Axis vs American

[69Precision]

Thanks so much for all the responses. Will post pics when I make a decision!

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I am a Ruger fan, but most are M77s and Ruger No. 1s. If the Axis is half as good as the Stevens 200 put out by Savage and discontinued (probably cause they were so accurate and low priced, I have on in 7mm-08 and that Stevens 200 is a tack driver). I am lucky to afford nice firearms but if you are on a budget, both of these rifles seem to be good deals, bottom line, you get what you pay for.

 

[JackSprat]

.I agree they are not as good as the 110 type Savages,but I can't complain about accuracy..I have a few,and I bought them all used for what I concider good prices..I didn't need any of them,but have hunted with a couple,and I will say they do everything as good as any rifle I've hunted with,and been more accurate than some more expensive ones I have..I think dollar for dollar you get better value in a budget rifle.You get cheap clips,and stocks,and you don't get that nice blueing,and such ,but as far as the tool they are intended to be they are just fine..I'm not loyal to the Axis,but either the Ruger American didn't sale as well around here,or the folks that bought them aint letting them go..So I havn't bought any .

 

[1stmarine]

One of the complaints with the axis was the trigger that has been resolve with the axis II. Still in the axis 1 a simple thing to fix.
Another is the stock but all the rifles in the budget category come wiht Tupperware stocks and the axis is not the worse one.
The Remington 700 ADL plastic stock has to be the worse and that is why ends up in the trash right away. nobody wants them.
The ruger is quite flimsy on the fore-end too.

At the other hand the axis is a very strong platform. A gunsmith can even cut the action and use the standard recoil lug and become
a great foundation for building on it for whatever role.

The savage 10/11 barrel compatibility and exchangeable bolt heads are two very nice advantages.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I would buy the Savage. Of course you will have to replace the trigger and possibly the stock down the road but the barrel and action is what you are looking at here for under $500. Savage, Tikka (Beretta) and Howa has the best rifles now for the money. I have a very cheap Howa (unaltered) and it shoots 1 moa. I paid $335 for it new. Not a fan of Ruger or Accu trigger. Howa has the best trigger of the budget rifles.

https://www.anacortesgunshop.com/howa-hgk63107-308-3-10x44-black-synthetic

 

[Stevenvalleyky]

I have both. I bought the axis as my first deer rifle about 5 years ago( been killing deer with stick and string for almost 30 years). Then the next year I bought an american. The next year after that, I bought another american. Both have cheap plastic stocks but the american seems to be a little more rigid.
The bolt throw seems to be way smoother on the ruger and the trigger difference is huge. The ruger has a little travel but is crisp breaking and set at about 3 lbs. The axis trigger (not accutrigger) seems gritty and very heavy. They are both accurate with both americans a little more accurate than the axis. The ruger seems way smoother and and just feels like its of better quality to me.

 

[peacebutready]

I have both. I bought the axis as my first deer rifle about 5 years ago( been killing deer with stick and string for almost 30 years). Then the next year I bought an american.

The bolt throw seems to be way smoother on the ruger...They are both accurate with both americans a little more accurate than the axis. The ruger seems way smoother and and just feels like its of better quality to me.

I'm curious which is more reliable and robust. I read a claim that the Axis is a robust receiver/bolt.

 

[cdb1]

This is personal preference but I cannot stand tiny ejection ports so that rules out the Axis, RAR, 783, etc. I understand also that the tiny ports theoretically make the receiver more rigid and enhance accuracy but don't care. That limits my selection of budget rifles big time. So for me it would be a Patriot.

 

[DownInTheDark]

I have heard through multiple sources the Axis is a poorly made gun, but the model 11/110 is nice which also costs 100 dollars more. I use a Ruger American in .270 win for my go to hunting rifle. Its accurate, light weight, and don't care if I scratch it. It cost 499 bucks with a Redfield scope from the factory.

 

[peacebutready]

This is personal preference but I cannot stand tiny ejection ports so that rules out the Axis, RAR, 783, etc. I understand also that the tiny ports theoretically make the receiver more rigid and enhance accuracy but don't care. That limits my selection of budget rifles big time. So for me it would be a Patriot.

For a little more money there's the new-ish Winchester XPR.

 

[Jackal]

The Ruger has a rough as crap action due to the bolts pathetically rough, Russian esque machining (at least on the 4 examples I've looked at), but overall, it feels like a more solid rifle than the Axis.

 

[cdb1]

For a little more money there's the new-ish Winchester XPR.

I've compared the Patriot and XPR side by side in a store and liked the Patriot better. Never thought I'd like a Mossberg rifle than a Winchester. Having shot neither I don't know which one is really better, just that on the surface the Patriot is more appealing to me.