Bought a used Savage Axis .223

Madmardigan

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Alberta
I was out gopher hunting with my brother's father in-law yesterday, and he mentioned he wanted to sell his bolt action .223. Being the gun nut I am I had to inquire. I remember him talking to me about this rifle after he first got it. He got it because he wanted a rifle he could shoot cyotes with. But he's a older fellow, and he didnt like how heavy and loud it is. I know for a fact it has only 35 rounds fired through it. So, knowing the history of the rifle and what he included I couldnt resist buying it. I would never of gone out and buy one from a store, being that this isnt my type of gun, and it's butt ugly, but I figured it may be fun to shoot the odd gopher with.
It's a savage axis, but thats all I know about it.
Anyway, here is a few pics





He included 2 mags, and 80 rounds of .223



And this soft case



Here is a pic of the first patch I ran through the bore. As I said it's still pretty new. He fired 35 rounds through it and put it away in his safe until now.



I payed $350 for everything. I figured this was a fair deal for both of us. What do you guys think, was this a good deal?
 
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Thanks guys. I thought it was a good deal, otherwise I would never of bought it. I'm more of a semi-auto guy. But this may be fun for some long range gopher hunting. And other than the fisher price stock the action feels fairly solid. I haven't fired it yet, I'm hoping to get out tomorrow to sight it in. If its as accurate as what I've heard I'll be happy.
 
I paid $250 two January's ago for my savage axis in .30-06 and after using it think I paid too much. I just recently tore it right down and clean and put everything back together including lapping the scope rings and reinstalling the scope. I hope that fixes things. 1.5" is the best group I could get so its not a total write off, I just haven't been able to get accuracy that it says it will shoot. I hope I just got a lemon and they aren't all like this.
 
I put a good scope and a timney trigger in mine. Way better. Shoots crazy good with my hand loads.


I paid $250 two January's ago for my savage axis in .30-06 and after using it think I paid too much. I just recently tore it right down and clean and put everything back together including lapping the scope rings and reinstalling the scope. I hope that fixes things. 1.5" is the best group I could get so its not a total write off, I just haven't been able to get accuracy that it says it will shoot. I hope I just got a lemon and they aren't all like this.

I had the same rifle in stainless. Never had that great of groups with mine and factory ammo. Hornady superformance was the best at just over an inch. My handloads would group into 1/2 to 3/4" at 100 yards.
 
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It's easy to do a trigger job on an Axis, and it greatly improves the trigger pull. Google Axis trigger and you should find lots of information on it. Lots of stuff on Youtube as well. What you want to do is take a bit off the trigger spring, a little at a time, until you are down to where you want it.
 
I have had my savage chambered in 223 for just over a year now and it was shooting 1 moa with bulk federal now im working on hand loads im almost at .5 moa. Hopefully tomorrow I will pull it off
 
This is a great budget rifle accurate value for the dollar yours is the camo version and google it you got a great price i picked up a stainless non scoped for 365 and am very pleased at the value tack driver
 
made out really well for both of you IMO, good score and a good rifle, I wish I had kept my .223 axis I had a lot of fun with that rifle.
 
I've had 2 in .223
the stainless was a .5 iron once I worked the trigger, my current black on black isn't quite as good but handloads with BL-C2 have it under 1"
I'm looking to upgrade fred...if you'd like it back ;)
 
Well, I had it out yesterday to sight it in and do a bit of target shooting. I wasent able to get the best accuracy, roughly 3" at 100 yards . I didnt have a good rest, so I was having a bit of a issue keeping steady. And the trigger pull is absoutly horrendous! Both my SKS's have a much nicer trigger, and those suck. I did lighten the pull a bit. I cut off 1 1/2 coils, it seemed to help, but the creep is brutal. I wasent able to find any info on how to get rid of it. i polished the trigger and sear a bit, but its still really bad. Any ideas on how to get rid of the creep, or do I just have to buy a new trigger?
 
Well, I had it out yesterday to sight it in and do a bit of target shooting. I wasent able to get the best accuracy, roughly 3" at 100 yards . I didnt have a good rest, so I was having a bit of a issue keeping steady. And the trigger pull is absoutly horrendous! Both my SKS's have a much nicer trigger, and those suck. I did lighten the pull a bit. I cut off 1 1/2 coils, it seemed to help, but the creep is brutal. I wasent able to find any info on how to get rid of it. i polished the trigger and sear a bit, but its still really bad. Any ideas on how to get rid of the creep, or do I just have to buy a new trigger?

Even my timney trigger has creep in it not sure how to get rid of it. It is slight on my trigger now but its consistent. 3" isnt that great. I was using a tow rope rolled up out of the box of my truck and was getting an inch or less. With remington ammo like you have I was getting about the same accuracy. Try some better ammo. Mine shoots 53gr superformance the best for factory stuff.
 
Even my timney trigger has creep in it not sure how to get rid of it. It is slight on my trigger now but its consistent. 3" isnt that great. I was using a tow rope rolled up out of the box of my truck and was getting an inch or less. With remington ammo like you have I was getting about the same accuracy. Try some better ammo. Mine shoots 53gr superformance the best for factory stuff.

Interesting. I'll try some suprtformance next time I get out. For 350$ I cant really complain. I'm sure lightining up the trigger pull will tighnten up my groups a bit. It would be nice if I could make the trigger a little more crisp. I'll probably just end up getting a timny trigger.
 
Interesting. I'll try some suprtformance next time I get out. For 350$ I cant really complain. I'm sure lightining up the trigger pull will tighnten up my groups a bit. It would be nice if I could make the trigger a little more crisp. I'll probably just end up getting a timny trigger.

My 223 was like yours. 7lb trigger and terrible creep. I finally bucked up and bought a Rifle Basix trigger for $105. No creep now and about a 2.5lb pull on the trigger. I could lighten it up, but I use it as a hunting rifle and don't want it any lighter. Mine shot a little better than yours with factory ammo (about 2.5" to 1.5") but with my hand loads it will often shoot under an inch. I have a cheap $50 Simmons scope on it and may upgrade in the near future to see if that might help mine group a little better. All in all I've got about $400 into it and am very satisfied.

George
 
+1 on the trigger job.

Mine took 5 minutes and a pair of wire cutters.

Love my cheap little axis, it's more accurate than I am.
 
I paid $250 two January's ago for my savage axis in .30-06 and after using it think I paid too much. I just recently tore it right down and clean and put everything back together including lapping the scope rings and reinstalling the scope. I hope that fixes things. 1.5" is the best group I could get so its not a total write off, I just haven't been able to get accuracy that it says it will shoot. I hope I just got a lemon and they aren't all like this.


i's not too bad, some paid 1200$ for their rifle and it also shoots factory stuff around
1.5"
heck, some 1800$ sako won't do any better...
 
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