Let's talk about the Savage Axis ll - How do they do it?

[elKrusto]

A buddy of mine recently bought a used Savage Axis ll rifle in 223. It is the cheapo model with the plain trigger. It came with a scope rail. He gave it to me to clean up for him. I took the action out of the stock, cleaned it all up, and then torqued the action to 45 inch pounds.
I installed a 20 year old Burris fullfield 2 3-9x40 on it, that has dents in the tube from me over tightening a set of rings at one point. I used cheapo weaver rings. I am a gun snob that thinks the bottom of the line rifles are crap, so I didn't take it seriously.
We have had it to the range twice now, and this thing is unbelievably accurate. Now granted, we only shot 3 shot groups at 100 yards with it so far, so some guys will no doubt say it's not a proper evaluation, (it is intended to be used as a coyote rifle and not a target rifle after all), but With Hornady v-max 55 grain it shoots 3/8", with his reloads it shoots 1/2", with Winchester 40 grain it shoots 7/8". What I found most interesting is that with all three loads, it shoots perfectly center of target, and averages 1 1/2" high.
How does Savage make such a cheapo rifle that can shoot that consistently accurate? If treated nicely, how many rounds can he expect to get out of this Axis before it falls apart? It has me thinking I might want one now......

 

[FatCatsDad]

A great design made with quality raw materials and manufactured to high standards of QC on well maintained equipment

 

[brybenn]

They are ugly but they generally shoot very well. Slap one in a mdt lss chassis with a good optic they're hard to beat
The stock rail and optic that comes with them are the weakest links but that keeps the costs down.

 

[Redneck Hippy]

Brings back some memories of a first gen .243 I bought at Wholesale Sports Boxing Day sale for $250 or something. Sold off the included scope for $20, bought a used leupold 4-12 and I could not miss. I recall most factory loads held moa and when I started hand loading for it I was rewarded with my first ever “holes touching” group. With H4350 and Hornady SST.
But: felt cheap, heavy bolt lift, learned I hate the feel of bladed triggers. Bore looked like it had been machined on a hangover Monday at 2x speed.
It never let me down, and it’s still a recommend for hunters on a budget though I usually say look at used market first

 

[Redneck Hippy]

But to answer the OP question the “secret” is the floating bolt head and the barrel nut can tightly control headspace with ease.
No reason I can see why it wouldn’t last as long as any other action.
Now I’m thinking to pick one up again to play with haha

 

[Grove]

They are ugly but they generally shoot very well. Slap one in a mdt lss chassis with a good optic they're hard to beat
The stock rail and optic that comes with them are the weakest links but that keeps the costs down.

You hit the nail directly on the head there brybenn, those few weak points are easily remedied to create a very affordable and extremely accurate platform.

.308win Axis XP LH riding in a first gen MDT LSS chassis then my .223 Axis XP RH in the factory stock.

Triggers are completely stock and I can shoot sub 1" groups all day with these rifles, anyone else that shoots them gets great results as well.

The .308 Axis in the MDT chassis I refer to as my "Ghetto Azz F-Class Wannabe" rifle.

As far as round counts/life expectancy, I have at least 1500 rounds through my .223 Axis which I've had for over a decade and the .308 has over 1000 rounds of Norinco surplus and 140 rounds of .308 Core-Lokt SP's through it with only issue being light strikes on hard surplus primers here and there.

Brings back some memories of a first gen .243 I bought at Wholesale Sports Boxing Day sale for $250 or something. Sold off the included scope for $20, bought a used leupold 4-12 and I could not miss.

I bought my .223 Axis on sale at Wholesale Sports as well and I have never regretted it once.

 

[brybenn]

I use rem 783 rifles in 308 and 223. They are very similar to the axis in construction but a much nicer rifle over all. Both sit in mdt lss gen2 chassises

Is that a clamp on brake?

 

[Grove]

I use rem 783 rifles in 308 and 223. They are very similar to the axis in construction but a much nicer rifle over all. Both sit in mdt lss gen2 chassises

Is that a clamp on brake?

EDIT. Just checked the rifle and it is a Kahntrol brand clamp on brake not Witt Machine.

