The Perfect Tagalong Rifle – The Savage Arms 93 Minimalist
Ben Ryder 09.05.20
In this review, we’ll take a look at the Savage Arms 93 Minimalist, a perfect companion to pass the time on any big game hunt or back country camping trip.
Over the years I have found that I am often faced with some time to kill no matter my outdoor pursuit. Whether I’m on a hunt, camping, or just hanging out in Northern Michigan I always seem to find myself with some free time that I need to fill. Just recently I’ve started making it a point to always bring a rimfire rile with me to help fill that gap.
Having a small caliber rifle is the perfect way to spend some of your down time and can be used for so many different applications, whether you are on a solo outing or hanging out with friends. Find yourself sitting around camp mid-day with little to do? Why not break out the rimfire to have a friendly shooting competition or maybe hunt some of the local small game. Or, maybe you are with your family and want to let the kids get some reps in while you are relaxing after a hike.
No matter what you may use it for, the utility and fun a rimfire rifle adds to your kit cannot be understated. So, I often find myself scouring the web like most firearm addicts searching around for different backpack guns or utility players that I can add to my next outing. One such rifle that I have been really enjoying is the Savage Arms 93 Minimalist.
For me, Savage Arms is a brand much like Jiff Peanut butter or Dr. Pepper. Not only does it provide a sense of nostalgia for all of the hunts I have been on where a Savage rifle was with me, but I also know exactly what I am going to get. Dependability, accuracy, and overall quality are things I have come to trust Savage to deliver, no matter the rifle or caliber.
The Savage Arms 93 Minimalist can be had in two very capable rimfire calibers, 22WMR and also the ever popular .17HMR, the later being the round I opted for. You can also choose from two different stock colors, brown or green. I went with the green just because it had a bit more flash to it, so why not?
As far as features and specs go the rifle features a Boyd’s laminate stock that lends to the minimalist name. All in you are looking at an overall length of 37” and weight of just 5.48 lbs. The barrel sits at 18” with a 1 in 16 twist and will provide great accuracy for any application you would normally trust a rimfire to do.
The trigger system carries through the AccuTrigger allowing users to adjust their trigger from 2.5lbs up to 6lbs depending on their preference. The AccuTrigger system is one of Savage’s best features and it’s something that I personally and the other Savage shooters I know love. Stock rifles with customizability is always a welcome feature.
When I had this rifle out and about, I would synch it to my backpack or hunting bag and hoof it around with me. A great example of why a rimfire rifle is so great to have comes from a trip to Alaska I was. We had been hiking all morning in search of caribou and decide to take a break to rest our feet and relax before pressing on. As soon as we settled in, out pops a ptarmigan. One of my hunting party had a rimfire rifle with him and was able to get a shot of and before we knew it, we were snacking on some field cooked and very delicious ptarmigan. That is a memory that I will also have with me, but without the rimfire it would have never happened.
The 93 Minimalist is a home run for just such an occasion or any other where you want to pass the time or hunt animals of opportunity for sport of an afternoon snack. At just $350, the Savage Arms 93 Minimalist is a great addition to your next trip and should be on any rimfire lover’s consideration list.
For more information on the Savage Arms 93 Minimalist, you can head over to the product page here.
