Axis haters beware.
- Thread starter plmnkoqaz
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
An AK-47 might an ingenious design, it might be popular, and it might be reliable, but its a miserable excuse for a rifle, despite its suitability as a jack-handle, a digging implement, or a tomato stake. On second thought, its too short to use as a tomato stake. As they used to say, the AK is the weapon of the masses but the FN is the rifle of the classes. The AK does one thing, and only one thing, particularly well. It allows a combatant to dominate a gun fight against multiple assailants across pistol ranges. That is not the purpose of a rifle in the game field where a deliberate aimed shot is brought quickly against a living target from an undefined distance, with the intent of producing a humane kill. The AK has a short sight radius, no satisfactory means of attaching a scope, a miserable trigger, and the fixed stock models won't fit any North American over the age of 12. The AK wielding warrior would have a very difficult time bringing aimed fire against an enemy who is under cover 300 yards distant, although he can lay down a withering volume of fire as long as his ammo holds out. Thus, the $50 AK proves my point.
As for rifle accuracy mitigating the necessity of cycling a fast follow up round, you're allowing your experience show I'm afraid. In the game fields you are not shooting at a known range, you are not shooting from a benchrest, the target might only be momentarily stationary, so you are shooting under an open ended time constraint as quickly as you can manage. In addition to that, the hunter is, or should be, emotionally connected with his target, which the paper shooter is not. All of these elements combine to create a challenging marksmanship problem, the result of which is not always as we would like. This is when the fast follow up becomes essential. Far too many hunters fire their shot, then lower their rifles to see what the effect of their shot was. This results in an unacceptable lag time if a second shot is necessary.
Like the AK, the Axis does one thing conspicuously well; it provides a better level of accuracy then most marksmen can hold from field positions. But what is the advantage of accuracy you cannot exploit? Its akin to the carpenter using a micrometer rather than a tape measure, yes its more accurate, but it doesn't allow him to do what needs to get done.
The hunter needs to be concerned with the elements that allows him to exploit the optimum performance from his rifle. But if the stock doesn't fit, if the action is too stiff to cycle easily, or if his eye relief is a problem, the hunter's ability to make a good kill under field conditions is compromised, despite the level of accuracy that his rifle can bring to the problem. These short comings can be addressed, but once they are, you no longer have an inexpensive rifle.
There are better alternatives for the hunter on a fixed budget then choosing, a bargain basement rifle. Consider a used Husqvarna sporting rifle from Tradex. They shoot as well as anyone can hold from field positions. The wood stock can easily be shortened if its too long for the shooter; he might even be able to do it himself. Chances are the rifle will cycle easily. Thus for similar dollars, the used rifle option represents much higher value to the hunter.
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I have many rifles ranging from economy priced, right up to i'm almost embarassed to say what I paid for it... LoL... Over the last little bit I've purchased 3 Axis XP's in .223, 25-06, .308 calibers. But just because they are economy priced doesn't mean they get any less care than my highest end firearm. I love them all. I also have a lovely Mosin and all 4 of these economy priced firearms will get the job done. I use my .223 primarily as a plinker using 5.56 NATO ammo and it's close enough @100 yards for me and a friend to have a game of 100 yard darts. (here's a link to the target we use http://targetz.com/targetzlib/20041.pdf ) The AXIS has but two drawbacks as far as i'm concerned, firstly the remote recoil lug... Makes for a PITA to change a stock. Secondly was the trigger (over 7 lbs of pull and grittier than sandpaper). The trigger issue I solved in about and hour with some polishing and spring tension/length reduction. I've encountered a few CGN'ers that have the economical rifles are all crap mind set, but for the most part I've found CGN'ers accepting of the Savage AXIS products. You get what you pay for with the AXIS if you are not willing to take a bit of time and do some trigger work but none the less what you pay for a damn good rifle that will fill your freezer with little or no problems. 
Go for it! You won't be disappointed... I have a .223 and use 5.56 NATO ammo in it for plinking and it's all good. My AXIS' are all XP's and the Bushnell scopes do me just fine for what i do with them.... With some trigger work it'll be a coyote's worst nightmare...
Well, I did a bit of modification to mine, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=678068
And there is a source ofr replacement stocks for the Axis, google away !
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=678068
And there is a source ofr replacement stocks for the Axis, google away !
For what its worth, Stan Trzoniec of Rifle Shooter magazine wrote a review on the Savage Axis in the May/June issue. He says it was hard to find a fault with an under $500 gun, he does have his criticisms, "trigger pull, magazine hard to load". When it came to accuracy, the gun proved its mettle he says.