 

[brybenn]

EDIT. Just checked the rifle and it is a Kahntrol brand clamp on brake not Witt Machine.

Thank you

 

[Jahnj0584]

Like them, just can't get over the bolt lift.

 

[99Solutions]

Obviously most firearms have moved closer to blueprinting since improved by cnc machining has become commonplace, reducing human error.
Their barrel straightening process using actual humans is something they have commented on in the past. So maybe others are automating the process causing some competitors to be comparatively less accurate.
The floating bolt head simplifies the headspacing tolerances as well. I don’t know if I like a one piece bolt better or not because in theory more pieces means greater change of mechanical failure. But you rarely hear of failures from this either in the savages or the old Mosin.

I think lean manufacturing enables the to streamline the costs so that the savings can be put into attention to detail on the things that affect accuracy. And the unbelievably cheap stock and magazines provides additional savings.

I know they don’t all shoot as accurately as your sample, though they all shoot acceptably (or far better).

I wonder how all the rifles coming out currently would perform if 10 random samples were taken off the shipment and tested for accuracy. Sample size would provide interesting info about the relationship between manufacturing process and outcome, but I haven’t heard of such a test except with Ruger 10/22s.

Since nearly all rifles outlive their user, I think most of the complaints of myself and others are more academic than functional for most applications. If the rifles weak points make it only last for 125 years instead of 200, it probably won’t make us lose any sleep.

 

[Smokinyotes]

The biggest challenge I find with shooting an Axis is hitting your target while wearing a bag over your head.

 

[Joel]

But to answer the OP question the “secret” is the floating bolt head and the barrel nut can tightly control headspace with ease.
No reason I can see why it wouldn’t last as long as any other action.
Now I’m thinking to pick one up again to play with haha

Doing all the chamber reaming, threading etc operations while the barrel is in the same precise fixture doesn't hurt

Not an Axis II, but the Trail Hunters really seem to shoot as well, from the online reviews/videos

 

[Greglc]

Wife has an axis in 223, she'll hit the 12 gong at 220 yards every time, lo end luepold scope

 

[saskgunowner101]

Owning a Salvage Axle gives one the ability to easily understand the premise of the movie Dogfight.


- A young Marine named Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) is set to spend his last night in San Francisco with his military friends before they are deployed to Vietnam in 1963. Eddie and his friends plan to attend a cruel bar event called a "dogfight," which requires Marines to bring unattractive dates who will be judged for their ugliness.

 

[Butcherbill]

Like them, just can't get over the bolt lift.

Agreed, deal breaker for me. If I buy a savage it will be a 110, better bolt lift.

The biggest challenge I find with shooting an Axis is hitting your target while wearing a bag over your head.

It’s like dating a fat girl in high school, they’re generally great but you can’t let your friends know.

Owning a Salvage Axle gives one the ability to easily understand the premise of the movie Dogfight.


- A young Marine named Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) is set to spend his last night in San Francisco with his military friends before they are deployed to Vietnam in 1963. Eddie and his friends plan to attend a cruel bar event called a "dogfight," which requires Marines to bring unattractive dates who will be judged for their ugliness.

Bahahaha, perfect analogy.

 

[maifire]

I had an edge(early axis) in 308. The worst, heaviest, grittiest trigger I have ever shot. It could not be shot well by me with my best effort. Sold it shortly after.
A little further down the road, i picked up the 10tr during the leo promotion. I freaking love that rifle. It is a shooter for sure.

 

[AB3006]

110 in 243 owner here. Chose it over the axis due to the bolt.

Couldn't be happier with that rifle. It's my oldest's deercatcher, but a fun range toy for the whole fmiy too. Laser out to 300.

 

[struff55]

A great design made with quality raw materials and manufactured to high standards of QC on well maintained equipment

 

[iron cat]

If you can pick up a Savage cheap enough as a donor action, toss the stock, trigger, and upgrade the bolt, then rebarrel it, you have a very nice fun project to do.
I have done several over the years, and used to get the gears about " Salvage junk" at the range - until the end of a match when my Savage was at or near the top of the leader board .
The key however is to get one on the cheap and want to build a project rifle .
Cat