FIELD TESTED | RIFLE REVIEW
Our Take: The Savage Revel Tactical combines classic lever-action shooting with a modern synthetic stock, optics-ready receiver and take-down design. During testing, the .22 LR produced a best five-shot group of 0.78 inches at 50 yards with Eley Match ammunition, although Federal ammunition produced considerably larger groups.
Lever-action rifles have been part of the American shooting tradition for generations. Whether carried through the woods or used for informal target practice, their appeal goes beyond nostalgia. There is something satisfying about working a lever, chambering another round and getting back on target.
Savage Arms is bringing that experience to a new generation with the Revel family of rim-fire rifles. After introducing the walnut-stocked Revel Classic and DLX models, the company expanded the lineup with the Savage Revel Tactical, a more contemporary version featuring polymer furniture and several practical upgrades.
I’ve been shooting rim-fire lever actions for decades. My first rifle purchase was a Marlin 39A .22 with a heavy barrel, a gun that accounted for plenty of groundhogs and punched countless holes in paper targets. That experience gave me a useful reference point when I began testing the Revel.
Having previously handled the Revel DLX, I was particularly interested in testing the Tactical. Its factory Picatinny rail made mounting an optic easier, and its adjustable stock offered a different shooting experience from traditional walnut-stocked lever guns.
Savage Revel Tactical Review: Quick Verdict
A Modern Lever Gun That Still Feels Traditional
The Revel Tactical is enjoyable to shoot, balances naturally and has an impressively crisp trigger. Its compact take-down design is another advantage for shooters who want a rifle that’s convenient to transport.
The biggest consideration is ammunition selection. Accuracy varied dramatically during testing, making it worth experimenting with different loads before settling on a preferred hunting or target round.
Best Five-Shot Group: 0.78 inches at 50 yards
Measured Trigger Pull: 2.5–3 pounds
Reported MSRP: $629–$659
Best For: Recreational shooting, small-game hunting and lever-action enthusiasts.
Savage Revel Tactical Specifications
The Revel Tactical shares its basic action with the Classic and DLX models, but its stock configuration and accessory-ready features set it apart.
Savage Revel Tactical Specifications
The Revel Tactical shares its basic action with the Classic and DLX models, but its stock configuration and accessory-ready features set it apart.
Design and Features: What Makes the Revel Tactical Different?
The most obvious difference between the Revel Tactical and the other Revel models is the stock. Instead of traditional walnut, Savage uses a custom-designed MDT polymer stock with a distinctly modern appearance.
Beth Shimanski, vice president of marketing for Savage Arms, explained that the objective was to provide customers with additional stock options instead of limiting the lineup to traditional wood configurations.
MDT Polymer Stock and Ergonomics
The Tactical’s butt-stock has a minimalist design with M-LOK slots, a removable cheek-piece, stippling on the pistol grip and a rubber recoil pad. Stock spacers can be added to adjust fit.
The forend features additional M-LOK mounting points along the barrel and underneath, along with textured gripping surfaces.
The result is a rifle that looks substantially different from a traditional lever-action .22 while retaining the familiar exposed hammer and lever mechanism.
Field Observation: The removable cheek-piece made a noticeable difference when shooting with an optic. With it installed, my eye lined up naturally behind the scope. Removing it lowered my head position, which worked better when using iron sights.
Optics-Ready Receiver and Threaded Barrel
The Tactical comes equipped with a Picatinny rail, eliminating the need to purchase separate bases before mounting a scope.
The barrel is threaded 1/2-28 for compatible muzzle accessories. While that opens up options, the minimal recoil of a rim-fire rifle makes a muzzle brake of questionable benefit.
Like the DLX, the Tactical has a hooded front sight. The adjustable rear sight remains usable, and the Picatinny rail is grooved so shooters can still use the iron sights.
A Modern Lever-Action Mechanism
While Savage’s historic Model 99 influenced the company’s thinking, the Revel is mechanically different. It features an exposed hammer and tubular magazine rather than the Model 99’s hammerless configuration.
A bolt-locking system secures the bolt when the action closes. According to the Savage engineering team, the design was developed to deliver accuracy comparable to bolt-action rimfires.
The aluminum receiver reduces weight, while hardened-steel components reinforce important areas of the action. The medium-contour barrel uses a bead-blasted, blued finish for a dark matte appearance.
