A lot of people put down the Savage Axis 1-2 in .223, and the Savage Axis line in general. However, as the owner of 3 in .223 and .308, I can say with out a doubt it is the best budget shooter out of the box. My Axis 1, in .223 is my go to coyote gun and gets lots of use. The cons, the mag well and fit of magazine is annoying, but I have never had one fall off or fail to feed. The bolt action has a couple of spots of drag, the trigger group and trigger action is like hauling a 2X4 down a gravel road (but I know each bump before it fires), compared to my 700 Police special heavy barrel (308), and the Savage Axis 2 in .223 (plus the trigger weight is adjustable).
All that being said, for less then $500, It rides in sled behind ski doo, it is carried thru bush in snow, rain, sleet and hail, it is my outdoor field gun, it is my go to coyote killer gun, the supplied Bushnell 3 X 9 X 40 has never failed.
IF the goal is to blast rounds and shoot coyotes, save your money, by one in .308 for your $1200 bucks. Two for one.
IF your goal is long range (.223?) paper puncher go with a better quality rifle that don't have the nuisances of Axis 1-2, but it can shoot. I only custom load for all my rifles so ammo consistencies is not an issue for me.