Bought a Savage Axis as a project

As I stated in an earlier post, I've got a similar situation. I didn't feel like possibly sending my rifle off, so we put a piece of shim stock where the ring and rail mate up. Works perfect, and every bit as ridgid as without it. I understand if you don't want to go this route, but figured I'd throw out the option.

And on a side note, I still don't understand the complaints about the axis stock! I literally just got my gun out and twisted the stock, sure it moves some, but under what circumstances would you do this in a normal day! What do you do with your guns?! They aren't screw drivers!

"They aren't screwdrivers". I totally agree. However the length of pull is for a large person and the grip fits a kid and I am neither. Plus they are butt ugly.

As to building a rifle instead of just buying a more expensive one: Where's the fun in that? Now I have a rifle that fits me exactly as I want it to. I'll admit it's difficult ( impossible really) to build a beautiful rife using a Savage for the project but the factory looks can be improved a great deal. Now I have a rifle that is fun to shoot and I really enjoyed the building of plus I don't want to put it in a tow sack to hide it.

I'm happy with the Axis .308 I bought a few months ago. It's the camo stock version with 3-9x40 Bushnell scope and was $310 after the $50 rebate (which came in the mail pretty fast). My only upgrades are the lighter trigger spring and a 4-12x40 Nikon Bucksmaster scope I found on sale for $142. The Bushnell scope is working well on an AR-15.

I don't plan on any more upgrades, I'm satisfied with the stock and like its Next Gen1 camo. As far as the removeable magazine, I prefer that and know to be careful that it properly seats and locks in. That's just one of the things you learn with box magazines, lock 'EM in.

Overall the Axis is a fine starter rifle and now that the Axis II (with AccuTrigger) is just a little more, they're hard to beat. I do see the argument of starting with higher end rifle if you're going to upgrade the Axis a few hundred bucks, but many people will be satisfied with this $250-300 rifle out of the box.

umm. really that $19.99 scope guys. how do you think the gun is so cheap? i do not even want to recall in my 15+ years around firearms how many times i have taken those cheap scopes off of frustrated peoples gun to shake it and say lens is shot loose.

I picked up a Savage Axis SR .308 for $259 recently.
After the $50 rebate and shipping it cost $215
I had several items on hand that were briefly on the rifle while I saved up$ to get it to where I wanted it.
Below is the list of what will live on the rifle.

I put an EGW 0moa mount on it $40
TPS rings $90
Boyds Tacticool stock $110
Timney Trigger $90
SWFA SS 10X $259 ( came with rings and bubble level I didn't use )
Harris style tilt bipod $50
Damage Industries Muzzle Brake $15 (black friday sale)
So lets call that all about $900 shipped
Still developing some reloads for it, but have found a few things it likes.

Now, I don't think you could do a whole lot better than $900 for such a nice shooting rifle.
I have the trigger adjusted down below 1lbs.
I am calling it a .5MOA rifle if I do my part.
With cheap factory ammo it was a 1-2MOA rifle. That was with Prvi ammo.
The only other stuff I have fed it is reloads.
I started with a few known "accuracy" loads to try it out and it was sub MOA.
After doing some workups, it is sub 1/2 MOA.

I do not have current pictures of it, but here are a few of while I was piecing everything together.





100 yard group


.445" 100 yard group


Before changing stock

ford8nr said:

Got a reply from Savage apologizing for the problem and offering a free magazine for my trouble
Interesting find at the range, my poi changes dramatically depending on the position of the front bag. Shoots good groups just needed to watch the front bag. Time to finish stiffening the stock. New scope and extension bases came this week. Old bases took a Allen wrench, auto punch and torch to get off. Lots of lock tite or something under the bases and I couldn't decide if they were crappy torx or crappy allen head screws. Managed to get them out though after a trying 1/2 hour. Interesting gun though. Was consistently hitting a 18" steel plate offhand at 240yds with the crappy scope that came with it.

Click to expand...

I had an issue with the OEM bases as well; they were too far apart for the Nikon I was planning to use. The Chinese "Weaver" (what a joke) was not about to be trusted on an actual hunt. I ordered a weaver one-piece rail, which arrived the next day. Taking the old bases off was ridiculous; the crappy aluminum Hex-Heads rounded quickly, so I had to drill them out.

The rifle (.30-06) got a slow 20 rounds or so before I shot for groups, with frequent cleanings. It is shooting right at 1 MOA with Remmy Corlokt 150's. I'm happy with it, as is my 13 year - old, it's his rifle. Took a nice 8 pointer two weeks ago. Bang/flop.

Glad to see your project worked out well. Thill bobber spring is the correct spring for the trigger. I thought maybe it was just me but I also got some flyers I thought were from the front rest. I can get tighter or looser groups by moving it backwards or forwards. My .223's love .50 grain Feds and 68 grains of most anything. The .243 seems to be a bit more sensitive about the forearm. I'm going to try the expoxy too.

Good ideas 8nr! I hope it shoots well for you.

I think the Axis is a good inexpensive rifle but for a project or build the Stevens 200 is much better and on the same price point.

Jay south,

New Weatherby rifles in 308 have faster twists. I believe they went from 1:12 to 1:10 about 4-5 months ago. They did this to accommodate the newer style of bullets.

Best regards, Ron