Savage Axis poor accuracy

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There are some excellent factory box ammo loads out there; Federal Fusion, Federal Premium, and Hornady Superformance come to mind. Then there are the 'boutique' loads out there; HST, Buffalo Bore, etc. But you will pay for them, and pay much. I can replicate those loads (and have; the 55 gr. Superformance .223) myself, and save a few bucks, and enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting game or tight groups shot with my own loads.
 
@Picher & @South Prairie Jim have restarted that great debate on accuracy of a hunting rifle.
I have 3 of the Walmart clearance Axis rifles now. I'm getting excited about shooting them for accuracy
I am a firm believer that a factory rifle should shoot at least 1 1/2" three shot groups with factory ammunition at 100 yards. This 1.5 moa is 4 1/2" at 300 yards. Yes when hunting your shot accuracy is only as good as you can be stable.

I have had many that have shot under an inch, but a couple that were traded off do to not being accurate enough with the type of bullet that I wanted to shoot in the rifle.
 
Are the barrels on an Axis rifle built any differently or even possibly are the same as used on other Savage models? I have been under the impression that Axis barrels undergo the same inspections for straightness and are manufactured with the same processes and install to the action in the same way and use the same floating bolt design as higher end Savage models. I just do not believe there is any reason an Axis rifle would shoot differently that any other Savage. The cost cutting in the Axis is the "universal" action and the plastic stock without the internal support of the Accustock. The fit and finish of the metal parts and barrel appear on par with my Model 11 Scout if not better. And that little short, stubby barrel on the Scout keeps tight groups even after heated up. The longer and more tapered sporter profile barrels of the Axis probably will suffer from heating.

But to enter the debate, a hunting rifle needs to be able to make three (MOA or close) accurate shots from cold. If what ever critter being hunted is not dead after three shots we have other problems going on. Well, if I was ever given the opportunity to have to defend myself from or hunt a large brown bear, I would probably put some extra holes in him ;). The MOA thing has come about as a result of interest in long range shooting which comes about as a result of pressure on (ex) hunters to find suitable hunting grounds and to satisfy their needs taken up target shooting as a diversion and somewhat inspired by military snipers perhaps. Since most game, antelope and elk perhaps being somewhat an exception, are taken within 200 yards I would think most off the shelf rifles are adequate to that purpose.
 
After checking-out and repairing/pillar-bedding and glassbedding a used Rem. Mod. 7, 7mm-08 previously-owned by a friend and bought by my neighbor, I sighted it in using some hastily-reloaded ammo and it shot 1 1/2 groups at 100 yards. They had a new box of Remington Core-Locts and I fired a perfect 3-shot 1/4" cloverleaf at 100 yards with them!!! Shocked the heck out of me!!!

She loves the rifle and shot a huge buck with it at 100 yards! It may end up being buried with her in about 50 years. ;)
 
My tinkering with the Remington and Savage came to a halt suddenly on Saturday when I crashed my motorcycle last Saturday. My normal bike has abs but the one I was riding does not and just had a brake job. It locked up on me and I went down. My own fault that I needed to slow down fast.. Bad road rash, lots of stitches, broken left shoulder, left wrist and right big toe. I am healing slowly and painfully but I will be ok. Selling motorcycles.
 
My tinkering with the Remington and Savage came to a halt suddenly on Saturday when I crashed my motorcycle last Saturday. My normal bike has abs but the one I was riding does not and just had a brake job. It locked up on me and I went down. My own fault that I needed to slow down fast.. Bad road rash, lots of stitches, broken left shoulder, left wrist and right big toe. I am healing slowly and painfully but I will be ok. Selling motorcycles.

Everyone lays one down at least once, just a question of how fast you're moving when ot happens. Hope you heal fast and get back to having fun.
 
My tinkering with the Remington and Savage came to a halt suddenly on Saturday when I crashed my motorcycle last Saturday. My normal bike has abs but the one I was riding does not and just had a brake job. It locked up on me and I went down. My own fault that I needed to slow down fast.. Bad road rash, lots of stitches, broken left shoulder, left wrist and right big toe. I am healing slowly and painfully but I will be ok. Selling motorcycles.
Sorry to hear that, and glad your doing ok!

I laid mine out a few times but was lucky enough to have not gotten hurt beyond some impressive road rash, and a few burns. Scary AF tho, and I don't ride anymore either....tho more from lack of access, and kids.

Here's hoping you get healed up quick!
 
My tinkering with the Remington and Savage came to a halt suddenly on Saturday when I crashed my motorcycle last Saturday. My normal bike has abs but the one I was riding does not and just had a brake job. It locked up on me and I went down. My own fault that I needed to slow down fast.. Bad road rash, lots of stitches, broken left shoulder, left wrist and right big toe. I am healing slowly and painfully but I will be ok. Selling motorcycles.

