Savage Axis poor accuracy

Ok, I bought a 199 Walmart Axis in 30-06 on sale. I also got a Weaver scope like they put on these packages. I cleaned it, it was very dirty, mounted the scope bore sighted it and took it to the range.
The HMR 165 gr ammo I had shoot in a 4 inch diamond after some adjusting. Three shots were in about an 1 1/2 inch but not consecutive so I thought I was close to home. I switched to Federal Fusion ammo and got a 3 1/2 inch group with a different poi. I gave up and thought I should ask if there is some trick to these rifles. I don't think the scope broke but that could be. Any advice.

 

Number one would be to pick up a couple boxes from different manufacturers in 150's, 165's or 168's, then to the 175's and above.

Second would be to make sure, like Loonwulf said, make sure everything is mounted correctly and your scope is in working order.

Third would be shooting from a stable rest and also having someone else shoot it too.

Fourth, take your time between shots. I'm not sure of your barrel but its likely light and heats up quick.

If it's still grouping poorly between you and other shooters, and you've done all the above, it may be time to send it back to the factory or try a different scope. Even the lower priced Savages are known to be around 1 MOA shooters.

 

I have to agree with Loonwolf and Mn Fats. Check your scope mounts. I have also found that the proper torque on the action screws does make a difference especially with a synthetic stock. The action screws should be torqued to 30-35 inch pounds. Also torque the front screw down first before the rear screw. And definitely try different ammo to find what your rifle likes the best. If after checking everything is mounted good and properly torqued and it still does not shoot well, contact Savage.

I bought a used Savage MkII in 17m2 years ago that the accuracy was not up to par for me. I checked the action screws and the previous owner did not torque them evenly and had them over tight. Once set to the proper torque the rifle shot accurately.

 

The guns are accurate. I also agree with LoonWulf & MN Fats, pull the mount and scope and redo them. (Preferably with better bases and rings.) I might be picking one up in .223 soon, if any are left.
If it has the noodle (synthetic) stock, replcing it with wood will help. If it has wood already, (or if you replace synthetic with wood) check free float, and a basic bedding job helps 'em, too.

 

Start with simple stuff first, make sure the scope is mounted securely. If that doesn't work, and it appears zero is not being held try a different scope and better mounts (don't bother with one at a time mounts then scope or scope then mounts just move on completely). Then try ammo. It's very unusual for a factory rifle to not shoot at least 2" groups at 100 yards these days with quality commercial ammo.

 

The Axis is an odd bird when it comes to bedding. There is no rear tang. The action in the supplied stock is pillar supported at both the rear and forward action screws. However, the magazine catch is plastic into which the forward action screw is inserted. This somewhat makes the front action screw torque questionable. The V3 aluminum magazine catch allows full metal on metal support. It is useful to epoxy bed the front section of the action but as I said, there is no rear tang and bedding plastic stocks is a challenge anyways. A little epoxy back there will help the action find home but the real locators are the two screws through the pillars. OP, I suspect your scope is loose or shifting or the scope is bad and drifting with each shot.

Here is the aft end of the action:



The entire trigger assembly drops off with this pin:



The rear action screw goes in here:



There is a torque given in the OM for the action screws, check that the screws are correctly installed. If they are loose the action can move around in the stock.

 

Well, it WAS on clearance at Walmart...

 

I have one in 308, wood stock, Weaver 3x9 40. Checked scope. Bore sighted. Shooting Tula 165gn sp steel case. Holes touching at 50 yards, on target.
Manual claims scope bored at factory, however it was very apparent the scope was not on the rifle when shipped because there was a protective box in the main box for the scope. Odds are if the scope was on the rifle when you bought it who ever mounted it did not do a good job or the scope is not up to par.
I bought an 06 combo some 10 years ago and even after checking everything it would drift all the time. Scope was Bushnell Sporter. Put a $90 Center point, yeah one of the cheapest from Wally world and it dialed right in. I've taken deer out to 350 yards with it shooting Privi Partisan 165 spbt.
Point is check everything plus other shooter and you'll probably find it to be sub par scope. Just the way it goes with combos sometimes. I just got lucky with mine and so far the scope is solid.

 

They weren't put on at Walmart,I can guarantee you that.

 

Redo the scope mounting, try a few different ammo types and in my experience, shoot slowly. The one I had the barrel heated up very quickly and the accuracy suffered.

 

As everyone above stated, check the torque on all the scope mounting screws first and move from there.

