Savage axis xp- cheap and gets the job done?

An LR rifle that you'll only put a few rds thru per year? I doubt that scenario he he. You'll either be miserable with your skills due to lack of practice or, more likely, be driven to practice more and improve your skills. It takes work to get good at anything, LR shooting is no exception. The axis is a good budget hunting rifle or a good platform for someone with the tools and skills to build on it like Bob Fortier did. For the rest of us, the Stevens 200 has the aftermarket support to build on without making custom one off parts. As to the differences, every upgrade the factory LR rifles have costs money. Some are just nice to have and help set the rifle apart at the gun store while others are necessities unless you're happy with shotgun patterns at long range. A full aluminum bedding block, a stock designed for LR shooting, a good trigger, a heavy barrel of good quality. Without these things you just have a hunting rifle. Not too many of those showing up for LR matches. And they cost less from the factory than building a hunting rifle up. A factory rifle will never shoot like a custom but for a new shooter its the best way to learn without blowing your piggy bank to smithereens.
 
supahdave said:
So Stevens is a rebranded savage then.... Interesting. So then I could in fact fit the barrel and action to an mdt tac21 or lss?
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Problem with the Stevens 200 is there are 2 different models a long and short action, then there are 2 different generations. There is a difference between the generations bolt pattern, one being slightly longer than the other.

My suggestion would be to contact the manufacturer and confirm which bolt pattern will fit their chassis.

Scroll down on this page to the Savage description to see the difference.

w w w.boydsgunstocks.com/content/Boyds/CustomPages/FAQ_actionlengthguide.htm
 
supernova said:
And they cost less from the factory than building a hunting rifle up. A factory rifle will never shoot like a custom but for a new shooter its the best way to learn without blowing your piggy bank to smithereens.
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Like I said before.

If your main goal is something tactical for target shooting the best cheap option out there is probably a 12 FV in .223 win. You can then simply upgrade the stock down the road and your good. Once you can shoot better than the rifle then a custom barrel is in order.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Problem with the Stevens 200 is there are 2 different models a long and short action, then there are 2 different generations. There is a difference between the generations bolt pattern, one being slightly longer than the other.

My suggestion would be to contact the manufacturer and confirm which bolt pattern will fit their chassis.

Scroll down on this page to the Savage description to see the difference.

w w w.boydsgunstocks.com/content/Boyds/CustomPages/FAQ_actionlengthguide.htm
Click to expand...

MDT says the LSS chassis will fit either the 4.25 or 4.4" bolt spacing (which I have on order for mine). Not sure about the tac21 but they should be able to clarify that. They don't currently make a LA chassis for them yet, so this is all relative to SA calibers.
 
Fyn said:
MDT says the LSS chassis will fit either the 4.25 or 4.4" bolt spacing (which I have on order for mine). Not sure about the tac21 but they should be able to clarify that. They don't currently make a LA chassis for them yet, so this is all relative to SA calibers.
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Not sure how that would work?

I guess an elongated action screw hole would be possible assuming the action is held firmly enough in place elsewhere.

If this is indeed the case then the newer Stevens 200(stagger feed) action is the way to go, as it is separate from the magazine, where the older action(center feed) has the magazine attached to the action.
 
Why use an Axis ?

Well in my case, why not. I was looking for a steven, never found one, then I decided to go with the Axis and at the same time devellop a way to make stocks for those rifle so they accept the mag. This was a bit more than a year ago. I made several stocks, including the one on Jerry's rifle for sale. I had to stop making them because I got promoted at my job, but it is not as bad as I tought and I am offering them again.

I have a lot of fun with my Axis, I installed a Shilen barrel on it, and once the bolt is closed, who cares. It shoot where I want.
 
I have heard that lots of axis rifles go back for warranty, but have not heard the same about the Ruger "all american". priced about the same, but I have heard nothing good regarding axis rifles.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Not sure how that would work?

I guess an elongated action screw hole would be possible assuming the action is held firmly enough in place elsewhere.

If this is indeed the case then the newer Stevens 200(stagger feed) action is the way to go, as it is separate from the magazine, where the older action(center feed) has the magazine attached to the action.
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Ya, I'm not entirely sure how they are doing it, but they have confirmed that it will fit both spacings. My Stevens is the newer centerfeed model though.
 
