Picked up A Savage Axis

T

tomsd

Inactive
Geesh - just bought an Savage Axis with a Bushnell scope - on sale - with my friendly sporting goods discount - for about $300. Did this after asking? Which is more accurrate - the Savage or the Ruger - and the answer from this shop (which has about 10 other stores in the chain) was we sell a lot more Savages then we do Ruger - and the guy himself said his Savage shoots great.

There is also a thread that says you can adjust the Axis trigger pull (yes, it's not an Accu-Trigger - which I like - and I have a knock off of sorts in my 30.06 4x4 from Mossberg - which shoots just fine) - with a $3 part - to bring it down to about 3 pounds - which I intend to check out after I get the rifle in 10 days.

Mainly wanted a little .308 in 22" for carrying for hog hunting, whatever - as the Mossberg has a 24" barrell and a 2" Muzzle break (shoots like a .308 and first muzzle brake I ever bought but it was just on the model) so that's why I boutht it - that and the fact they are requiring full long rifle registration after the first of the year, here in California anyway.

I was going to buy a shotgun - a semi-auto - Baretta 300 Outlander - 12 gauge - for $600 (on sale and then my discount) but for about the same total price - bought a pump Remington 870 (I grew up with a Model 97 Winchester pump and brought back geese and ducks and pheasants just fine in Oregon) - and the Savage Axis - for $300 each

Time will tell if I made the right decision I guess - and I don't intend to work the Axis that hard. (Yes, the mag is a plastic - but seems to fit ok).

Oh yes, I will report back but and any other info you might have will be appreciated. The Bushell scope - 3x9x40 seems servicable - and if I really fall in love with this little gun - I may put a Nikon Buckmaster on it.
 
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you will love it i guarantee. Accuracy is awesome. trigger job- cut 1.5 coils of spring, 5 minute Polish and Walla- all ready to go.
 
I bought a second axis just last week.. First one I got was the full size 223 model.. its shoots .075 groups at 100 yards. Im sure it would do better with handloads. I was very impressed for a $300 rifle
Second one is a youth model 20" in 7mm 08. Bought it as a xmas gift. I haven't tried but a couple of different rounds thru it but it looks like its a shooter also.

My only dislike is the slick cheap feel of the stock. (feel the same about remington ADL stocks) But for $99 that's easily replaced with Boyds laminate stock.
 
The Axis has become a solid platform.
Click to expand...

I second this sentiment.

We had a thread going a couple months ago right after Boyds' introduced their new stock for it, and a whole bunch of Axis owners chimed in and were happy with their rifles.

In my mind the stock was the only drawback as I shoot mine off a bipod and it would certainly flex. After installing the Boyds' stock, it is a great little gun. Mine is a 223 Stainless, and I intend to add a 7mm-08 Rem or 308 in the near future.
 
With the Boyds stock it should be a pretty decent rifle, as long as you don't mind the long-action only. I got rid of my.308, it was horrific to shoot until I filled the stock and added weight. It was fine to shoot then but still felt cheap, and I'm a short-action fan so it got sold. I also couldn't get over the high scope ring requirement, I like to shoot a 40mm scope mounted absolutely as low as possible, with the Axis the bolt handle would hit anything but a 50mm ring with a 40mm scope.
 
I also have a .223 stainless Axis. I'm still waiting for my Boyd's stock to get here.

There's a lot of guys over on the Savage forum using the Axis as a platform for a budget build. The barrels for any short shank Savage will fit the Axis action, there are aftermarket triggers and stocks, and it's pretty easy to add an integral recoil lug if you so desire (unnecessary IMO).

The main advantage the Axis has over the RAR is the aftermarket, that and the price. The stainless Axis is a little less than the blued RAR. The only edge the RAR really has is the factory trigger. But as others have said the Axis trigger is easily remedied. The factory stock sucks on both but at least there's a replacement for the Axis.
 
I'll have to reduce the picture so I can post it (which if anyone wants to fill me in on how to do that feel free) but I just had mine bedded to a boyds stock and open sights installed to go along with my scope. I used a medium height dnz mount and a weaver classic K and it all sits perfectly for me and the rifle looks fantastic now. The smith put a pillar on the rear screw and bedded the front screw lug area. He said with the stock/rifle design that was the best way to do it. Took his word.
 
How's the AXIS stack against the Steven's 200?

Asking cause I'm interested in doing a custom deer hunting build and want to pick between the two.
 
The axis is nice, but I would go for a Steven's if I was going it again. Just for the magazine alone. And with the Steven's you can use anything meant for the model 10's
 
Colt, between the Axis or Stevens 200 to build on, buy the Stevens. Own both an Axis and a Stevens 200. Less things to deal with.
 
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