Customizing my Savage Axis

M

Mosin-Marauder

New member
Here are the things I'm wanting done to my savage axis in .22-250 Remington. I figure it will last a long time and save me from having to buy another rifle. As I could use it for deer hunting aswell as varmint and target shooting. So, I'd appreciate you guy's thoughts on it, and if I could improve it in someway by buying/doing something different.

1) Warne Maxima 1" Permanent Rings. Soonest thing to be installed.

2) Boyds Stock. Thinking a Walnut stain, instead of the regular Nutmeg/Pepper type stains.

3) Upgrade Scope. Thinking A Nikon or Leupold, but that's going to be the furthest thing down the road that I upgrade, as the Centerpoint I have now seems fine and very clear.

4) Timney Trigger. Just thought a good trigger would compliment the other upgrades nicely.

5) Lap the locking lugs? This one to smooth out the action, as the final downward lock is a bit rough. This is a maybe though, as I figure just shooting it long enough will smooth it out.

6) Anything else you guys can suggest?

Thanks for any help or advice you can provide!

Regards,

-Mo.
 
I've done what you're thinking of doing, and will advise against it. The trigger and stock will cost nearly $275, and I think I'd use that money towards a different rifle. The axis trigger looks similar to the old Savage 3 screw, I'd just tune it up with some careful stoning of the trigger. If the stock is serviceable for its current use then I'd just paint it if you want something different.

I don't think lapping the lugs will help much, but hey if you want to apply some JB bore paste and work the bolt a few hundred times by all means do it. It may just smooth things up, but with a floating bolt head you should have nearly 100% contact with the locking lugs. The scope and rings are always a worthwhile investment, that can be swapped to other rifles in the future.

Just my 2¢.
 
What he said. I have an Axis in 22-250 also and it is a tack driver, but there is no way I would put out the money to restock it. A trigger job, if you can`t do it yourself, but that`s it. Mine has a 3 x 9 Leupold scope which can come off if I sell it, but all of the 22 rim fires I have with scopes have Leupold on them.
 
Projects like you are doing can be really enjoyable. Replacing stocks (using Richards Microfit) has been a fun hobby for me. I know you can buy guns that are higher end rifles with nice wood, really good triggers, etc, but when I do a gun it makes the thing into MINE. Same with hand loading. Shooting factory fodder just isn't the same trip for me. Working up a good accurate load is fun.

Boyds makes nice stocks---have only had one, but it was a great fit, and really nice looking. Are you doing a thumbhole stock? So far, I only have one thumbhole but E-gads! It is a lot more enjoyable to shoot than a standard traditional style stock.

Enjoy your project!
 
Although it will be a good learning process for you, please remember you are dressing up a sub $300 rifle. It will still be a $300 or less rifle, but will look and feel better.
 
I understand that, but It's a rifle I can keep forever, though. If I ever shoot the barrel out or want something different, I can rebarrel to .308 or .243 Winchester. It will last a long time, and another $250 dollars is a lot better than having to buy another rifle I think.
 
But you're not just talking an extra $250. You're talking about a $135 stock minimum plus shipping, $110 trigger with shipping. So now you're at $245 without any extras, like bedding compound. That usually runs about $30 if you don't cheap out, so now we're at $275. Are you going to add any custom options to the Boyd's stock? If so that'll easily push you north of $300. So then you add a set of Warne rings and a scope and you've added nearly $500-600 +/- total to the rifle.

For that amount of money you can put together a Ruger American or T/C Venture both with a decent scope, or you can just buy a Savage Trophy Hunter XP package in any cartridge you could pretty much want including .308 or .243. Or you could take that money along with what you made from the sale of your H&R .300 BLK and buy that CZ in 7.62X39 you've been talking about. It's obviously your choice what you do with your money, but I'd not put money into a cheap rifle anymore until I exhausted the free stuff I could do to make it and myself shoot better.
 
Why buy an el=-cheapo rifle and then spend hundreds to "upgrade" it?
Just start with a better rifle and use it as received. I realized this 40 years ago when I was considering adding a better trigger to a Remington 788. For $75 more than a trigger cost, I had a brand spanking new Rem 700 WITH an adjustable trigger.
Specifically, I think "someone" needs some parental guidance.
 
I agree with those who advise against major upgrades to a cheap firearm. You tend to get more bang for your buck by knowing exactly what you want then buying the factory configuration that's closest to what you want.

But I'm not knocking the Savage Axis, it's a lot of rifle for the money, in fact I bought a camo Axis XP on sale for a great price last year. I wanted a low cost .308 bolt action to have as an extra that's not used much. I was leaning toward the Ruger American but then came across the Axis on sale. Out of the box it impressed me, it's a better rifle than I expected and the included scope does the job. The camo stock looks great compared to the standard black one which was the final push from the Ruger to the Axis XP. I haven't upgraded it other than trying out an extra Nikon scope I have. The Nikon won't remain there permanently so the Axis XP will likely remain factory stock.