I am very sorry to hear this, I wish you to heal rapidly and get back to your life ASAP. Yes, my mother and my wife and my sister, all nurses or doctors loath motorcycles, I love them. I have ridden motorcycles my entire life and raced motocross and still occasionally do at 66yo. I have never been badly hurt but I also am a cyclist and have competed in various bicycle racing events. About ten years ago in training for a triathlon I was attacked by pit-bull type dogs and nearly killed. My femur was badly broken and I had a stroke from a blood clot. My leg is okay, sorta, I still compete in triathlon and bicycle racing, but it is not 100% and neither is my brain, an entire month of memories is gone and I forget things (conveniently). My point is that life does not guarantee us anything but a pine box at the end, quit motorcycles if you feel the need but there is always something to get you and it all cannot be eliminated.

Riding in Kansas if I see a car it is a busy traffic day:

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Get well soon.

I just installed a new extractor improvement kit in my Coyote Axis II. The rounds were not ejecting cleanly or at all. Now they fly out of the port like they are on fire and land in the next county! I am putting one in all of my Savage bolt guns.
 
Sorry for your injuries. By the grace of God you are still here with your loved ones. ALWAYS remember that!

It was a motorcycle accident that perm. disabled me & left me with a paralyzed arm/hand. (should have killed me). I was in a coma for a week & recovered in the hospital for two months! Thing is, I was stopped at a light, bumped from behind(pushing the bike out from under me & leaving me dazed on the ground), then a large SUV ran over me with BOTH axles. My bike just coasted to the side of the road and laid down all gentle like. Had a small, stone size dent in the tank & one broken mirror/turn signal. That’s It! Reason I tell people to buy the highest quality Carbon-Kevlar helmets they can.

Here was my helmet after the SUV ran over my head! Yup! That’s a TIRE TREAD you can still make out!
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I know it doesn’t feel like it now...but you were lucky. So count your blessings. I live in debilitating pain every minute of every day of my life now. I can no longer even drive a car, let alone ride. I can’t even walk all that much. But I’m still a happy guy, and I praise The Lord every day for keeping with my wife & children. I pray you Know Christ as I do OP. If not....this would be the time. (That was a knock on your door my friend.)

About the rifle....I don’t believe anything is wrong. You shot 2 boxes of off the shelf ammo. One gave you 1.5” groups the other gave you 3.5”. OK. Maybe it just doesn’t like the Fusion ammo. But when you get back to it, try some more of other brands. If you can duplicate the 1.5” groups again with that first type or another brand, the rifle is fine.
 
Are the barrels on an Axis rifle built any differently or even possibly are the same as used on other Savage models? I have been under the impression that Axis barrels undergo the same inspections for straightness and are manufactured with the same processes and install to the action in the same way and use the same floating bolt design as higher end Savage models. I just do not believe there is any reason an Axis rifle would shoot differently that any other Savage. The cost cutting in the Axis is the "universal" action and the plastic stock without the internal support of the Accustock. The fit and finish of the metal parts and barrel appear on par with my Model 11 Scout if not better. And that little short, stubby barrel on the Scout keeps tight groups even after heated up. The longer and more tapered sporter profile barrels of the Axis probably will suffer from heating.

But to enter the debate, a hunting rifle needs to be able to make three (MOA or close) accurate shots from cold. If what ever critter being hunted is not dead after three shots we have other problems going on. Well, if I was ever given the opportunity to have to defend myself from or hunt a large brown bear, I would probably put some extra holes in him ;). The MOA thing has come about as a result of interest in long range shooting which comes about as a result of pressure on (ex) hunters to find suitable hunting grounds and to satisfy their needs taken up target shooting as a diversion and somewhat inspired by military snipers perhaps. Since most game, antelope and elk perhaps being somewhat an exception, are taken within 200 yards I would think most off the shelf rifles are adequate to that purpose.
ALL Savage use the same barrels, unless specialized. Least that's what I was told a few years back. I had axis barreled Stevens 200 in 6.5cm, and it shot better than my Savage 11......I wonder what I did with the .243 barrel from that gun
 
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I shot my Walmart 243 Axis today for the first time. I'm happy so far. I normal shoot 3 shot groups, added the four after I felt I moved a little. Ammo was 100 grain CORE-LOKs.

The scope leaves a little to be desired. Stopped at Walmart on my way home. They had a Leopold 4-12×40 Rifleman on closeout for $169. Should fit it nicely. I need to save a little money to upgrade the scopes on the other two Axis rifles I bought.

I shot the 270 I picked up, but have little more zeroing to do with it.
 
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ALL Savage use the same barrels, unless specialized. Least that's what I was told a few years back. I had axis barreled Stevens 200 in 6.5cm, and it shot better than my Savage 11......I wonder what I did with the .243 barrel from that gun
Pretty sure it's in my closet
 
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