Guns & Ammo: Savage 110 Ultralite Elite

The Savage 110 Ultralite Elite proves that a lightweight hunting rifle no longer has to compromise on accuracy or long-range capability. Moreover, hunters no longer need to order a custom rifle and wait months or years for the finished product to arrive at their local FFL. There are now factory options that offer exceptional performance and are easy to acquire. One of the top options is the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite. In a recent article, Tom Beckstrand of Guns & Ammo Magazine gives us a detailed look at what's under the hood of Savage's best performance package.

The Savage 110 Ultralite Elite

The 110 Ultralite Elite pairs Savage's refined bolt-action with a Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel, MDT's HNT26 folding chassis, and the high-performance 7mm Backcountry cartridge. This rifle was designed for serious hunters who spend long seasons climbing ridgelines and backpacking deep into the wilderness. This rifle delivers a premium package that blends portability with the kind of precision normally reserved for custom rifles that cost closer to five figures.

Engineered for Precision

At the heart of the rifle is Savage's 110 action, a complete departure from the ubiquitous Remington 700 footprint. The receiver provides significantly greater action screw engagement, helping to lock the barreled action more securely into the chassis and reducing unexplained flyers that can plague lightweight rifles. Each action is blueprinted, and the floating bolt head is carefully fitted to keep cartridges aligned with the bore.

Reliability also gets plenty of attention, thanks to dual ejectors, a robust sliding-plate extractor, and a fluted bolt. Up front, the 18-inch Proof Research carbon-fiber-wrapped Sendero Light barrel lived up to its reputation, producing a standout 0.43-inch three-shot group at 100 yards with Federal Premium's 170-grain Terminal Ascent load. Completing the package is MDT's HNT26 folding chassis, which combines a magnesium center section with carbon-fiber furniture, adjustable fit, and M-LOK mounting points, all without adding unnecessary weight.

Power in a Compact Package

Much of the rifle's performance stems from the innovative 7mm Backcountry cartridge. Designed to operate at an impressive 80,000 psi, it delivers magnum-class ballistics from a shorter barrel. Federal's proprietary Peak Alloy steel case makes those pressures possible while reducing bolt thrust and minimizing lug setback through its case design and interaction with the chamber (via a smaller case head diameter and shear transfer as the case expands outward rather than rearward). The result is a cartridge capable of pushing a 170-grain bullet to roughly 3,000 fps from a 20-inch barrel, offering hunters flat trajectories and impressive downrange energy without the size of a traditional magnum.

Ready for the Backcountry

Even tipping the scales at just over six pounds, the 110 Ultralite Elite remains surprisingly comfortable to shoot. The Savage Omniport radial muzzlebrake helps tame recoil, while the adjustable MDT chassis lets shooters tailor the rifle's fit for better control. Savage also focused on the finer details, refining the receiver's internal machining for smoother bolt travel, applying Elite Series Cerakote to the receiver and bolt for corrosion resistance and improved lubricity, and installing a crisp 1.5-pound trigger.

Among the available factory loads, Federal Premium's 170-grain Terminal Ascent delivered exceptional accuracy, making it the reviewer's top hunting choice. Taken together, the rifle and cartridge form a versatile system that feels equally at home on steep mountain hunts, cross-country adventures, and nearly any North American big-game pursuit.

Final Thoughts

Tom Beckstrand makes a compelling case for this rifle-cartridge combination and its effectiveness in the field. Until now, achieving that level of ballistic performance in a compact package has been nearly impossible. But he shows how effective the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite can be.

For more articles like this, check out Tom's work at Guns & Ammo.