Anyway, it's your call, just mull over your options and the overall cost of each.
 
1) Won't make any difference.
2) That'll require a bedding job too. That's not a big deal though. Unless you don't do it yourself. $129.00 for the Boyd stock.
3) Good idea, but keep in mind you want to use the thing for deer and varmints. Savage is using Nikons and Weavers on their Packages now.
4) Which Axis do you have? Standard Axis triggers are not adjustable. Axis II's have the Accu-trigger. The Timney runs $114.35.
5) Don't bother. Cost a pile of money that should go elsewhere.
6) Re-think the whole idea. An Axis, while a decent rifle, is still an entry level hunting rifle with a decent but still entry level barrel. Spending a pile of money on an entry level rifle really isn't a great idea.
 
Total cost with some slight adjustments including the rifle (Which I Already Have)

With a Good Wooden Stock, bedded for free by my Gunsmith, Trigger Job Done For Free Aswell, Nikon Buckmasters Scope, with Rings, all totaled= About $275, Cost of the Rifle- $275

$550 Total.

I like the st up so I'm probably gonna get it done.


Regards,

-Mo.
 
You'll have $550 in a $200 rifle. It'll still be a $200 rifle when you finish and it won't shoot any better. Sell it and buy a $550 rifle.

I wish I'd gotten that advice 30 years ago and listened. You won't listen either, but it will be a learning experience that you will advise others not to do 30 years from now based on your experiences.
 
Have to agree with taylorce1 and jmr40. Adding good glass and rings is nearly always a positive, but the other stuff won't help the value, and would be better spent improve a better "base gun" (if the base gun even needs it). Keep it and save for quality - get a new Winchester 70 featherweight (FN made; post-2008). Quality stuff.

Or yeah, on a middle-of-the-road budget, a T/C Venture, the best sub-$450 bang for the buck in a turnbolt easily, IMO. And you can probably get it for $400.
 
Couple of thoughts...

First of all, nothing will ever stop you from having to buy another rifle. You've been bitten by the gun bug, and it's a life long disease that I hope I'm never cured from.

Secondly, I think if you put the rings and some good glass on top of your axis, you will be amazed at how much better it is than a Centerpoint scope. It would be my first priority.

The stock won't add any value to the rifle in a re-sale scenario, but if it's more comfortable and attractive to you, I say go for it.

I wouldn't bother replacing the trigger, maybe see if your smithy can smooth it out for you.

Once you get it all set up and finished...you'll start working on the next project. Enjoy.:D
 
JMR40- I would be intrested in you telling me what $550.00 rifle is going to out shoot that thing?????. Yes you can buy a Savage Trophy, But it is not going to shoot any better or more accurate or more rounds before it heats up or last any longer, The Axis trigger is a good trigger, it's just armstrong or I should say Finger strong to pull, Polish it up, cut 1 3/4 coil off spring and you now have a very good trigger-No creep at all. The stocks for them now can be had for $110.00 bucks. Scope rings and mounts are a wash, as you have to buy them anyhow, or like any of the rest of us,that have 5 or 6 sets just sitting around the house already. Short of the Axis being a in exspensive rifle, there is Nothing at all wrong with dressing one up.

I have heard of people shooting the Axis in Comps out to 1000 yards and holding their own very well. The only thing that bites on the Axis is the stock, Minor fix.
 
Mosin didn't ask for approval--did he?

Mosin--If you want to doll your gun up, do it. I had a Remington 700 that I wanted to pimp up with a new stock etc. Turned out the gun was a p.o.s. Now I have a Ruger Hawkeye Predator and have a stock from Richards that will be winter project. Sure, the laminate wood that came with the gun is beautiful. But I want a thumbhole stock, and have never done a walnut before. It makes no sense to anybody but me, and I don't give a rats rear axle about what other people think. My money, my gun, my time. Guess I could waste that money chasing a little white ball around on a golf course. Nah. No chance.

Enjoy your gun and your project. Hope it turns out for you! :D
 
4runnerman said:
The stocks for them now can be had for $110.00 bucks.
Click to expand...

But not the stock Mo said he wanted the Boyd's walnut stock, and that is a $35 upgrade minimum. That'll put him into the he stock for $165 before shipping. Most other upgrades will put him over $200, if he adds any more. A Nikon buckmasters on sale is $129 at Natchess. Warne rings are $30 from Midway on sale. Anyway you cut it if Mo doesn't compromise on some things there is no way he's getting it done for $250 like he said.

Plus he recently started a post about wanting a bolt action rifle in 7.62X39. All the money he's talking of spending will pay the majority of a Zastava in that cartridge. It'll put a healthy dent in the cost of a CZ as well.

Of course it's Mo's money and he can spend it how he likes, but I wouldn't spend it on an Axis stock.
 
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Thank you for your help guys. I don't care about re-sale value, I just want my rifle to be better For Me. I don't want to buy another rifle.
 
Hey MM...just read your post about putting a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 on lay-a-way.

IMhO a very good decision.
 
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