Description
The Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western is the lightest rifle in this family, at 5.8 pounds bare, and it is chambered for the cartridge that arguably suits an ultralight mountain gun best. A 20 inch carbon fiber wrapped stainless barrel with a fast 1 in 8 twist sits in an MDT HNT26 chassis built from carbon fiber and magnesium. The Savage item number is 33050 and the UPC is 011356330505. MAG5 Firearms lists it for elk and mule deer hunters who walk in, and the notes below cover both sides of the ledger.
Why 6.8 Western Fits This Rifle
6.8 Western is a short magnum built around heavy for caliber 270 bullets, typically 165 to 175 grains, fired from a fast twist barrel. That combination gives high ballistic coefficients and strong downrange energy without the recoil of a 300 magnum, which is exactly what you want in a 6.8 western rifle that weighs under six pounds. The 1 in 8 twist on the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western is what makes those long bullets usable in the first place.
Against a 300 WSM you give up some raw energy and gain a noticeably softer push and a flatter trajectory with the heavier bullets. Against a 270 Winchester you gain a lot of bullet weight and sectional density. For elk at the ranges most people should be taking, a Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western is a very well balanced answer, and, this is a very well balanced answer, and it is the reason the cartridge has held on where several other short magnums have not.
The mdt hnt26 chassis is the second half of the story. Carbon fiber forend, pistol grip and buttstock over a magnesium spine, with comb height adjustable and length of pull set by quarter inch spacers between 12.5 and 13.5 inches. An ARCA rail is machined into the forend, so a tripod clamp or ARCA bipod mounts without an adapter. Overall length is 40.5 inches, which is genuinely compact for a magnum.
The Honest Downsides
Ammunition is the real constraint. 6.8 Western is loaded by Winchester, Browning and Federal and it is available, but it is not on every shelf in every small town, and it costs more per round than 30-06 or 308. If you hunt somewhere remote, buy enough of one load to sight in, build a drop chart and hunt for two seasons, then buy more of the same lot. Switching loads mid season on a Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western wastes the accuracy you paid for.
Light rifles amplify shooter error. At 5.8 pounds the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western is harder to hold steady offhand than a heavier gun, and the recoil impulse is sharper even with the Omniport brake fitted. The brake is also loud, which is worth remembering at the bench and worth mentioning to anyone standing next to you. None of this makes it a bad rifle, it just means the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western rewards a tripod, a pack rest or a bipod rather than freehand shooting.
A carbon fiber wrapped barrel saves weight and nothing else. It does not soak up heat better than steel, so confirm zero and gather drop data in two or three round groups with real cooling time between them. A chassis is also colder to hold in late season than a composite stock, and the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western is no exception, so plan on gloves in November.
Specifications
- Savage item number: 33050
- UPC: 011356330505
- Caliber: 6.8 Western
- Barrel length: 20 in
- Twist rate: 1 in 8
- Muzzle thread: 5/8×24 with Omniport brake included
- Capacity: 3 rounds, low profile AICS pattern detachable box magazine
- Overall length: 40.5 in
- Length of pull: 12.5 to 13.5 in with spacers
- Weight: 5.8 lb
- Action: Bolt
- Receiver finish: Blackout Cerakote over stainless
- Barrel: Carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel, matte
- Chassis: MDT HNT26, carbon fiber forend, grip and buttstock over magnesium
- Forend: Integrated ARCA rail
- Trigger: AccuTrigger, adjustable 1.5 to 4 lb
- Optics: One piece 20 MOA Picatinny rail
Who It Is For
Buy the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western if you hunt elk or mule deer on foot in big country, if you shoot off a tripod or a pack, and if a pound of rifle weight genuinely changes how far you get in a day. It is an ultralight elk rifle that does not ask you to accept a pencil barrel or a flimsy stock to get there. Full factory specifications are published by Savage Arms.
If you want the same chassis and barrel in a more common cartridge, the 300 WSM version sits alongside it, and ammunition for that chambering is easier to find on the road. If your hunting is closer and lower, a heavier rifle in 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor will cost far less to own and shoot. Browse the rest of our rifles to compare.
Practical notes. Buy two spare AICS pattern magazines while you are at it, since they are cheap and easy to lose in the field. Choose a light scope: a heavy optic undoes the entire point of the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western, and a 20 ounce scope on a 5.8 pound rifle still balances well. Finally, budget for enough ammunition to actually learn the rifle, because this is not a cartridge you can practice with cheaply.
MAG5 Firearms is a family owned FFL dealer in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. This Savage 110 Ultralite Elite 6.8 Western ships to the licensed dealer of your choice, and local buyers can complete the transfer with us in person. Call 610-943-0010 with any questions about fit, optics or ammunition.
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