 

One of mine had misaligned bases, I loosened them and used a straight edge to align then tightened to 30 in lbs, then aligned the rings with a 1 in shaft and polished them with polishing compounds, it shoots small holes at 50yrds, I will get it dialed in later. I think I will do the same to the other 2 before I go to the range, at least polish the rings.

 

Check to make sure your action, bases and rings are snug like said above.
Let the barrel cool between groups.
The fusion shot different poi that can happen with different loads.

That scope is a red flag as well especially with 06 recoil, i would look into a better scope like a Burris full field II, redfield revolution or Leupold vx freedom around $150.
Grab some weaver quad lock rings as well.

 

Thanks for the advise guys. Rechecking everything this morning everything looks ok and the scope boresighted looks correct. Since I was so close on the first loads it was maybe operator error plus the gun getting hot. I was in a hurry, it was getting dark and the plastic rest along with the flexible stock and I used alot of pressure to hold it steady may have been factors along with different ammo and the gun was pretty hot.. Plus I may have flinched as my shoulder hurt. Still the scope worries me a little I will recheck mounts and all. I will stay calm, buy fresh ammo and try again but also check out my scope inventory. That stock is a factor but with a better rest I shouldn't need to manhandle it.

 

Yes, I have a Redfield on another rifle I would like to swap out but I may have given the rifle away. I do have some good scopes though.

 

Relax. Let it do it's thing.

 

If an extra half inch to inch LOP doesn't make it too cumbersome you could try a slip on recoil pad from Limbsaver or Pachmyer. It did wonders for me with my 30-06 Springfield Steyr Pro Hunter Stainless with factory synthetic stock. I was able to remove spacers on that stock to balance out adding a slip on Limbsaver Airtech recoil pad over the factory pad. It worked wonders for my shoulder. I'm on blood thinners and now no bruises at all when I take that rifle to the range.

 

I bought 2 of these Axis 30-06 last week (base model without sights). I changed out the two piece factory bases for Leupold rails. Was suprised to find the factory had locktighted the bases in place. Had to heat both to get the screws to turn. That said, both seemed to be average shooters with 1-1/2 groups using hunting ammo. I did get a couple light strikes with 1 rifle which I've since read is not uncommon and will address.

Shooting techniques have a big impact on group sizes. I see a lot of people who have a rifle on a sled or rested on bags put their non-trigger hand over the foreend and barrel and push down to steady the gun. In my opinion that is a terrible technique, especially so with the flexible stocks on these hunting rifles.

 

Yeah, At the time I did not take the stock into account. Probably the main issue. I don't know when I will get to the range again due to travel. I didn't expect to shoot enough to run low on ammo or hurt my shoulder either. This will be a back up deer rifle mostly at fairly short range so it doesn't have to be sub MOA.

 

I got one when they first came out. The recoil.lug was not seated fully and the bbl rode hard on one side of stock.

Simple tap w brass hammer on the lug seated it. Sanded a bit to make sure nothing touched......flimsy stock then needed stiffened. Only did forend.

Cheek was too low. Made a riser and did trigger job. Shot fine after all that

 

Did not have a promo scope.
Redfield rev 4-12x.
Half incher at 100 w 100gr WW.
.243 win

Long action for short cartidge.....it went bye bye

 

Well I get to clean and set up my new Axis II .223 tonight, after I eat. My best friend, who is the Sporting Goods Mgr. at the Walmart I work at, caught me as he was headed to lunch and said he had a camo stocked .223 that the price dropped to $79.00! as soon as he was back from lunch, I went on lunch and bought it. And before anyone accuses me of 'insider trading', it had to sit out in the rack for 24 hours before any associate could buy it. We can get fired for not doing so, and it isn't worth it. Oh, it has a scope, too, don't know what yet, I just peeked in the box when he checked the ser. no. Tomorrow is Trap leagues, and I get to leave work at noon, so I'll have so time to sight it in before.

OK, back from cleaning it up and mechanically zeroing it. It's a bushnell 4-12x Sportsman or what ever that line is called, meh on glass quality, but it won't be on there too long if the gun shoots as well as I expect it to; becuse it is also a 20" varmint barrel which makes it a bit muzzle heavy with the Mossy Oak Marsh plastic stock. I set the trigger just above minimum, didn't check it, but feels about 3#. Since I plan on loading 60 gr. Partitons for hunting with it, I will sight it in with some leftover 62 gr. Silver Bear SP to get it in the ball park.

 

Totally agree. I reinforced multiple axis rifles. It made a world of difference.
After that, I used caulk in the hollow cavity to balance the rifle over the front action screw.
That made them a cheap accurate rifle.