Savage Axis .223 - Holly Crap!

E

ericrose

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Wheat Country
I had heard the Axis rifles were pretty good shooters but I was blown away today by my little Axis .223. Used a bipod, setup the target at 110 yards and fed it UMC - Remington Metal Case rounds. The accuracy was easily MOA! This with cheap ass ammo, can't wait to see how it does with reloads. I bought this gun as a kicking around the farm gun and didn't expect much from it. The trigger is crap (cut off a ring and 1/2, greatly improved now) and my experience with plasticrap stocks has not been positive (Remington SPS stock - total garbage) but this little baby has made my day. The question now is should I replace the Bushnell Banner 3x9 that came with it? Ummm

Oh ya it should be Holy Crap, not Holly Crap. She was a chick I dated in the 60's ;)
 
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Yes scope is junk ,, this rifle much like the stevens is a diamond action dressed in a cheap suit
it is a build worth doing,Boyds stock nice glass you have yourself a tack driver on the cheap
easily compete with the big price boys on the block
 
chadeech said:
Yes scope is junk ,, this rifle much like the stevens is a diamond action dressed in a cheap suit
it is a build worth doing,Boyds stock nice glass you have yourself a tack driver on the cheap
easily compete with the big price boys on the block
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The Boyds laminate stock is the best upgrade for the $$$. $139. Too bad it wasn't the Axis II which come with the accu trigger. The Bushnell is good enough for hunting but if you are upgrading, you don't want to spend too much on an inexpensive rifle... I recommend a 6-24x40 Burris or something similar.
 
Agreed, if it shoots well, don't mess with it.

Second, the accutrigger is crap IMHO, I have owned a few, only one left is on my 22 mag, and one day that will change as well. It's nothing more than a gimmick, to hide a very poor trigger system. Again, that's just my opinion. You can't beat a quality clean crisp trigger, and the accutrigger is none of these.
 
Cleftwynd said:
Agreed, if it shoots well, don't mess with it.

Second, the accutrigger is crap IMHO, I have owned a few, only one left is on my 22 mag, and one day that will change as well. It's nothing more than a gimmick, to hide a very poor trigger system. Again, that's just my opinion. You can't beat a quality clean crisp trigger, and the accutrigger is none of these.
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Yeah, I agree....I have one accutrigger and it is garbage compared to just about every other factory trigger out there.
I had an old Savage 12 in 22/250 and they came with the same style trigger as the non-accu, BUT they were tapped and came with set screws, same as the Timney aftermarket replacement....so out of the box they were 8-10lbs, but you could adjust down to 2-3lbs easily and safely, and remove the creep and over travel.
Here is a quick trigger guide
http://www.huntinggearguy.com/tips/diy-savage-axis-trigger-job/
 
The scope is perfectly servicable, if you wanted a cheap knock around gun why would you spend money to upgrade it?

Throw it behind the seat and have it there for necessaries

PS. You don't need to change the scope unless you drop and damage it
 
Yup its one cheap and accurate little rifle

Great for farm fun and I use mine to introduce people to shooting (along with other guns)
 
My buddy has an Axis II with the accutrigger, and I have the regular Axis. For the difference in price, I could put a Rifle Basix into mine. Instead, I swapped springs on the stock one and spent the difference on more ammo.

Eventually, I wanna get a Rifle Basix trigger, Boyds Stock, and a Vortex Diamondback scope for it, but gotta pay for school before I get to indulge in any of that. In the mean time, I've already inletted the barrel channel on the stock so it doesn't touch the barrel even with pressure from the side or bottom, now it needs to be bedded and shortened, and I still need to find a full length rail for it...

As for the scope, it seems to hold zero fine from recoil(270win), but Im not 100% sure if it shifted from getting bashed around in the back seat of a truck for two days. It was in the case (cheap Plano hard case w/eggshell foam) the whole time, but when I took it to the range the next week it was shooting 3 inches high and to the right. I had also just cleaned it really good, but that seems like a large shift for 100 yards.... I am not sure about how secure the whole setup is though. I highly doubt the rings and bases are locktighted and torqued properly (or at all)
 
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I have the Axis .270win. Upgraded the stock to a Boyd's thumbhole. Upgraded the trigger to a rifle basix sav-1. Upgraded the scope to a bushnell trophy XLT 3-12. I kinda sighted it in last year and this year my buddy and I took it out to re-sight it. I built a lead sled in an attempt to take shooter error out of the picture. My first shot hit the bullseye. When I walked up to the target my first thought was I missed the paper then saw it. Called buddy over and he said no way. He took a shot and that's the second hole. I never tried hitting that paper again. Just set up some other targets and had fun. The three holes on the bottom are there because the bullets went through the targets we set up. never removed the paper which I should have done.
DSC_0105_zpsdwqhhdoh.jpg
 
The only problem with the Axis is the recoil lug. It's not attached to the gun, but is a piece of metal that slides into a slot in both the action and the stock. Don't get me wrong-I've got an Axis and love it, but if a guy did any amount of shooting, especially with the larger calibers, the recoil is going to beat that slot up, one way or the other. Once your recoil lug gets loose, your accuracy will too.
 
KePet said:
The only problem with the Axis is the recoil lug. It's not attached to the gun, but is a piece of metal that slides into a slot in both the action and the stock. Don't get me wrong-I've got an Axis and love it, but if a guy did any amount of shooting, especially with the larger calibers, the recoil is going to beat that slot up, one way or the other. Once your recoil lug gets loose, your accuracy will too.
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They are a lot like bic lighters, work as intended, and toss once they don't work as intended!! Then go buy a zippo and feed it for the rest of your life. Lol
 
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KePet said:
The only problem with the Axis is the recoil lug. It's not attached to the gun, but is a piece of metal that slides into a slot in both the action and the stock. Don't get me wrong-I've got an Axis and love it, but if a guy did any amount of shooting, especially with the larger calibers, the recoil is going to beat that slot up, one way or the other. Once your recoil lug gets loose, your accuracy will too.
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Bed the lug in with some devcon.
I can't imagine this method saves them any money or time over the washer type lugs that get sandwiched between barrel and receiver.....but Savage are known for cutting corners to be economical.
 
Just picked up a Tasco 6x24 mildot scope off EE. Super cheap, in keeping with the gun. Will make it easier to snag those coyotes hiding in the hedge rows. I considered upgrading the stock and trigger but this is one rifle I am going to restrain myself on. I usually go all crazy squeezing the last ounce of accuracy out of any firearm I have ever owned. This one is just going to be for plinking and pest control. Might even get my sweetie to give it a go.

It's nice to see you can still get a decent gun on the cheap.
 
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