I will be honest, I see a lot of savage hate...I know they definitely arent the nicest, but they do seem to have their place
Well damn lol
Savage Axis XP for first hunting rifle
- Thread starter Wis3guy
- Start date
I will be honest, I see a lot of savage hate...I know they definitely arent the nicest, but they do seem to have their place
Well damn lol
- Location
- Ashern Manitoba
You'll hear junk this and junk that, this rifle is better than that one. Try it. Can you learn how it shoots and how the shots fall? Then does it put meat on the table? That's all that matters.
rolloverandlaugh
New member
- Location
- aurora, ontario
Just a heads up, cabelas usually has the strata camo axis come around for 400 (2020,) 420 last fall. Seen it in the spring and in the fall the past couple of years..scoped....
I'd pay 400 for a beater gun, but for 600ish, I'd be looking in ee for something in stainless, accutrigger and accustock.
I'd pay 400 for a beater gun, but for 600ish, I'd be looking in ee for something in stainless, accutrigger and accustock.
I have seen it around $450 before with rebates, but now it seems $499 is the sweet spot with the inflation on firearms prices.
rolloverandlaugh
New member
- Location
- aurora, ontario
Just caught on that you're in the gta. Was at tenda today and saw on their site they got a mossberg patriot in 6.5cm with vortex scope for 620 on sale. Vortex has a lifetime warranty from what I hear and mossbergs trigger is similar to an accutrigger I was told. Its a better value imo. Even tho I'm a savage fanboy
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Is the objective to use such rifle for hunting exclusively or to shoot at the range too?
Regardless of brand, majority of current production (read low priced) field model rifle barrels will perform satisfactorily for hunting at reasonable range(s). Some examples may perform exceptionally well even. The problem is one can only determine performance after the product had been put to the test. Obviously, there is no guarantee.
As you have already noted via your research, the price point for such firearms basically encapsulate the overall build quality (including the optics package). Therefore, if the purpose is to use something like that perhaps simply as a range tool then chances are you may be disappointed. Moreover, hunting perspective, such scope might fail in the field under adverse weather conditions.
If you aren't in any rush and/or budget may not be a constraint - may I then suggest, bide your time, do a bit more research on few other brands (both rifle and optics/mounts) and consider something that will offer reasonable satisfaction in terms of ownership and performance.
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Savage (use) to makes a Heavy Barrel Axis, in the basic stock for around $600 range. IF you can find one. Ive had a couple standard Axis, all no problems.
A 20" Hog Hunter is a step up. Id recommend finding a decent used one if you can. One of the Best rifles I owned for what it was, in the price range.
Alternatively, I picked up a heavy duty Savage Axis II Precision Long Range in a MDT stock....overkill? Savage deemed Axis good enough to produce this rifle. They are actually a pretty sweet -budget- 'Long Range' set up for around $1200 or so new.
Here's a listing at a site sponsor: https://www.gotenda.com/product/sav...2-heavy-barrel-101-black-and-olive-drabgreen/
P.S all 'Axis II' has their Accutrigger. The basic rifles don't, aren't adjustable, hence, some say 'Heavy trigger'.
A 20" Hog Hunter is a step up. Id recommend finding a decent used one if you can. One of the Best rifles I owned for what it was, in the price range.
Alternatively, I picked up a heavy duty Savage Axis II Precision Long Range in a MDT stock....overkill? Savage deemed Axis good enough to produce this rifle. They are actually a pretty sweet -budget- 'Long Range' set up for around $1200 or so new.
Here's a listing at a site sponsor: https://www.gotenda.com/product/sav...2-heavy-barrel-101-black-and-olive-drabgreen/
P.S all 'Axis II' has their Accutrigger. The basic rifles don't, aren't adjustable, hence, some say 'Heavy trigger'.
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Lmao
Savages business model is to produce guns as cheaply as possible and then slap accessories on them and charge premium prices for them.
Maybe “ savage haters “ have just tried a variety of other rifles in similar or slightly higher price ranges and made their decision based on their own experience
Fill your boots if you like the axis but it will never be a well made gun.
Something about savage and Remington seems to produce cult like levels of devotion. That’s the real mystery to me
^ Haterz guna Hate ~
remember. This is a 'Budget' rifle thread..OP is talking about under $500 brand new....so...
Even the MVP on sale at $600 something..I had one, the bolt was so loose & floppy..I didnt feel safe to shoot it. Savage.. never had that feeling..even on a $400 Axis.
remember. This is a 'Budget' rifle thread..OP is talking about under $500 brand new....so...
Even the MVP on sale at $600 something..I had one, the bolt was so loose & floppy..I didnt feel safe to shoot it. Savage.. never had that feeling..even on a $400 Axis.
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Many of us may view/evaluate such products via lenses powered by long years of experience/knowledge.
However, the way I look at it - during these difficult times (both financial/political) - if products, regardless of price points, can enable new folks to place a first step into the shooting sports then so be it! Works in all our favor collectively .....
However, the way I look at it - during these difficult times (both financial/political) - if products, regardless of price points, can enable new folks to place a first step into the shooting sports then so be it! Works in all our favor collectively .....
You bring up a lot of good points. I am looking to do a bit of hunting and range shooting with this. New to both shooting and hunting, but going to be with friends who have years of experience. I know at $500 its not going to be anything special, but wasn't sure if it would be worth the $500 even.
