A little background. I have some friends who are newbie hunters, and being an old fart with a lot of experience, they've asked my advice and input regarding the first hunting rifle purchase. I've given them my thoughts, based on my experiences and 50 yrs. of shooting, taking pains to make sure they understand that it's only MY opinion and they will have to ultimately make up their own minds as to what they want. That said, I've read a lot of posts that slam the Savage Axis rifle in .308. I have very little personal experience with Savage arms, having only owned a .22 that performed quite well, but my good buddy has hunted with a heavy barrel .308 that has performed well for him over many years. Is the Axis that bad of a rifle? What are the issues? Accuracy? Workmanship? Mechanics? I'd really appreciate some input from those who own, or have used, that particular rifle. I've seen some very reasonably priced ones on the EE and have debated about steering my friends toward them as an entry level hunting rifle that won't break the bank. I'd hate to put them on to a clunker.
Savage Axis negativity?
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
I have totally enjoyed mine ( in .223) for 2 years now - no issues with it. This was literally right out of the box @ 100 meters:
The gun is consistently accurate and maintenance-free. Hate to say it, but, most of the time, it's a better shooter than I am....
The gun is consistently accurate and maintenance-free. Hate to say it, but, most of the time, it's a better shooter than I am....
I picked one up for a son in 270, it shoots ok, not a tack driver but acceptable. My impressions are the stock feels cheap and i can see problems with the mag catch down the road. They are a good starter rifle but will never replace my Sako's or Tikka.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Purists and gun snobs hate them.But they also hate anything with a hint of plastic on it or anything below a certain price point. Imo, if it gets a newbie started and hooked, it has done it's job. While I admit I find them a tad ugly, every one I have seen can shoot far beyond it's price tag. Having said that, I would be steering them toward the weatherby vanguard s2. There are many variations and a deal can always be found on one. In their price range, they are without equal imo.
Dirt cheap and I love these rifles.
Got a 223 model and I can now hit small loonie sized pieces of clay pigeon debris at 70 yards off hand.
On the bench i can put 20 in about an inch shooting barnaul 62 gr fmj.
Gun is setup for that ammo and gives ace results all day.
Dowside is factory stock flexes easily and mags are $$.
Got a 223 model and I can now hit small loonie sized pieces of clay pigeon debris at 70 yards off hand.
On the bench i can put 20 in about an inch shooting barnaul 62 gr fmj.
Gun is setup for that ammo and gives ace results all day.
Dowside is factory stock flexes easily and mags are $$.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
It is comparable to high end Cooper or Kimber or Weatherby and many others.The bullet comes out the pointy end , hits animal , animal dies, that is the cycle.
Any rifle can jam , any rifle can have a failure.
If it shoots 2 MOA or less you have a suitable big game rifle out to 400 yardsish and that is the bottom line.
Is the Axis pretty? Heck no.
Is it better or worse than any other? Heck no.
Never ever going to see an animal wish that they were shot at by a $3000.00 over a $300.00 rifle.
Sure there are aesthetics at play a little bit but in the end if you do you part the rifle will do it's part.
BUT...............
Remember , it is how the rifle fits the shooter.
Many custom builds done on savage actions.
Any rifle can jam , any rifle can have a failure.
If it shoots 2 MOA or less you have a suitable big game rifle out to 400 yardsish and that is the bottom line.
Is the Axis pretty? Heck no.
Is it better or worse than any other? Heck no.
Never ever going to see an animal wish that they were shot at by a $3000.00 over a $300.00 rifle.
Sure there are aesthetics at play a little bit but in the end if you do you part the rifle will do it's part.
BUT...............
Remember , it is how the rifle fits the shooter.
Many custom builds done on savage actions.
smokeater40
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern, Ontario
Have an Axis ll XP package, best bang for the buck. Accurate, shoots 1" group at 110 yds, light easy to carry. Don't care if it gets banged up a bit, great starter or long term hunter.
Personally know half a dozen guys who have higher end guns, but pull out their Savages when we go in the bush
Guess I should add, mine is a 30-06, my brother has one in 308, both are tack drivers. Cheers
Personally know half a dozen guys who have higher end guns, but pull out their Savages when we go in the bush
Guess I should add, mine is a 30-06, my brother has one in 308, both are tack drivers. Cheers
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
If your one and only criteria in a rifle is decent accuracy for little money, then they definitely deliver there, but fall short in pretty much every other category, as should be expected at that price.
