# 4. Accuracy testing at 100 yards revealed both Howa Axiom rifles averaged just under 2 moa groups with a variety of match, hunting, tactical, and surplus ammunition.
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To test the Axiom, first I zeroed the Burris at 100 yards using 168-grain Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition. Accuracy results were mixed. I tested seven types of match, tactical, hunting, and surplus ammunition including loads Black Hills, Federal, and Hornady. The average group size was just under two inches at 100 yards. Groups strung both vertically and horizontally. The Black Hills 175-grain load managed one group around an inch.
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If the scope is tracking correctly the first and last groups will coincide, and the distance between groups will correspond exactly to the knob movement. Since the Axiom was giving me inconsistent accuracy results, I clamped the rifle in place and dialed the scope, watching how the reticle moved on my target.
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Next, I took the rifle out to some open land where my shooting partner and I regularly place targets out to 1500 yards. Since the practical limit of 308 is 800 to 1000 yards, we set a full-size IPSC silhouette at 980 yards and several smaller steel plates at 300 and 500 yards. Accuracy at medium and long range tracked right around two moa, which made sense considering the 100-yard results. The 940-yard plate could be hit about 50 percent of the time, while the closer plates which were larger in moa at their distances, could be hit closer to one for one.
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One of the main features of the Axiom stock is its recoil abatement design. The stock is spring-loaded in two spots to cushion the stock's impact. I found it effective for that purpose, but an unintended side-effect is that the barreled action now moves during the shot and follow through. A tenet of rifle marksmanship is to get the rifle tight into your shoulder to keep everything the same shot to shot. The movement inherent in the Axiom design works against this. The other practical effect is that spotting impacts is more difficult because the rifle, and thus the scope, is moving in recoil. This observation was echoed by my shooting partner.
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While I might expect a sporter with an unbedded lightweight barrel to shoot 2 moa with hunting ammunition, there's no excuse for a heavy-barreled, free-floated 308 to average over one moa shooting Federal Match ammunition. The Howa has potential, with good build quality and no major flaws, but needs to address out-of-the-box accuracy.
