Once again,I don't know the gunsmith.
We heard one side of the story.
I've never looked at a Savage Axis.I don't know anything about them.
It MIGHT be this gunsmith was using the Axis as an example.It MIGHT be this gunsmith was saying with confidence "I can take a darn Savage Axis,do this,this,and this,and usually get XXX results"
And there are the "instant pudding" folks who focus all their time,attention,and $ on getting some magic < 0.5 MOA Bambi slayer ,thinking that the rifle somehow elevates their abilities.
It MIGHT be the gunsmith was commenting on the folks who drink his coffee,take up his time flapping their lips about squeezing another 1/2 MOA out of their rifle....but our Smith notices these same guys buy 100 rounds of ammo and one deck of sight in targets a year.
It MIGHT be this gunsmith believes that the average shooter would be better served finding 3 0r 4 MOA improvement in their own ability to shoot.
And I'm not talking benchrest.
Yes,lots of folks can drive the pickup to the range,get out their $3000 rifle with the 24 X astronomical telescope mounted on it,haul the rig 50 yds to the bench rest,get down on the bags and shoot sub MOA groups.
Or the gunsmith can maybe make THE GUN shoot sub MOA groups.
If I may twist the phrase,"Guns don't place shots,people place shots"
Maybe,just maybe,what our gunsmith was trying to say.....
Can these same sub 0.5 MOA riflemen get off the bench rest ,get their butts on the ground,sling up,and shoot targets like our own Gentleman Mr Kraig Stuart can shoot with a regular rack GI M-1 Garand ,iron sights,and Greek ammo.
I cannot shoot like Kraig. On a bench,I have rifles that shoot sub MOA.
But real world field shooting? A 2 MOA rifle will put a bullet 1 MOA or less from as good as I can hold. Within the width of my palm at a quarter mile.
At some point,who am I trying to kid? It might be the best way to "accurize" my rifle is to buy 1000 rds and some targets and become a better shot,but not using a bench rest.
I don't know the gunsmith,but it might be he was observing that most SHOOTERS without a benchrest,can't outshoot a Savage Axis,or an M-1 Garand.