The title is an (unqualified) statement. I have achieved this 0.5 MOA accuracy out of a Savage Axis, but it definitely took some tinkering.
Here is a photo of the grouping that was shot today (in less than ideal conditions too). Note that the first number is the COAL for the 5 rounds shot and the lower number is the measured group size:
Here is the tightest group:
I do wonder about what happened with the one on the top (perhaps an extra grain of powder). I shot two rounds of 5 for each load and saw similar groups, with the 2.240" being the best OAL.
There was also quite a bit of wind that wasn't helping, so the sample size may not be determinative.
I have seen this rifle shoot tighter groups, and at my indoor 50yd range it can just about put the rounds through the same hole.
Most of the effort to tighten the groups up was done via lots of patience with reloading. However, it wouldn't be fair to say that this was done with a stock Axis.
Here is the rifle in the form for these groupings:
It is in a MDT LSS chassis, has a Timney trigger set to just about 2.5lb and a different bolt handle.
For the reload recipe that shot these groups:
Hornady Match 68gr
CCI BR4 primers
23.1gr Varget
COAL 2.240" (which would be only 0.010" off the lands)
Brass is fire-formed and sized for a shoulder bump of 0.005"
Here is a photo of the grouping that was shot today (in less than ideal conditions too). Note that the first number is the COAL for the 5 rounds shot and the lower number is the measured group size:
Here is the tightest group:
I do wonder about what happened with the one on the top (perhaps an extra grain of powder). I shot two rounds of 5 for each load and saw similar groups, with the 2.240" being the best OAL.
There was also quite a bit of wind that wasn't helping, so the sample size may not be determinative.
I have seen this rifle shoot tighter groups, and at my indoor 50yd range it can just about put the rounds through the same hole.
Most of the effort to tighten the groups up was done via lots of patience with reloading. However, it wouldn't be fair to say that this was done with a stock Axis.
Here is the rifle in the form for these groupings:
It is in a MDT LSS chassis, has a Timney trigger set to just about 2.5lb and a different bolt handle.
For the reload recipe that shot these groups:
Hornady Match 68gr
CCI BR4 primers
23.1gr Varget
COAL 2.240" (which would be only 0.010" off the lands)
Brass is fire-formed and sized for a shoulder bump of 0.005"
Last edited:
- Supposed to be 23.1gr