Handling, Balance and Trigger Performance
One of the first things I noticed about the Revel Tactical was how naturally it balanced.
With a 3.5-10x rim-fire scope mounted, the balance point was near the front of the receiver. Even after removing the scope, the balance point did not shift noticeably.
The rifle was comfortable to hold on target while shooting freehand. Its medium-contour barrel offered a sensible compromise between extremely lightweight sporting barrels and much heavier target designs.
A Crisp Trigger Without the AccuTrigger
Savage is well known for its AccuTrigger, but the Revel uses a conventional single-stage trigger without the familiar blade.
Trigger Test: My trigger gauge measured a pull weight between 2.5 and 3 pounds. There was a small amount of creep before the break, but the trigger then released crisply with a distinctive click.
Overall, I found it a pleasant trigger for a lever-action rim-fire.
Lever Loop and Safety Placement
The oversized lever loop accommodated my hand comfortably and should work well with gloves. I could see the design fitting a range of hand sizes.
The cross-bolt safety was a little less convenient. Located behind the trigger, it felt awkward to reach with my index finger. Reengaging the safety was easiest with my thumb.
The Revel also incorporates a hammer half-cock position, giving the rifle an additional safety feature beyond the cross-bolt mechanism.
Takedown Design
All three Revel models have a take-down design that makes them more convenient to transport and store.
Although the system is sometimes described as tool-free, I found that the retaining pins needed a little assistance to get started. Once loosened, they could be moved by hand.
The design is relatively straightforward and makes the Revel appealing as a backpacking or camp rifle. However, buyers expecting the entire process to require no tools should be aware of that detail.
Savage Revel Tactical Accuracy Test: 50 Yards
To evaluate accuracy, I mounted a 3.5-10x rim-fire scope and shot five-round groups from a lead sled at 50 yards.
The results were particularly interesting because ammunition choice had a major impact on performance.
One thing our rifle testing continues to demonstrate is how much ammunition selection can influence accuracy. We saw similar considerations during our Ruger American Gen 2 Predator review, where testing different loads was an important part of evaluating the rifle’s performance
Federal 40-Grain Solid-Point Ammunition
2.3 Inches
Initial five-shot group at 50 yards
The first group with Federal 40-grain solid-point ammunition was disappointing. Additional shooting produced little improvement.
This was ordinary recreational ammunition rather than a dedicated match load. Even so, I would have preferred groups closer to two inches or less at that distance.
Eley Match 40-Grain Ammunition
0.78 Inches
Best five-shot group at 50 yards
Switching to Eley Match 40-grain ammunition tightened the groups considerably and demonstrated the rifle’s accuracy potential.
Accuracy Results at a Glance
Range-Test Takeaway: The Revel Tactical showed impressive accuracy potential with Eley Match ammunition, but results varied significantly between loads. The 0.78-inch measurement was the best five-shot group, not an average across all groups fired.
I would have liked to try a wider selection of ammunition, particularly more affordable loads. That’s important because many shooters will use a rifle like this for plinking and small-game hunting rather than exclusively shooting premium match ammunition.
The results suggest that finding ammunition the Revel prefers could make a meaningful difference.
Is the Savage Revel Tactical a Good Small-Game Hunting Rifle?
Although my testing was conducted at the range rather than during a hunt, several aspects of the Revel Tactical stood out as promising features for small-game use.
Its natural balance, manageable barrel profile and comfortable oversized lever make it an appealing rifle for squirrel or small-varmint hunting.
The ability to mount a scope easily is particularly useful for hunters who prefer a magnified sight over traditional irons. The removable cheek-piece also allows the stock configuration to better suit the sighting system.
For hunters considering the Revel Tactical in .17 HMR or .22 WMR, understanding the capabilities and limitations of these rimfire cartridges is important. Our guide to the best coyote hunting calibers examines both cartridges and where they fit into predator hunting.
Where the Revel Tactical Makes Sense
- Squirrel Hunting: The .22 LR chambering and manageable handling make it a natural candidate for small game.
- Small-Varmint Hunting: Multiple chambering options provide versatility.
- Camp and Backpack Use: The take-down design makes transportation easier.
- Recreational Shooting: The lever-action design and pleasant trigger make it enjoyable for informal range sessions.
