rabid wombat
Member
I have a 30.06 Axis....willing to make it a toy. What barrel and trigger do you recommend to bring it from OK to yowzah accuracy? Yes, lipstick on the pig....my money, and a lack of sense 
thanks!
thanks!
Savage Axis barrel and trigger recommendations
- Thread starter rabid wombat
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Define Yowzah.....
Personally if lookin for MOA or slightly better Im pretty confident in suggesting ERShaw barrels. They are cheap, and about as good as the best factory tubes in terms of consistent accuracy.
After that the only ones ive spent much time with are Shilen, and now Christensen barrels, both of which have been pretty bloody nice all the way around. Id like to try Mcgowan, and the new Bartlein 400 steel but have not yet.
Trigger wise, im not sure id bother doing more then some surface polishing, and maybe a spring change. The aftermarket replacements do offer more adjustability, but the basic housing has so much play im not sure they would offer that much of an advantage without shimming and tinkering.
Ive never TRIED any of the aftermarket triggers in an Axis tho, only worked with what came from the facotry, so take that for what its worth.
Personally if lookin for MOA or slightly better Im pretty confident in suggesting ERShaw barrels. They are cheap, and about as good as the best factory tubes in terms of consistent accuracy.
After that the only ones ive spent much time with are Shilen, and now Christensen barrels, both of which have been pretty bloody nice all the way around. Id like to try Mcgowan, and the new Bartlein 400 steel but have not yet.
Trigger wise, im not sure id bother doing more then some surface polishing, and maybe a spring change. The aftermarket replacements do offer more adjustability, but the basic housing has so much play im not sure they would offer that much of an advantage without shimming and tinkering.
Ive never TRIED any of the aftermarket triggers in an Axis tho, only worked with what came from the facotry, so take that for what its worth.
BigBL87
Member
I can't comment on barrels because I left mine how it is and haven't had a chance to shoot it yet as is.
As far as triggers, all I did was install an M*CARBO Pro-Kit, which basically is a lighter trigger return spring and shims for the sides of the trigger to eliminate the slop side to side. Rifle Basix ($85) and Timney ($125) both offer aftermarket options and I'm sure they're nice and add more adjustability, but I can't see them being worth the massive price jump from the $15 I paid for the M*CARBO kit for my purposes.
As far as triggers, all I did was install an M*CARBO Pro-Kit, which basically is a lighter trigger return spring and shims for the sides of the trigger to eliminate the slop side to side. Rifle Basix ($85) and Timney ($125) both offer aftermarket options and I'm sure they're nice and add more adjustability, but I can't see them being worth the massive price jump from the $15 I paid for the M*CARBO kit for my purposes.
doubleh
Member
I have an early, before the accu-trigger, Axis in 22-250. I scratch built a wood stock for it that is epoxy bedded and added a RifleBasix trigger. It will do 3/4" groups off a bench with my handloads. All I can say about the Axis is that it's an inexpensive, rather cheesy rifle that shoots pretty good without putting a lot of money in it. IMO there are better choices than it.
1KPerDay
Member
Following this thread for interest. I have a .308 without the accu-trigger (and sans magazine). Any leads on cheap replacement magazine or other tips about polishing/upgrading the trigger are welcome (without hijacking the OP's thread).
rabid wombat
Member
One can do a little work and make an Axis better.
Having done it, I ended up selling the half inch shooter @ 100 yards.
Because the factory stock still felt bad to me.
IIRC a 10-24 screw fits the trigger spring hole. Button head used as a post for a new spring/overtravel stop.
Cost me 2 bucks to make the trigger better. Not perfect, but way better (and still safe).
There's proly a YT of somebody doing it.
Having done it, I ended up selling the half inch shooter @ 100 yards.
Because the factory stock still felt bad to me.
IIRC a 10-24 screw fits the trigger spring hole. Button head used as a post for a new spring/overtravel stop.
Cost me 2 bucks to make the trigger better. Not perfect, but way better (and still safe).
There's proly a YT of somebody doing it.
doubleh
Member
I told you about fixing the trigger in my post above your's. Buy a RifleBaxix and install it, then throw that piece of factory junk in the trash or just as far as you can fling it. You won't regret it.
illinoisburt
Member
I install these kits from this seller in 2 Axis rifles I bought this summer. Results are very good. Highly recommend.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SAVAGE-AXI...414020?hash=item41fd0dcbc4:g:XGIAAOSwEwNcm0zN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SAVAGE-AXI...414020?hash=item41fd0dcbc4:g:XGIAAOSwEwNcm0zN
garandsrus
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I put one of those kits in an Axis and was very happy with the result.
