, Savage once again confirms its focus on the American civilian market, historically associated with .22 Long Rifle rifles as the first step in the experience of millions of shooters. Certainly for those who have the possibility and the space to practice plinking, the Revel lives up to its name: it is a rifle that is very easy to have fun with, but also safe. As far as we are concerned, it passed our test with flying colours!

Savage Revel DLX technical specs and price