Savage Axis accuracy?
- Thread starter d2wing
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Buy crap because it's cheap. It's the American way.
OP
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d2wing
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I want a fairly light low recoil gun for deer hunting in woods and clear cuts. It is going to get banged around and pushed through brush but must be capable of 300-400 yard shots. My 7 MM kicks too much , 30-06 is too heavy. I have AR's, AK's and lever actions.
J_McLeod
Member
I own one in .308 and .243. They're not crap. With handloads, I can routinely put bullets on or touching each other through both. It won't win any matches, but neither will I and Savage has a reputation for accuracy. For what you describe, get a 7mm08. If I was to do it over again, I'd get a 7mm08. My .308 has some heavy recoil because it's a light gun.
CarJunkieLS1
Member
For a light gun with light recoil I'd go with a 7-08 NO DOUBT! Savage Axis are fine but I have never shot one. I would look at the T/C Venture in the price range. My wifes 7-08 Venture shoots very well with "plain jane" 140gr Core-Lokts and no deer is gonna walk away from that bullet shot into the boiler room. She even says it kicks less than her heavier semi-custom .243Win.
IMO the 7-08 w/ 140gr bullets in the ~2800fps range is a non-magnum, short action, ballistic twin to the .270Win when both have the common 22" barrel. And it does it with less recoil and less powder than the .270
I do however love my .270Win but in the 6.5lb rifle launching a 130gr bullet 3019fps it packs a punch on both ends. I'll carry my 7-08 more and more and NO deer on the planet will ever be able to tell the difference, but my shoulder can
IMO the 7-08 w/ 140gr bullets in the ~2800fps range is a non-magnum, short action, ballistic twin to the .270Win when both have the common 22" barrel. And it does it with less recoil and less powder than the .270
I do however love my .270Win but in the 6.5lb rifle launching a 130gr bullet 3019fps it packs a punch on both ends. I'll carry my 7-08 more and more and NO deer on the planet will ever be able to tell the difference, but my shoulder can
Upstater
Member
I have shot an axis that I don't own, and after that I would not buy one, I did not like the action required to close the bolt under the scope. Other than that it seemed to be an alright shooter, but that bolt was enough for me to say there are better options.
Inebriated
Member
I have a .243 Axis, it's a 1 MOA shooter and has been reliable.
Action is smoother than my 111's, same barrels as the rest of Savage's lineup, and the trigger is fine. The .243 is a light shooter and a light rifle.
Action is smoother than my 111's, same barrels as the rest of Savage's lineup, and the trigger is fine. The .243 is a light shooter and a light rifle.
Mosin Bubba
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I am not sure if all your criteria can be met, d2. If I was going to be hunting deer out to 300+ yards, I would want something like a 30-06. But those calibers are going to kick, especially out of a light rifle.
My suggestion would be to go for a 243 - it's a soft-shooting round that goes very well with a lighter rifle. I don't believe it's enough gun for a 300-400 yard shot, but realistically, your game will likely be at half that distance. 100 grain Core Lokts have got the job done for me at those ranges.
My suggestion would be to go for a 243 - it's a soft-shooting round that goes very well with a lighter rifle. I don't believe it's enough gun for a 300-400 yard shot, but realistically, your game will likely be at half that distance. 100 grain Core Lokts have got the job done for me at those ranges.
sappyg
Member
The local WM has them on the rack at $257 plus tax with mounts. No scope or rings. That's a deal in my book. I haven't spent as much time with the Axis as I have with the RA but haven't really had to. It's consistant from shot to shot regardless of ammo. Mine is just not finicky. Doesn't shoot great but does shoot good. Someday I might work up a load for it.
Like Bubba I would choose the 243. I'm not one to shoot at 3-400 yards though and I gave up, or gave out, on recoil a while back. An Axis in 308, though it has an excellent recoil pad, is gonna knock you around some. Sounds like you want a knock around gun. Not a gun to knock you around.
Like Bubba I would choose the 243. I'm not one to shoot at 3-400 yards though and I gave up, or gave out, on recoil a while back. An Axis in 308, though it has an excellent recoil pad, is gonna knock you around some. Sounds like you want a knock around gun. Not a gun to knock you around.
Here's my posting last week after I bought an Axis in .223
Since then I've range tested it an it seems to like 68gr bullets, 5 shots into 1.1" at 100yds. I was hitting an 18" steel plate at 240yds offhand bout 2/3 times. The trigger cost me $0 and less then 1/2 hour. I'd buy another tomorrow.
Since then I've range tested it an it seems to like 68gr bullets, 5 shots into 1.1" at 100yds. I was hitting an 18" steel plate at 240yds offhand bout 2/3 times. The trigger cost me $0 and less then 1/2 hour. I'd buy another tomorrow.
Dmitri Popov
Member
Savage Axis in .243 would absolutely be my choice.
In my opinion Hexhead has little to no real experience with the Axis. Low price does not translate to low quality. The trigger is fine, and with a little work can be made great for a hunting trigger. I've yet to see one that won't shoot.
In my opinion Hexhead has little to no real experience with the Axis. Low price does not translate to low quality. The trigger is fine, and with a little work can be made great for a hunting trigger. I've yet to see one that won't shoot.