BigBL87
Member
I think that is essentially a cheaper alternative to the M*CARBO kit, which would make it very worth the price. In the M*CARBO kit they did mention that their screw (which doesn't have the pan head) provides extra clearance if you are upgrading your stock, so don't know if that is a consideration or not or if you've upgraded your stock and saw any issues.
illinoisburt
Member
I have not changed stocks. I've been on a cheap build kick the past couple years. It's been kind of a thrill of the hunt, so to speak. These are inexpensive Walmart clearanced guns bought due to price rather than need. I'm around $175 per rifle with Leupold base-rings-scope, bipod, sling, shell carrier and trigger kit. Maybe if Boyds decides to sell me a couple stocks for $25? For now the stock is light and feels barrel heavy, which is just fine for shooting offhand. Both rifles are giving me around an inch groups with my standard hunting load so perfectly adequate as-is.
The stock trigger is not so great - little heavy with side-to-side wiggle. The kit was easy to install and results in a very nice 3 to 4 pound pull. I only needed 1 of the washers to take up the side slack. I set the screw with a small over travel. Very pleased overall with how it turned out.
BigBL87
Member
Same here, I'm at about the same overall cost pre-stock replacement though not with as nice of optics. I'm going to pick up one of the $115 Boyds Spike Camp stocks soon, been keeping an eye on their rapid fire deals but haven't had anything for short action Axises, everything's been long action.
JFrank
Member
Not much difference between those upgrades you mentioned and buying a different rifle.I have a 30.06 Axis....willing to make it a toy. What barrel and trigger do you recommend to bring it from OK to yowzah accuracy? Yes, lipstick on the pig....my money, and a lack of sense
thanks!
illinoisburt
Member
The spike camp is a fairly interesting looking stock, and at around a c-note it's very reasonable for people that want to make the swap. I have toyed with the idea of ordering up a Shaw 9.3x62 and turning one of these into the world's cheapest safari gun. Absolutely no purpose except just because. My only concern is I might like it enough to 'require' getting a nice walnut stocked mauser to accompany it once I invest into the dies and reloading supplies.
Cemetery21
Member
If you are really unhappy with the stock barrel (some can be pretty good), there are a number of pre-fits available. Check out Northland Shooters Supply for Criterion and Shilen prefits.
BigBL87
Member
Its amazing how fast the cost of a $50 rifle can add up, haha.
illinoisburt
Member
Exactly! And the dumb things eat, too LOL. Put 80 rounds through each so far.
BigBL87
Member
Well, just ordered my Spike Camp stock. $168 all together shipped, but thats because I upgraded to a metal trigger guard and front mag clip which added about $40. I thought about paying to have them pillar bed it too (since I'm not comfortable bedding myself) but that was $55 and they only do the rear one. Kinda pointless at that point.
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jmorris
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Whenever I get a cheap toy, I generally turn in into a learning experience. I agree with researching respringing/setting up the factory trigger and would go as far as working on the factory stock too, to see what you can get with what you have.
Many decades ago I took a savage 110 free floated the barrel, used JB weld to bed the action and adjusted the trigger and totally changed the way the rifle shot but it shot horrible to begin with, a lot of learning and $2 was the cost.
I wouldn't expect as dramatic results with the newer axis rifles but that's where I would start. Make one change at a time, test, then another.
This way you can note what makes an improvement and what doesn't. If you change every thing at once you won't know what change was the best investment or even if one made things better while another made them worse, giving you a "shoots about the same", instead of a better shooting rifle.
Many decades ago I took a savage 110 free floated the barrel, used JB weld to bed the action and adjusted the trigger and totally changed the way the rifle shot but it shot horrible to begin with, a lot of learning and $2 was the cost.
I wouldn't expect as dramatic results with the newer axis rifles but that's where I would start. Make one change at a time, test, then another.
This way you can note what makes an improvement and what doesn't. If you change every thing at once you won't know what change was the best investment or even if one made things better while another made them worse, giving you a "shoots about the same", instead of a better shooting rifle.
entropy
Member
Definitely interested in this thread, as my $29 .223 Axis II Varmint is already slated for a Boyd's stock. Besides taking the 'blade' out of the stock trigger, I will probabaly leave that as I set it, on the lightest setting.
My 12FCV has evolved over the years.
About the only thing OEM now is the bolt/receiver & associated small parts.
Northland Shooter Supply for barrels.
Used to run an ever so-lightly-sprung OEM trigger. (Not safe for hunting. Also had to refrain from exuberantly closing the bolt.)
My latest addition: https://www.elftactical.com/ELF-SAVAGE-110-SE-Precision-Rifle-Trigger_p_48.html
I like it!
Definitely put some new life back into the old Girl!!!
About the only thing OEM now is the bolt/receiver & associated small parts.
Northland Shooter Supply for barrels.
Used to run an ever so-lightly-sprung OEM trigger. (Not safe for hunting. Also had to refrain from exuberantly closing the bolt.)
My latest addition: https://www.elftactical.com/ELF-SAVAGE-110-SE-Precision-Rifle-Trigger_p_48.html
I like it!
Definitely put some new life back into the old Girl!!!
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