He also states; " Criticisms aside, I would'nt have a problem taking the (.223) Axis to the field, especially when the weather turned against me. The gun looks like it can take the punishment and if chambered for the larger 7mm & 30 cal rounds it might just be the the rifle to partner with in your pick up for larger game"
I will definitely be trying out a larger cal than my 243 for shooting, hunting & ####s n giggles.
Take it for what its worth. It is what it is. We Axis owners have made our decision!
He also states; " Criticisms aside, I would'nt have a problem taking the (.223) Axis to the field, especially when the weather turned against me. The gun looks like it can take the punishment and if chambered for the larger 7mm & 30 cal rounds it might just be the the rifle to partner with in your pick up for larger game"
I will definitely be trying out a larger cal than my 243 for shooting, hunting & ####s n giggles.
Take it for what its worth. It is what it is. We Axis owners have made our decision!
thanks for your comments, the XP scope is something I have been wondering about but have not heard much about as most talk is about the rifle itself. I know the scope has got to be entry level as well but that is not to say it's not good enough for the basic task in mind. My question about the scope relates to it's low light performance as that's when 9o% of the coyote opportunities seem to present themselves. I don't expect it to be fantastic at gathering low light, but I know it will have to be at least half decent compared to what my kid is used to or else I'll be swapping it off and wishing I had just gone with the axis version without the scope.
Can anyone comment more on the axis xp scope? thanks
Well I have some high end optics to compare to, such as Schmidt & Bender and Leupold... When compared to these it's maybe a 4.5/10 (I'm being generous) .... Like I said, the Bushnell's do me fine for what i will be doing with these rifles... Some may disagree on my harsh rating of the Bushnell... If I were you, I'd just get the AXIS without the optics and put a quality optic on it.
I found the cross hairs pretty heavy in that scope, might be a problem with longer shots and also in low light conditions, but I only shot at a target at 100 yards to take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
Just to get the masses spinning I am going to mount my zeiss conquest on my axis to see what it can really do.......after that its time for a benchrest stock, weaver T36, shillen barrel and basix trigger, it may not super model material but its not the fat gurl that no one wants to dance with either...........
Just to get the masses spinning I am going to mount my zeiss conquest on my axis to see what it can really do.......after that its time for a benchrest stock, weaver T36, shillen barrel and basix trigger, it may not super model material but its not the fat gurl that no one wants to dance with either...........
I hope it was a good one!!!
Most I have seen are "solid" but when you add in head spacing issues, poor barrels, removal of irons and poorly drilled scope mounts its not too great of a shooter if its gonna be used for anything more then a deer bush gun!!!
Decent enough that I can shoot 2L pop bottles and at 300 yards no problems with my .223Rem model
The Bushnell scope is their entry level scope on par with the "Sportsman" series although they no longer list this scope on thier website it is a lower quality scope than the Banner and Trophy series.
The one on both my 111 .300WM & Axis are identical.
I'll see how much $hitkicking this scope will take from the .300 magnum recoil.
I just about purchased a axis for my wife and daugher in 243 to shoot deer but have decided to up grade just a bit to the Trophy Hunter XP package for about $150 - you get the accutrigger and a slightly upgraded weaver scope - they handled both and thougth the XP felt a bit more sturdy
First centre fire rifle I bought was a savadge axis in 270, I bought it because it was inexpensive and I wanted to try hunting rifles out before investing the cash in more expensive ones
It was a great way to get into shooting and an inexpensive way to dip your toe into the market. Its the only gun I have ever sold, I sold it to a friend as a favour. I immediately replaced it with a Savage 114 classic.
I have Sako's, Tikka's, Remmington's, Ruger's, Browning's, CZ's and lots of Savages. The Savage axis stocks lack a little but their actions and accuracy match up well with any of them
It was a great way to get into shooting and an inexpensive way to dip your toe into the market. Its the only gun I have ever sold, I sold it to a friend as a favour. I immediately replaced it with a Savage 114 classic.
I have Sako's, Tikka's, Remmington's, Ruger's, Browning's, CZ's and lots of Savages. The Savage axis stocks lack a little but their actions and accuracy match up well with any of them
Did this with a 1943 Enfield. Mounted a 2.5-10 Monarch I already had, and worked up a load that shoots way better than the Axis. For cheaper!
Don't get me wrong, the Axis is a real peach for what it does. You could do much worse for around the same price, the 770.
Savage Axis .243 combo package purchased from Cedar Valley.
Scope was replaced with Bushnell Banner and rings are Leupold. Rifle was fired off of Harris bi-pod. Range was 100 yards.
These are some starting loads using 100gr Rem CL and 34grs Varget.
I will be using R22 next.
Scope was replaced with Bushnell Banner and rings are Leupold. Rifle was fired off of Harris bi-pod. Range was 100 yards.
These are some starting loads using 100gr Rem CL and 34grs Varget.
I will be using R22 next.
