Area residents treated to Savage shoot

story and photos by Roy Hill

Savage Arms, a major American rifle manufacturer, recently introduced River Valley shooters to its new products at the Old Fort Gun Club, just off Highway 59 south of Van Buren.

Savage provided the bolt-action rifles, ammo, targets, and sales literature in a very hands-on approach to marketing. Approximately 75 shooters traveled to the gun club Aug. 26 to try out the new rifles.

“We do shoots like this all over,” said sales rep Marcus Jurecka. “We go to local areas where we have very good dealers, and let folks get their hands on the new stuff.”

Jurecka has been a sales rep with the W. L. Carter Company for 16 years. The company markets various outdoor brands and products.

“Lots of companies that make these products use us to get their product out there,” Jurecka said. “We were able to set this event up working with Richard Craft and Mike Kennedy with Gellco. They are one of the best Savage dealers locally.”

John Furstenberg, who works in firearms sales at Gellco Outdoors, was excited at the chance to show off the new Savage products. According to Furstenberg, firearms and ammo sales are still up compared to the same time last year, which mirrors national sales trends.

“Wholesalers used to be able to get the ammo we ordered to us in a week,” Furstenberg said. “But we’ve got ammo orders we placed at the first of the year that we still haven’t seen yet.”

Two noteworthy products displayed at the shoot were the Accustock and the BAS-10 rifle. The Accustock is a design concept that allows the stock to tightly grip the rifle action and stock, and enhance accuracy.

“It’s the most exciting thing Savage was done to its rifles since the Accutrigger a few years back,” Jurecka said. Rifles with the new Accustock design are just now arriving at dealers.

The BAS-10 is a tactical bolt rifle, with an adjustable stock similar to the type found on some AR-15 style rifles, a detachable magazine, and built-in rail systems for mounting optics. “It’s more along the lines of police or military,” Jurecka explained.

The BAS-10 was introduced at the SHOT Show in February 2009 and retails for around $1,500.

Old Fort Gun Club president Bill Striplin was pleased with the turnout, and the visit from a high-profile gun maker.