One Hunting Feature I’d Like to See
The Tactical lacks an obvious factory sling attachment point, something I noticed immediately given the rifle’s hunting potential.
That is disappointing on a firearm that otherwise emphasizes practical versatility. A sling is useful when carrying a rifle through the woods, particularly when negotiating difficult terrain or carrying other gear.
Hunting Verdict: I didn’t get the opportunity to take the Revel Tactical hunting, so this isn’t a field-hunting performance test. Based on its handling at the range, however, I believe it has the balance and features to make a useful squirrel or small-varmint rifle.
Savage Revel Classic vs. DLX vs. Tactical
The Revel lineup offers three approaches to the same basic lever-action platform. Choosing between them comes down primarily to stock preferences and the features the buyer wants.
Which Model Should You Choose?
Hunters and recreational shooters who prefer traditional lever-action styling will probably gravitate toward the Classic or DLX. The Tactical makes more sense for buyers who want easier optics mounting, adjustable stock components and modern synthetic furniture.
How It Compares With Other Lever-Action Rimfires
Lever-action rimfires have a long history, with rifles such as the Marlin 39A establishing a reputation among generations of small-game hunters.
Among other options are the Browning BL-22, a longstanding rim-fire lever-action design, and the Winchester Ranger, which emphasizes more traditional styling.
The Revel Tactical distinguishes itself through its combination of take-down capability, polymer furniture and factory accessory-mounting features.
Savage Revel Tactical Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very good accuracy potential with suitable ammunition
- Crisp 2.5- to 3-pound trigger
- Comfortable balance and handling
- Factory Picatinny rail simplifies optics mounting
- Takedown design makes transport easier
- Adjustable polymer stock with useful mounting options
Cons
- Accuracy varied substantially between tested ammunition
- Cross-bolt safety placement felt awkward
- Takedown pins may require a tool to start
- No obvious integrated sling attachment
- Costs more than the basic Revel Classic
Savage Revel Tactical Price and Value
The Revel Tactical carries a reported MSRP of $629 to $659, depending on chambering. That puts it above the entry-level Revel Classic, which has a reported MSRP of $499 to $519.
For the additional money, buyers get the polymer stock, adjust-ability, factory Picatinny rail and a more accessory-oriented configuration.
Whether those additions justify the price depends on how the rifle will be used.
A shooter who primarily wants a traditional lever-action .22 for occasional plinking might be perfectly happy with the Classic. Someone planning to mount a scope and who values modern stock ergonomics may find the Tactical worth the difference.
The value argument is strengthened by the rifle’s accuracy potential and the overall quality of its handling.
Value Assessment: The Revel Tactical isn’t simply the cheapest way to own a lever-action .22. Its appeal is the combination of familiar lever-gun operation, modern features and an enjoyable shooting experience.
Final Verdict: Is the Savage Revel Tactical Worth Buying?
The Savage Revel Tactical brings a different personality to the rim-fire lever-action market.
It retains the basic qualities that make these rifles enjoyable while offering a synthetic stock, optics-ready receiver, threaded barrel and compact take-down configuration.
At the range, its handling impressed me. The rifle balanced naturally, the oversized lever felt comfortable and the trigger was crisp. With Eley Match ammunition, the best five-shot group measured an impressive 0.78 inches at 50 yards.
The larger groups with Federal ammunition show that ammunition selection matters, and I would have appreciated more time to test additional loads. The awkward safety location and lack of a factory sling attachment are also areas where there is room for improvement.
Still, those criticisms don’t overshadow the overall experience. For hunters or recreational shooters looking for something different from a conventional bolt-action rim-fire, the Revel Tactical is worth considering.
Our Final Take
Best Suited For: Shooters who want a modern lever-action rim-fire for plinking, range use, backpacking and small-game hunting.
The Revel Tactical is a well-built, enjoyable rifle with strong accuracy potential and practical modern features. Find ammunition it shoots well, and it offers plenty of reasons to spend another afternoon at the range.
For additional product information, visit Savage Arms.
Testing Notes: This review is based on Jeff Helsdon’s firsthand range testing. The reviewed rifle was tested from a lead sled at 50 yards using Federal and Eley Match .22 LR ammunition. The rifle was not field-tested on a hunt. MSRP figures may change.
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