HexHead, not sure why you are so negative about the Axis when you clearly never owned or shot one.
The factory trigger is terrible, however, to say nothing can be done about it is pure BS. You can lighten the trigger with a spring from a ball point pen or you could buy an accutrigger or another aftermarket trigger.
Back on topic...OP, there is also some Savage rebates if you choose to get a Savage. I will say that if you plan on keeping your factory Axis stock that you will need/want to reinforce it to make it stronger. Axis stock is by far the worst stock I've ever owned on any factory rifle. I've spent some time using epoxy and steel rods to reinforce the forearm.
You can replace the stock with a Boyd's down the road if/when you have funds and want to upgrade. That is the true beauty of owning a modern Savage is that you can DIY to upgrade your rifle.
The factory trigger is terrible, however, to say nothing can be done about it is pure BS. You can lighten the trigger with a spring from a ball point pen or you could buy an accutrigger or another aftermarket trigger.
Back on topic...OP, there is also some Savage rebates if you choose to get a Savage. I will say that if you plan on keeping your factory Axis stock that you will need/want to reinforce it to make it stronger. Axis stock is by far the worst stock I've ever owned on any factory rifle. I've spent some time using epoxy and steel rods to reinforce the forearm.
You can replace the stock with a Boyd's down the road if/when you have funds and want to upgrade. That is the true beauty of owning a modern Savage is that you can DIY to upgrade your rifle.
allaroundhunter
Member
I've sighted in 5 Axis rifles this fall for customers. One .243, one .308, two .270s, and one .30-06. So I will give you my general opinions.
None of the 5 had a terrific trigger, but none of the 5 had one that was absolutely terrible. For hunting duty, the triggers were fine. The smoothness of the action varied. Some were surprisingly nice, while others felt gritty when working the bolt.
As far as accuracy, they were all capable of 1.5 MOA or better at 100 yards with ammunition that I pulled off the shelf or that customers provided.
If I were to rank it among "entry level" rifles, it would fall second to the Ruger American, but ahead of offerings from Remington, Marlin, and Mossberg.
None of the 5 had a terrific trigger, but none of the 5 had one that was absolutely terrible. For hunting duty, the triggers were fine. The smoothness of the action varied. Some were surprisingly nice, while others felt gritty when working the bolt.
As far as accuracy, they were all capable of 1.5 MOA or better at 100 yards with ammunition that I pulled off the shelf or that customers provided.
If I were to rank it among "entry level" rifles, it would fall second to the Ruger American, but ahead of offerings from Remington, Marlin, and Mossberg.
fotheringill
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It isn't a target rifle. That being said, it will kill what you shoot at.
I bought my GF one for Christmas, yes she wanted it now so she could hunt with it, and I have been impressed with the little thing. It's a youth model in .223 and with 55gr american eagle she was able to consistently shoot MOA or better... I don't have enough time with it to see what is shoots best, but so far it has been a great rifle. It came with a Bushnell 3x9x40 and a rough 6lb trigger, but it will teach her trigger control.
OP
OP
d2wing
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Thanks for all the info. Sounds like it is indeed a good buy. However I am now thinking that I should look at a Ruger American and perhaps go .243. I have had a couple Rem. In .243 but considered them for my kids. They were extremely accurate. I really like Sappys comment, that I want a knock around gun, not one that knocks me around.
gunlover_06
Member
Get the Axis 2 it comes with accu trigger
gamestalker
member
Just don't let the bolt drop hard against the stop with a live round against the bolt face, KB. I saw one that a guy claimed, that when he was chambering a round he had the rifle pointed some what vertical, and when the bolt fell against the stop, the firing pin jumped off the cam and detonated the live round that followed it down, causing a major KB. So after seeing this, I tried letting the bolt on mine fall freely straight down against the stop, no live round though, and it also jumped off the cam and released the FP.
That was the first and last Axis I bought. It shoots accurately with my reloads, but it is, what it is, which is to say, just another inexpensive disposable production rifle.
GS
That was the first and last Axis I bought. It shoots accurately with my reloads, but it is, what it is, which is to say, just another inexpensive disposable production rifle.
GS
Since the OP asked about accuracy... I will say that a $250 Axis is as accurate as a $700 Browning or Ruger 77. But it sure looks and feels cheap. When it comes down to the real purpose of a rifle, accuracy is a lot more important than cosmetics in my opinion.
Buzsaw
Member
Shot one in 308.... Not impressed.
Bobson
Member
As long as you don't neglect it outright, the Axis will do what you want it to do, and do it accurately. That's based on my experience, not Internet rumors. Is it the best buy at that price point? IDK. Between the Axis and American, I'm inclined to think its more of a matter of preference than anything else.
I'd go with a 7mm-08 over 308 or 243, btw. There's some sort of magic in those .284" bullets.
I'd go with a 7mm-08 over 308 or 243, btw.
There's some sort of magic in those .284" bullets.Read your own comments. I also said at that price point the Ruger American is a better rifle. No, I've never owned one, but I have handled them. I also don't buy guns with crappy triggers and flimsy stocks. By the time you've done the upgrades, you could have gotten a better rifle in the first place.
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