Savage Axis in .243

drache

drache

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So I traded in one of my shotguns and picked up a new hunting rifle, a Savage Axis in .243 WIN. I wanted the Savage 11 in .300 WSM but it was $160 more than the axis and money is tight right now. Looks just like the one below:

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Came with a cheap Bushnell scope which seemed decent enough for plinking coyotes and deer (and the occasional bear). My friend just got the same rifle but in 25-06.
 
Both my brother and a family friend bought Axis rifles in .243 and they both love them.

Honestly though, if you wanted a .300 wsm, I'm not sure why you settled for a .243.
 
Trim or change the spring, polish the sear and take the bolt apart and give it a good cleaning. That's what I did to the brother inlaws and it has never given him any grief and the trigger is at about 4lbs not bad for an axis.
 
A friend of mine had a stevens with a bent stock. I think its the same cheap plastic one the axis uses but his was grey.
The barrel was right tight on the left side and gapped 1/8" on the right.
He clamped a 2x4 to the side of the stock, and ran a saw down the barrel channel making a deep groove in the bottom.
He then epoxied a metal bar in that groove.
Finally he used a socket wrench wraped up with sandpaper and cleaned up the barrel chammel.
When he took the 2x4 off and replaced the action it sat perfect.
And the stock had no more flex to it.
Cheap fix for a cheap stock.
 
The only real problem I have with the Axis is the trigger. Other bothersome features would be the stiff bolt lift, thumb coming into contact with the scope when opening the bolt, stock flex and general ugliness. That being said I have two and they are not going anywhere anytime soon. One is my Coyote rifle in 223 with a Rifle basix trigger. I don't treat it very well, but it in turn treats me very well indeed. Bought a second in a youth stock in 7mm-08 to get the wife hunting/shooting it's great and light wieght and for some reason the trigger seems a lot better than my 223 was.

I'm sure you will be happy with it.
George
 
i am looking at a stainless in 223 as my next step to reach out past my learning step currently which a sks to 200
and my 22lr to 100
All i read is good always the same flex stock fore end and heavy trigger
And i believe stocks will be available sooner than later just too good a seller
 
g-manz35 said:
The only real problem I have with the Axis is the trigger.
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Mine breaks at 4 lbs right out of the box. Which is perfectly fine with me.

g-manz35 said:
Other bothersome features would be the stiff bolt lift
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No stiff bolt lift on mine after working the bolt about 10 times. Smooth as butter.

g-manz35 said:
thumb coming into contact with the scope when opening the bolt
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That is not a problem with just the axis. I hardly notice this as I lift up on the base of the bolt with a cupped hand instead of grabbing onto the bolt.

g-manz35 said:
stock flex
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Yes there is a little stock flex. But not as much as the Remington 700 VTR I had.

g-manz35 said:
and general ugliness.
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It's not as plain as I would have thought for a gun as cheap as it is but hardly ugly!


I took the rifle out today. Took 4 shots to sight it in right. The scope (stock scope that came in the package) was doing perfectly, nice and clear, wasn't wandering at all. Groupings were all well under an inch. Gave it the old Drache golf ball test at 200 yards. Couldn't find the golf ball in the snow after it went flying when the round hit it. Damn snow. First round went over the top as I didn't have a ballistics table on me and misjudged the bullet drop, second round hit the golf ball and sent it flying.
 
I'm liking this caliber as well! Very little recoil and has almost identical ballistics to my friends 25-06 Axis he just bought (comparing my 100gr Hornady American Whitetail to 117gr Hornday American Whitetail for 25-06). Took two shots to hit a golf ball at 200 yards. First shot I thought the bullet drop would be greater and went over the top. Readjusted for the second shot and the golf ball went flying.

For the price this rifle costs and it's performance I will not be complaining!
 
Have heard of lots of guys putting a rifle basix in the axis and getting clover leaf groups with good loads. Friend has one in .243 that will shoot one inch groups with federal blue box and a little luck. Won't punch em into one hole like my savage .204 though.

Enjoy your gun, I'm thinking about picking on up in .22-250 for when I take friends out.
 
JRodko said:
Have heard of lots of guys putting a rifle basix in the axis and getting clover leaf groups with good loads. Friend has one in .243 that will shoot one inch groups with federal blue box and a little luck.
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Mine will easily do 1/2 inch groups with the stock trigger.
 
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