Savage Axis worth the money?

Segue2002

Segue2002

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Bought a 30-06 Savage Axis pretty cheap the other day, thought I'd stick a cheap scope on it and see how economically efficient I could be setting up a decent big bore rifle. Here's a review for anyone who may be wondering whether it's worth the money.

That trigger though...

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I have owned one and they are a very usable reasonably accurate gun but it felt too cheap for my liking.
 
Segue2002 said:
That trigger though...
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Exactly. I own two. one in 223 that I replaced the trigger and one Youth stock 7mm-08 for my wife to start hunting. The wife's gun has a far more reasonable trigger than the 223 did. Both are decent shooters. In terms of a Big game rifle to get a new hunter started they are a great bargain.
 
By the time you replace the trigger and stock, you'd be price point of an S1 or S2.
I'd grab the Ruger American for a few dollars more if the budget is squeezed.
 
I just polished and reworked the trigger on mine and I am more than happy with the results , I don't think a guy needs to buy a new trigger .

these things go on sale for below 300.00 at wholesale sports .
the barrels swap out with any small shank savage barrel .
and by swapping out the magazine and trigger guard , you go from 308 length to 30-06 length rounds ( or vice versa ) .
it is a reliable , accurate , butt ugly , 300.00 rifle , that is reasonably lightweight .
 
kamlooky said:
By the time you replace the trigger and stock, you'd be price point of an S1 or S2.
I'd grab the Ruger American for a few dollars more if the budget is squeezed.
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This is truth! I've actually just stared doing the Ruger American video. I've had it out a few times now and is miles better than most any rifle in its relative price bracket.
 
The minimum optic i would put on a rifle to be " budget concious" would be a nikon prostaff.They can be had new under $200 if you look around. Anything less is a complete waste of money imo. I've handled a couple of axis and seen some shoot. Very decent for $300-350. Any higher than that and there is better choice for the money,the American being one of them.As for the packages,the rings and scopes are garbage and offer no value at all imo.The exception to this would be the Ruger American Redfield Revolution package.
 
I strengthened the forestock, grip and magazine compartment with epoxy and ensured barrel was free-floating. I get sub-MOA at 100 yards, so that's all I need.

The change in POI with different ammo was very surprising. I shot Winchester 45g, Hornady 55g and Hornady 70g. With the 55g set up for the bullseye, the 45g hit about 6 inches to the left and 1 1/2 inches low, while the 70g hit 3 1/2 inches to the right and 1 inch low. I've got two reloads with Hornady 55g Vmax, one with Varget and one with 4895 that pretty much duplicate one another and match the ballistic reticle on my Burris Fullfield II.

I like it!
 
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Haven't owed one but from what I've seen for $300 its decent. I'd give it a trigger job and strengthen the forend with carbon-fiber arrow shafts and JB Weld or something.

Buying a cheap rifle and putting a bunch into upgrades never really works out. Keep it cheap and it works out fairly well.

Scopes and rings are another topic altogether imo.
 
I picked one up just because they were on sale last winter...did the trigger job myself and got a deal from another CGNer on a Boyds....honestly, I can't say anything negative about this gun. :)
 
The Axis, Ruger American, and Rem 783 are all about the same level of rifle with the same price points roughly. Some have better triggers, some have smoother actions, some have stiffer stocks, some have better mags, but they all shoot well for the price in OEM form...and all are equally ugly lol.
I got a NIB 783 camo in 30'06 for $299 shipped from wanstalls last year with $60 in mail in rebate promotions that brought it to $239 for a new rifle. The old man has a camo Axis in .223 he got in trade for about $300. Both shoot well above their price points. I find the lightweight 783 to be a very comfortable rifle firing 30'06 full house loads too.
 
Love my Axis .223, picked it up as display model from WSS for under $300 before tax with the Bushnell scope included.

Shootin cheap Barnaul 62gr FMJ without trying hard I can put 20 rounds into 1-7/8" group at around 100 yards.

My only negative remark about the rifle is the factory plastic stock flexes easily, I'll be building a new stock later on so I don't care for now.

Everyone loves to shoot it and has a great time, an only ever had failures to fire with Norinco ammo, hard primers to blame.
 
sunnovagun said:
5 minutes of your time, an Allen wrench and a good pair of side cutters is all it takes to make the Axis trigger a lot lighter.
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Lighter, sure, but the creep... Over .050" of sear engagement isn't my cup of tea.

My buddy bought one new - horrible trigger out of the box, mostly from the creep. I scored a SAV-1 trigger for $40, and bought him a Boyds laminate stock off the EE here, it's pretty decent now, and shoots great. Could have bought a model 11 with accutrigger for less than we spent all told, but the boyds laminate stock beats the model 11 syn stocks for what he wants by a long shot too.
 
I bought an axis xp for about $230 after the mail in rebate last fall. Wholesale sports had em on sale $50 off, and savage had a $50usd rebate.

At that price it can't be beat. Even at regular price i think it's a damn good deal. It's perfectly functional as is, and If you want to upgrade the stock scope trigger whatever, it's easy enough to do.

I bought mine with the intention of putting it in a boyds, replacing or tinkering with the trigger, and getting a better scope, but haven't gotten around to either.

I would not hesitate to get another. In fact Im thinking about picking up a 223 this fall, and If i can't find something used i like I'll be looking at another axis.

My buddy just got an axis 2. I really like the accu-trigger on my .22, but i can't help feeling the difference in price from a regular axis would buy a rifle basix trigger, which i can only imagine is better.
 
No.

There is a utube video on cutting out coil to lessen the trigger pull.

Better than a sharp stick, but much more expensive than a sharp stick. Would second the thought of the S1 or S2, or a used gun off the EE, maybe a Husky from Tradex(Site sponsor).
By the time you get decent glass, and replace the stock and trigger...why not just buy a proper rifle to begin with.
 
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