2" at 100 yards is 2 MOA, not 1.
Nathan--I've bought a dozen or so axis rifles and it isn't because I like inaccurate rifles. All manufacturers have bottom end guns that feature "Tupperware stocks" as a marketing ploy to appeal to the budget-minded hunter who wants a lightweight gun; but competition in that niche has gradually pushed the quality of even the Tupperware stocks to improving. You're not going to get a quality rigid pillared and bedded stock in that price range. End of story. One of the tightest 1-hole groups I've ever shot was with a $250 axis in 308 @100 yds--so you're really buying the barrel and receiver and, should you want to, it's up to you to decide how much "home improvement" you want to do. The newer axis 2's for just a bit more but without a scope would be the way to go IMO if you're budget shopping--the stock is improved and also comes with the excellent accutrigger. If your guy is looking for a lightweight rifle that will drop game--the axis is more than up to the task. If he also is looking to spending hours bench shooting looking for the best groups in handloads (which is mostly what I do) then he may be disappointed with the stock rifle--but it can still be made into a very good shooter without too much investment. The manufacturers know darn well at what point the consumer is going to be forced to upgrade to their more expensive models.
I gather you're talking about an axis xp combo, why would "savage stoop that low?" Because right out of the box it probably is good enough that 99% of hunters can take their game at 99% of the distances they typically shoot at.
The worst part is usually the scope which in the few combo packages I've bought I gave way or junked them.
The barrel, bolt and receiver are generally much more than good enough if you're willing to put the time and money in to make the gun better. A large percentage of hunters do not practice much or care much about one-hole all day long at 1000 yds accuracy--many of whom don't shoot at all until the week before deer season, buy a box of coreloks, put a few bullets into a paper plate at 100 yds and call it good.
I junk em when they self destruct and prove worse than nothing at all, which is the case of most of the combo packages under $300--ocular falls off, reticle falls off, turret falls off--stuff like that.Being the frugal b*stard I am, don't junk the scope. I found scope's I don't care for work well on 22 RF rifles!
Being the frugal b*stard I am, don't junk the scope. I found scope's I don't care for work well on 22 RF rifles!