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mlehtovaara said:
Not sure how that would work?

I guess an elongated action screw hole would be possible assuming the action is held firmly enough in place elsewhere.

If this is indeed the case then the newer Stevens 200(stagger feed) action is the way to go, as it is separate from the magazine, where the older action(center feed) has the magazine attached to the action.
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You have it backwards. The newer style is the center feed which has the magazine box separate from the rifle, stays in the stock when you pull the barreled action out. The older style is stagger feed and the magazine body stays attached to the rifle when the stock is removed.
 
hoochie said:
I have heard that lots of axis rifles go back for warranty, but have not heard the same about the Ruger "all american". priced about the same, but I have heard nothing good regarding axis rifles.
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Maybe you have been listening to the wrong people
 
It does sound like the Stevens is the best choice. A new one. I am looking at 308 instead of smaller calibre because the only hunting I would be doing is deer, moose and elk. While not a true bench rest marksman rifle for competition etc, I could drop it in an mdt chassis and have a tacticool range gun as well as hunter and can hit things out at 5-600 with little problems, all for under 1000 and have a bit more cash to spend on glass than if I bought an fcp or greater etc. of course I would prioritize a good optic over the stock chassis.

For me it's just not fun to shoot anymore up at 800yrds+ it becomes a bit nerdy at that point where every single factor gets in the way of your bullet going where you want it to. Not to mention you have to spend too much time setting things up, time that I could be shooting things.
 
There has been plenty of good advice given. Ultimately, you have decisions to make and just get out and shoot.

If the platform reaches your goals and expectations, you are done. If not, tweak as needed

There is little reason an Axis, American or other entry level rifle cannot provide hours of grins and giggles. Perfect? No but more then plenty enough to get the basics in place and time out in the field.

you can chat about sub MOA this and that all day long. If you can't deliver, what's the point?

Learn to shoot, learn to handload, learn to read the wind. When you get proficient at these three, many many many rifles become accurate fun rigs.

And Yes, I have built an Axis and it worked very nicely. For the money invested, it has many positives.
Jerry
 
ive got an axis in 223 used for coyotes, shes got about 80 rounds down the tube and will shoot moa if not just a hair under with good factory ammo. the guy i bought it from dropped coyotes at 300 yard with it. its not as nice as my 700 and i find the action isnt quite as smooth, but its a good cheap gun and its fun to shoot, cheap to shoot, and quite accurate for what you pay
 
Here is one Axis stock I just finished. Laminated stock, pillar bedded with Devcon, mag capable. Should be better than the plastic stock. Add a trigger, swap the barrel, and have fun.

 
bobfortier said:
Here is one Axis stock I just finished. Laminated stock, pillar bedded with Devcon, mag capable. Should be better than the plastic stock. Add a trigger, swap the barrel, and have fun.

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While I agree that doing all those things to an Axis will certainly improve it, for those who have to purchase a stock and/or have someone else do any gunsmithing work for you the benefit of modifying an Axis is lost. For most people, IMO, it is a better decision both financially and practically to purchase a higher end rifle from the beginning.
 
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/841972-Crash-Test-Axis-THE-FUN-BEGINS

I think you will enjoy the tests I did last winter. I was very surprised at how well the Axis survived and thrived. I have seen much more expensive rifles fail with lesser useage.

It continued to function, feed and work despite my best efforts to make it not.

So if what you want is a FUNCTIONAL action with the potential to reach 1/2 min or better with a quality match barrel, pretty hard to argue with how this rifle can perform.

Pretty, not in your life. It amazed me that someone actually spent the time to design so much "homely" into this rifle. But the core of the rifle is solid.

If you want pretty AND functional, the new Ruger American is my choice.

Many higher dollar actions need more TLC to shoot their best so you will add even more money to your build.

Depends on what you want to end up with but for a hunting rifle, it makes a good base.

Jerry
 
My 223 Axis shoots better then I ever will.

Stock out of the box, factory ammo and a ten minute trigger job I did some wire cutters.

It's a poor man's rifle that delivers upper middle class results.
 
There is really no big difference between one factory rifle and another. They all shoot about the same. The difference is when you want to create a competitive rifle that will go up against all the other competitive rifles on a line.
Those that play the game seriously don't generally buy Savage but for getting started, it is no different that any other.
 
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