Theyre a budget rifle that shoots okay. Same as the Steven 200. I think the reason why there are soo much negativity on them is you buy them for 350 and a week later someone trying to sell it for 450. A lot of local buy/sell groups are flooded weekly with them.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Accuracy is but one quality of a hunting rifle, it must balance well, point well, cycle easily and reliably , and fit the shooter if its going to be used intuitively. How easily can that fit be acquired with the Axis stock? Probably not as easily as with a wood stocked rifle, but perhaps no more difficult than with any other plastic of fiberglass stocked rifle that doesn't have a stock spacer system. If chambered for .270, .308, or .30/06, is the Axis's recoil pad sufficient, or is it a hockey puck? Once fitted, can the shooter easily reach the bolt handle and cycle the action when the rifle is held in the shoulder, or is the bolt stiff and difficult to lift without twisting the rifle? Does the rifle feed easily on the closing stroke with all bullet styles? Would you benefit from an adjustable trigger? The Axis trigger is nonadjustable. Are iron sights an asset, or will the rifle be used with optics only? Quality iron sights can be acquired for rifles that do not provide them, for about $100 plus the installation fee, which is still less expensive than a scope and mounts. Is a detachable box magazine right for you, or is a hinged flooorplate more conducive to your needs. What is the cost and availability of a replacement Axis magazine? A hinged floorplate can't be lost, whereas the magazine retention of the Axis seems a bit weak to me. The Axis is available in a selection of both short and long action cartridges, but does it come chambered for a cartridge that interests you? There's no 7mm magnum, no .280 Remington, no .260, and no .17.
skneub
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
We love our early production axis 30/06 rifles with the metal magazine.
The scopes are not the greatest but thats easy to fix.
one lost a stock screw. (That killed accuracy) and has not been replaced yet (lazy) and have a 300win mag to use that I hate
thats the only issue we have had other than dead moose and deer.
The scopes are not the greatest but thats easy to fix.
one lost a stock screw. (That killed accuracy) and has not been replaced yet (lazy) and have a 300win mag to use that I hate
thats the only issue we have had other than dead moose and deer.
It is fashionable to bash the Axis, this shows everyone that you know what you are talking about. Make sure you bash the trigger too, and get in there and improve on it.
Oddly enough they sell a lot of these rifles and they seem to function quite well and account for a lot of dead critters. The knowledgeable predicted it would be discontinued after the first run of production. Not sure what happened with that.
It isn't a high end rifle and personaly I don't like anything with plastic, rough finishes or stainless , but this is just my personal taste, it has nothing to do with function.
As a budget rifle it seems hard to beat . Lots of comments about the clip, but those that load and remove it without force and using a bit of care seem to have no problems. Take it out, put it in, don't rip it out and slam it in seems to work well for most owners.
It's accuracy seems to well documented to the dismay of many, but fact is, the axis shoots despite what the experts say.
Evaluate it for what it is, don't expect to find a thousand dollar rifle in an Axis box. If it was anywhere near as bad as many of the the forums claim it is they would be selling for $75 to $100 .
Botttom line the Axis is a good shooting budget rifle that works as intended.
Oddly enough they sell a lot of these rifles and they seem to function quite well and account for a lot of dead critters. The knowledgeable predicted it would be discontinued after the first run of production. Not sure what happened with that.
It isn't a high end rifle and personaly I don't like anything with plastic, rough finishes or stainless , but this is just my personal taste, it has nothing to do with function.
As a budget rifle it seems hard to beat . Lots of comments about the clip, but those that load and remove it without force and using a bit of care seem to have no problems. Take it out, put it in, don't rip it out and slam it in seems to work well for most owners.
It's accuracy seems to well documented to the dismay of many, but fact is, the axis shoots despite what the experts say.
Evaluate it for what it is, don't expect to find a thousand dollar rifle in an Axis box. If it was anywhere near as bad as many of the the forums claim it is they would be selling for $75 to $100 .
Botttom line the Axis is a good shooting budget rifle that works as intended.
