Savage Axis. What caliber? Suggestions?

B

Bearc

Regular
Rating - 100%
16   0   0
Location
Near London ON
Hi everyone. I am looking to buy a Savage Axis. But, WOW, caliber choices. I am looking for the best 'bang for buck' (pardon) caliber, but also a fairly economical ammo buy. Can you share some info, if you have one, what bore, etc. Thanks for your time reading this.

Bearc
 
If you are interested in shooting only, the choice is easy, 223. Bullets and components are about as cheap as you can get while shooting centerfire unless you go with a pistol caliber.

If you are planning to hunt, you'll have to tell us your intended game.
 
SoBored said:
If you are interested in shooting only, the choice is easy, 223. Bullets and components are about as cheap as you can get while shooting centerfire unless you go with a pistol caliber.

If you are planning to hunt, you'll have to tell us your intended game.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the recommendation. Yes, I plan on shooting only, not really for hunting. If I were to hunt with the rifle, it would be small game only. Thanks Tim.
 
SoBored said:
If you are interested in shooting only, the choice is easy, 223. Bullets and components are about as cheap as you can get while shooting centerfire unless you go with a pistol caliber.

If you are planning to hunt, you'll have to tell us your intended game.
Click to expand...

Yep, 223 is cheap like borsch but not great for shooting big game. If you're taking it hunting 308 Winchester ammo can be had at reasonable cost and will take down deer or moose quite well. 270 or 30 06 is a little more. Bigger bang=bigger buck unfortunately. The 223 is great for spending all day at the range, hardly any recoil to wear out your shoulder.
 
I myself just picked up a Savage AXIS this past week from Ellwood Epps in .223 to fill the void in my collection, primarily as a cheap coyote poker because of caliber discharge restrictions in Southern Ontario and a soon-to-be ready supply of 5.56 cases from my as-yet virgin DPMS Oracle for reloading to .223 spec. Working on getting scope mounts (ordered today) then will mount the scope (ready and waiting). Looking for a bipod now, then sight-in and look for yote property to shoot at. Eagerly looking forward to denting the yote population and processing some pelts.
 
kennymo said:
Yep, 223 is cheap like borsch but not great for shooting big game. If you're taking it hunting 308 Winchester ammo can be had at reasonable cost and will take down deer or moose quite well. 270 or 30 06 is a little more. Bigger bang=bigger buck unfortunately. The 223 is great for spending all day at the range, hardly any recoil to wear out your shoulder.
Click to expand...

Thanks kennymo. Never thought of the 308. I haven't checked pricing on ammo, I would have thought 270 may have been less expensive. No moose around here, but TONS of deer.
 
If you want to buy some guns just to have more guns or to try out a caliber, save up some money for December. Wholesales sports has had the Axis on sale for the last 2 Boxing Days for about $229. I almost bought a 25-06 last Boxing Day, but I really don't need another caliber to get into reloading for.
 
Bearc said:
Thanks kennymo. Never thought of the 308. I haven't checked pricing on ammo, I would have thought 270 may have been less expensive. No moose around here, but TONS of deer.
Click to expand...

308 Winchester being popular as a target round and a current service cartridge (more or less identical to 7.62 NATO) means that FMJ ammo is available in bulk quantities which brings down the cost for target ammo. Hunting ammo prices aren't too much different than 270 or 30 06. Check out site sponsors like Canada Ammo, SFRC, Tradeex, etc... many of them carry bulk 308. It's well worth clicking through most of the sites at the top of the page.
 
SoBored said:
If you want to buy some guns just to have more guns or to try out a caliber, save up some money for December. Wholesales sports has had the Axis on sale for the last 2 Boxing Days for about $229. I almost bought a 25-06 last Boxing Day, but I really don't need another caliber to get into reloading for.
Click to expand...

$229!!! I am looking at buying an Axis XP with scope for $329. But, I hear the scope is kind of poopey. For $100 less, I would wait!!
 
I bought a camo Axis in .223 for coyote hunting. It was the combo deal with a Bushnell scope. Its very accurate out to a 100yds. I haven't really tested it beyond that. I have heard that some people notice some flex in the grip but I haven't found that to be the case with mine. It is a very light gun so the larger the caliber you get you should also notice some larger recoil. The buttstock definately sounds hollow if tapped or knocked against something. I jammed a bunch of plastic shopping bags in it to fill the cavity and deaden the noise, pretty cheap and easy fix for that. Not having the Accu-trigger means it also had a pretty heavy trigger pull as well. I modded the trigger and its signifigantly lighter. Google the mod, theres some pretty helpful sites out there. My buddy picked up the identical rifle to mine except for the scope. Side by side his Axis trigger was noticably heavier so we did the mod on his too. He just picked up the 30-06 a couple of weeks ago. I don't think he's had it out yet though.
 
I have a Axis in 22-250. It is a tack driver. I shoot a 50 gr Hornady V-Max in front of 38 gr of H380. The MV is a respectable 3418 FPS according to the coronagraph. The only draw back I have found with the Axis is the trigger, a little heavy and not crisp. It is a good inexpensive rifle.
 
Bearc said:
$229!!! I am looking at buying an Axis XP with scope for $329. But, I hear the scope is kind of poopey. For $100 less, I would wait!!
Click to expand...

Scope isn't that great on that combo package but just pull it off and put it on a rimfire and it will perform great.

I just got an Axis XP in .223 and put a Redfield Revolution 3-9x onto it and its a good consistent shooter I just need to get the scope lined up perfectly when I get a new battery for my bore sighter.

2013-08-1815-42-29124_zps8c03ca57.jpg


Going to make an awesome Coyote & Deer hunting rifle down the road, I'll get some targets posted next time I go shooting of how it performs with factory ammunition, all I've shot so far is 55gr JHP and FMJ with good results despite scope not zeroed in.
 
X2 on the .223 caliber it is wery accurate even with bulk ammo toss the scope its junk I put a Redfield 4x12 accurange in it and I love it
 
I have one in. 243 and love it.I wasn't big on the scope either so I just put a bushnell 4-12 I had kicking around and it is very accurate.Have been thinking about a rifle basic trigger though.
 
The trigger is definitely a draw-back on the Axis. Another is the fore stock, not stiff enough. I bought the .223, fixed both of those problems and found it to be a pleasure to shoot. No one hole groups, but still sub 3/4" five shot groups at a hundred.
 
how did you fix the forestock? the trigger, I take you removed and lapped/sanded and then re-assembled?

mkrainc said:
The trigger is definitely a draw-back on the Axis. Another is the fore stock, not stiff enough. I bought the .223, fixed both of those problems and found it to be a pleasure to shoot. No one hole groups, but still sub 3/4" five shot groups at a hundred.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom