Entry level or wait?

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Pocisk

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Just wanted to ask the people who've already been through this, is it worth buying a lower end .308 rifle for a beginner? Just started shooting this year and am getting pretty comfortable shooting the .22's, but I don't have any full bore experience other than blasting away with an SKS.

Saw some tempting prices on Savage Axis .308 and started thinking maybe I should get one just to get a feel for the .308, maybe get a decent scope and learn about ballistics table etc.

On the other hand I'm thinking no big rush, I can keep shooting the .22's for now and put the money towards something I can build on like a rem 700 or higher end savage or whatever down the road.

I know the best answer is buy the Axis AND get the higher end rifle down the road :) but financial reality is a #####. :)

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
The axis will be every bit as accurate as you will need it to be to get started. The things the axis lacks is the bells and whistles and nice to haves, but that can all be changed later on.

The downsides are: heavy triggers, flimsy plastic stocks, all axis are long action plugged to short action, they look terrible (and i'm even a savage fan).
The upsides though are: you can do some trigger work yourself, or down the road get an aftermarket trigger, you can now get wood replacement stocks for them, or just deal with the stock that is on it, it's really not the worst stock in the world.

As far as selling it later, you're really not going to be out that much money if you decide to sell, or it makes a ghood beater/loaner/backup rifle if/when you decide to upgrade.

There will probably be lots of people that say just suck it up and buy a sako/browning/tikka/etc, but realistically there's nothing wrong with the savage. One other option though is to check out some of the used guns on the Tradex website, you can get a nice wood, quality rifle of an older vintage for about the same price.
 
You can get a good Rem 700 variant for similar prices to most savage rifles (if not cheaper). It's really down to preference. Personally Remington has an excellent and long track record for reliability and durability and that's why I went with a 700. A $700 rifle that will get you out to 700 yards+ out of the box is tough to beat (that is with a decent optic).

As far as .308 variants go, if you want to stay on the cheap end there are the SPS Varmint or the SPS Tactical AAC-SD (the difference really being barrel lengths and stock types) they go for around $600-$800, but if you plan to do some serious long range precision shooting expect to invest more (same goes for any precision platform really). On the somewhat mid to upper range there's the XCR TLR which has a nice Bell & Carlson stock with full length aluminum bedding, it can be anywhere from $1k to $2k. If you have the money there are also the Sendaro and the Milspec 5r, these two generally come in an HS precision stock (also very nice).
 
Save your cash for one of the numbered series Savages. ( 10,12,14,16). With these models your options to upgrade the rifle become numerous. Axis model will limit you.
 
Everything could and can be learnt on the .22lr without the loud bang and empty wallet.

I went the other direction and bought a ~50yr old USSR Vostok CM-2 with peep sites. The thing has been a hoot to shoot. A bargain at ~25-28 cents a shot.

Not to mention the hassle free shooting. No finding long range locations, hiking steel out 1000's of yards, etc. Walking out to place my gongs up to 300 yards is easy, hiking up a foothill to place my 12" gongs at 1000+ sucks. I've done it a lot too.
 
Shibby makes a great point. Buy a rifle in a model that there are lots of aftermarket support so you can upgrade parts later ie. stocks, barrels, trigger etc. Savage series as listed or even a cheapie Remington 700 series.
 
Shooter ----/ said:
Save your cash for one of the numbered series Savages. ( 10,12,14,16). With these models your options to upgrade the rifle become numerous. Axis model will limit you.
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1ShotKing said:
Short and to the point, couldn't have said it any better.
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Trinimon said:
Shibby makes a great point. Buy a rifle in a model that there are lots of aftermarket support so you can upgrade parts later ie. stocks, barrels, trigger etc. Savage series as listed or even a cheapie Remington 700 series.
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Yes, the bottom tier will not satisfy. Skill will come with trigger time, which requires lots of ammo. 223 would do nicely. Maybe something $600-$800 plus optic. Money can't buy skill or experience. You will see many barely used $1500-$3500 308s on the EE. If you must go that way, get a used one and pay 2/3 of new cost. Paper doesn't need big calibers to put holes in it. Big calibers need loooonnnngggg ranges to give you a benefit. Hunting at long range does need bigger bangs, which are not condusive good shooting by the inexperienced.
 
Thanks for the input everyone, I'm very glad I asked, CGN rocks! :)

Just to reiterate I never considered the Axis to be a long term solution to build on....in fact I never considered the Axis at all until I saw them on sale at a site sponsor for $287 and my hand started to reach for the credit card. :) Like someone said, it just seemed like a good inexpensive quick fix to shoot some centrefire now, today. I like the idea of starting with .223 as well, much easier on the wallet. I also fully intend to continue practicing with the .22's for the most part, love my CZ's and hope to get an Anshutz some time.
 
I started with a Savage Mod 10 FP in .223 with a Bushnell fixed 10x scope. It was a great way to get started, accurate as hell right out of the box, learning about longer ranges, reloading for accuracy, learning about wind, equipment, and all the other variables in long range shooting. Slowly that rifle action was built on, the caliber changed (you can just swap bolt heads with the Savage if you go from .223 to .308). That starter rifle is now a precision target rifle with a Nightforce scope on it. Eventually I will have another Savage in .223, probably another Model 10, just to have to shoot for fun. .223 is fun, forgiving, plenty accurate to 600, 700, + yards, economical, and did I mention fun. You can't go wrong with a nice Savage or Remington 700, and keep it for ever really.
 
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