Savage Axis...hows the accuracy ? My niece wants to hunt...

Charlie38

Charlie38

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My niece wants to hunt so I'm getting her a gun. Shes tall so I don't have to get a shorter stock for her.
She has also shot her dads Remington 700 BDL in 270W but I would like to get a lighter gun for her.

I was thinking of the Savage Axis SS in a 270, 7-08 or 308, wondering how they shoot...
Live in a small town so want a cartridge we can buy anywhere.
 
Lots of threads on here about the Axis, so search around a little. At my recommendation, my nephew bought one in 2 years ago (.223) and honestly, it's been a superb rifle for the money. Just about everything about it seems like it could use some improvement, but it is light, and IS very accurate with good ammunition. Spend a little more and you'll get a nicer rifle, but the Axis delivers. Another anecdote~while visiting a range a few years ago, a fellow beside me was shooting a new one in .270 right beside me, a rifle/scope package from Savage if memory serves. Anyhow, first shot was on paper, an 8-1/2" x 11" target. Bore-sighted at the factory. Within 7 shots, he was at 1" consistently @ 100 yards, no modifications, factory ammo.
 
Excellent accuracy. Shoots about an inch at 100 with factory 243 loads. Was my go-to coyote gun before i traded it for some reloading equipment
 
"...would like to get a lighter gun for her..." Re-think that and take her shopping. The rifle is for her, not you.
"...a 270, 7-08 or 308..." The difference is the length of the action. Game won't know or care what kills it.
"...it's been a superb rifle for the money..." Savage rifles have always been like that. Best bang for your buck.
 
A friend of mine's daughter (and her husband) each bought one 2 years ago (hers in 7-08) - last 2 years they shot a deer each year - one at 300 +/- yds, ......lent it to their young nephew who shot a deer ---- we tell her to change the trigger but she likes it just fine as it is.
They are putting Boyd stocks on them tho.
But they are very happy with the Axis.
 
The Axis guns shoot well, are quite accurate and reliable as you need it to be.

There are a few cons for me. The stock where you hold on to it felt small to me, a little too small for my hands, so it should work well for your neice. The stock is plastic and will flex, so you may need to remove some material to make sure nothing is pressing on the barrel, but easy to do. All calibers are a long action with a plug in the mag to take up the extra length, so you're not saving any length/weight for using a shorter caliber. I also found the trigger to be very heavy! There are cideos that show you how to lighten the trigger pull on these rifles, doesn't seem too complicated, but they are heavy out of the box.

As for caliber, for someone smaller/younger .243 or 7mm-08 would probably be better recoil wise.
 
I sold my axis to upgrade, but when i had it, it was in in 270 it would shoot 0.98" @100 yards with federal blue box 130gr ammo. With handloads it would shoot 0.5 to 0.8 if I could do my part.
 
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sunray said:
"...would like to get a lighter gun for her..." Re-think that and take her shopping. The rifle is for her, not you.
"...a 270, 7-08 or 308..." The difference is the length of the action. Game won't know or care what kills it.
"...it's been a superb rifle for the money..." Savage rifles have always been like that. Best bang for your buck.
Click to expand...

The axis rifles are all long action, so this makes no difference.

Go to the corner store and see what ammo they have on the shelf, then go by a rifle to match, I'll bet you end up with a 308
 
She already has a 270 she can use so you have lots of time to shop.
Find one that she likes . . . personal opinions have lots of followers . . . many ain't worth #### if she does not understand the difference.
 
You can spend a lot more money for no more accuracy, its asthetics aren't great but deer don't go bang flop because your gun is the pretiest one in the forrest
 
I bought my wife a 7mm-08 in the Axis Youth. She is 5' 8" and prefers the shorter stock. I also put Nikon Prostaff 2x7x33 and it works well for her. It's quite light, but she still finds it heavy. LOP, eye relief on the scope, weight and recoil are all important factors, but it sounds like your niece is tall and can handle the recoil so you can probably buy just about anything. I have two axis the other is in 223 rem. It shoots very well with reloads and a Rifle Basix trigger. The 7mm-08 just doesn't have the same accuracy. It shoots 1.5" at best with reloads which is fine for a hunting rifle. I will keep working on different loads. For price point it is a great first rifle.

G
 
I have the blued camo in 270. MOA all day. The stock has a generous recoil pad and anyone who can hold it up should have no trouble shooting it. Like all Axis rifles it needed a trigger job before shooting. (Easily found on youtube)
 
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