Cheap .223 yote gun?

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Shep546

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Hey guys,

I'm thinking about starting coyote hunting and wanted something in a bigger calibre and I already reload for .223 so I'm looking for a cheap .223 bolt gun.

The cheapest I can find seems to be savage but even they seem a bit pricey to me (for savage)

Any tips?
 
How cheap are you looking? I just got an Axis in 25-06, and it shoots well under MOA with a 10 minute trigger job. With the package scope it cost me $319, seems plenty cheap to me, especially given the results.
 
Fyn said:
How cheap are you looking? I just got an Axis in 25-06, and it shoots well under MOA with a 10 minute trigger job. With the package scope it cost me $319, seems plenty cheap to me, especially given the results.
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I just stumbled across the axis and saw how cheap it was, the other savages I saw in .223 were $600-$700.

How is yours holding up? How is the scope?
 
I bought an Axis in 223 as my after the LGR gun. Wanted a Savage, but couldn't find one handy. Also wanted something I could tinker with. Took it apart and saw how they do the recoil lug, etc. and saw how they made them so inexpensive. Can't say I was really impressed. THEN I SHOT IT! May not be expensive. May be so ugly it hurts to look at. But it will shoot all day, and do it right around 1" at 100 yrds. Do not regret it for one second. I did change out the scope and put one on that I had laying around.(a bushnell 6-24 X 40) Did some other tweaking and coyotes are wary out to at least 300. Will try to post a picture later if the camera's working.
 
Savage Axis XP on sale $250 plus tax
Rifle basix trigger $105
Champion 29 inch Bipod on sale $70

http://ca.wholesalesports.com/store...les/axis-xp-synthetic-package/prod296664.html

Sub MOA with hand loads. Uglier than a mud fence, but kills dogs well. They are on sale right now for $300 at wholesale sports. To be honest I would buy the Savage international trophy hunter package and then you do not have to F with the trigger. And more after market options.

G
 
Okay. This is what happens to an Axis when a redneck has time on his hands and spends to much time on Gerry Teo's site. This is my Axis coyote gun or Tac-Ax.

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Shep546 said:
I just stumbled across the axis and saw how cheap it was, the other savages I saw in .223 were $600-$700.

How is yours holding up? How is the scope?
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I've only had mine about a month and a half. Honestly, I really wanted to not like the gun at first, yes the stock is a bit flimsy, and it's clearly made with cost-effectiveness in mind. But it shoots so damn good! As far as how it is holding up, it's only seen the range, but it is coming with me in November to our deer camp. I bought it as a yote gun, that could do double-duty as a back up deer rifle. My cousin has one in 30-06, and everything has held up, including the scope, it was with us last November, and it had no problems getting knocked around in the bush, soaking wet, cold, etc. I do plan on upgrading the scope however.

When I first bought the Axis, it was shooting about 2" out of the box, I did a 10 minute trigger job, as mentioned, and those groups were shrunken by more than half. This was my Axis last weekend, at 200 yards (sighted in at 100 yards currently, thus the drop):

photo-24.jpg


Four rounds, even with the flyer, it measures 1.2", the group of 3 measures in at 0.6". With factory Remington 100 gr Core-Lokt. I'm sure the Timney and Rifle Basix triggers are awesome, but you might as well buy the Trophy Hunter for that price. I'm more than happy with my $300 tack driver. :)
 
mgerski said:
Sale is 299 on your link is there a mail in
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I bought mine on sale last year between Christmas and New year. They were on for $250 then. May not go that low again I really cant say for sure. As I said they are on now for $300. Still a good deal in my mind.

Bought mine on line and it cost me $16 for shipping and it got here in about 5 days.

Yes the triggers are bad. About a 6 lb pull and lots of creep. It catches about 5 or 6 times on its way there. Not the kind of trigger you want for varmits. I here all kinds of people are doing the trigger job. That is not my kind of thing. I put a Rifle Basixs on and I did it myself. I am comfortable with it, but would not recomend it to anyone else. I also would not sell it this way. I would put the original trigger back on and inform the buyer what I had done. But thats just me.

I'm not a member of the Savage cult, but they have treated me well so far. There are lots of great guns out there.

I have a pic of a 5 shot group I shot the other day, but I can't post it. It's under 2" at 300 yards (this is the only one I have as I only tried it once). Is that amazing? No, but I have not worked that hard at it either. I have found a couple loads that will shoot Sub MOA out of this ugly Boom Stick.

G
 
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Shep546 said:
Are the stock triggers really that bad?
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yes,IMO,yes they are...but lose 1 coil off the spring and do some careful polishing and they are serviceable.
My .223 Axis shot dime sized groups @ 100yds with cheapo factory ammo.
I just picked up a Marlin XS7 and like it even better.
Nicer stock and "accu-type" adjustable trigger in a true short action.
It's not mag fed but that's fine by me...can't lose what I don't have.
Lots of options out there under $400
 
i would not recommend trimming the factory spring. it is very stiff and by using the current spring you are use a very small portion of spring motion. i swap out for different lighter spring
 
I cut 1 loop off the spring and stretched it a bit.
Then I carefully stoned the triggers mating surfaces smooth and flat,which they weren't.
About a half hour of fiddling made the trigger good enough to shrink the groups from loonie to dime size with the same ammo.
The creep is still there,I didn't bother addressing that,but it's smooth now instead of like dragging a rake across a carpet.
 
Shep546 said:
Are the stock triggers really that bad?
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Yep. Do a trigger job as many others have stated or buy a kit. It will make a big difference. Cost wise, these Savage rifles are cheap but they don't shoot like their price would reflect. I saw one or two on the EE, good price and no tax.
 
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