And then I see replies like this, even in threads I search. It seems the Axis has quite a good following, not purported as something that works way above its price point, but as a good all around budget gun for its purpose. I have seen that precision model in person, it is definitely cool!
By no means am I saying people's opinions or reasons are flawed. We all have our own experiences, hence why I like to ask on the forums since I have never handled or used one, and thus look to people who have actual experience...to me, that matters. And obviously its my choice at the end of the day, but I like to collect as much info as I can before deciding.
True, veryyyy true! In some of my other hobbies of longer experience, I look back and say "should have done this right off the bat instead of a, b and c" but yet I still find myself always interested in things that may perform quite good for the dollar value. I definitely have some thinking to do!
I absolutely love my Axis for what it is - a $235 gun that got me a modern scoped rifle to hunt with. As a replacement for my Enfield sporter with iron sights it was a HUGE step up, and at the price it was literally the cheapest scoped rifle I could buy at the time.
Not that they're $500 the value just isn't there anymore though. There are enough issues with the Axis that I would recommend a used rifle from one of the reputable sponsors on this site, or from the EE from someone with feedback.
When I bought my Axis for $235 a used hunting rifle would run you $400-500 on the cheap end. Today, when the Axis is retailing for $500 you can still get a used rifle for $400-500.
Feedback of zero... so what's your real world experience with buying used guns? I've bought a few, and the only one that had major issues I was able to send back to the dealer and exchange it for something else that was a few bucks more, they didn't even charge me the difference or shipping to return it.
The idea that you'd be out $500 if you buy from a reputable dealer is wrong in my experience - generally they will tell you what the bore is like in the ad. Simply put, it's not worth their reputation to try and screw people like that. In general the EE works the same way, people don't want to risk a negative feedback by misrepresenting the condition of the gun.
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I didn't like my 783 much, felt the stock was too chunky and mine had feed issues if you only loaded 2 rounds in the magazine. But it does have a better trigger, doesn't take a forklift to lift the bolt after a shot, and they have a good reputation for accuracy. I didn't shoot mine enough to really say, sold it to fund my lefty rifle after 20 rounds. My Axis has sentimental value, probably a major factor why I still have it over the 783.
If I had to pick one, I'd pick the 783. If they made em in lefty I would probably have one of those rather than a 700 as my primary hunting rifle. The bolt lift on the Axis is just too darn heavy.
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If an axis gets you out hunting it is a good thing, I’m not a snob. I used to work 6 months a year in my field while paying off a student loan, I’m familiar with budget rifles
But I have owned a lot of rifles; and I’m a big advocate of the used market. Spending around a grand or more on a ruger American or tikka is a bit nuts when you can get a used SAKO, Winchester, m77 or even a
dancingbanana Remington 700, for the same price. If you keep your eyes open guys sell commercial Mausers etc for even less. I once bought a nicely bedded Remington 710 in great shape for less than an axis combo and put a banner on it, world of difference from an axis combo in terms of build quality
There are often good deals on euro budget rifles like the Sauer 100, that are in another class from NA budget guns
I see redfield scopes on the EE for 250 bucks sometimes, act quickly on them and you have a killer deal. Same with mid range vortex, bushnell etc. Wouldn’t be my first choice but will serve you much better hunting and on the range than the no name axis scopes (think they’re bottom end weavers with no branding?)
But I have owned a lot of rifles; and I’m a big advocate of the used market. Spending around a grand or more on a ruger American or tikka is a bit nuts when you can get a used SAKO, Winchester, m77 or even a
dancingbanana Remington 700, for the same price. If you keep your eyes open guys sell commercial Mausers etc for even less. I once bought a nicely bedded Remington 710 in great shape for less than an axis combo and put a banner on it, world of difference from an axis combo in terms of build quality There are often good deals on euro budget rifles like the Sauer 100, that are in another class from NA budget guns
I see redfield scopes on the EE for 250 bucks sometimes, act quickly on them and you have a killer deal. Same with mid range vortex, bushnell etc. Wouldn’t be my first choice but will serve you much better hunting and on the range than the no name axis scopes (think they’re bottom end weavers with no branding?)
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If an axis gets you out hunting it is a good thing, I’m not a snob. I used to work 6 months a year in my field while paying off a student loan, I’m familiar with budget rifles
But I have owned a lot of rifles; and I’m a big advocate of the used market. Spending around a grand or more on a ruger American or tikka is a bit nuts when you can get a used SAKO, Winchester, m77 or even a
There are often good deals on euro budget rifles like the Sauer 100, that are in another class from NA budget guns
I see redfield scopes on the EE for 250 bucks sometimes, act quickly on them and you have a killer deal. Same with mid range vortex, bushnell etc. Wouldn’t be my first choice but will serve you much better hunting and on the range than the no name axis scopes (think they’re bottom end weavers with no branding?)
Things may have changed by now, but in my day the Axis came with a Bushnell and the Axis 2 came with a Weaver Kaspa. I bought a few Kaspa for cheap to do some load development on a rifle I planned to run without an optic and to have an extra kicking around, and personally I like the Bushnell more. The magnification ring on my kaspas are very stiff to turn.
I don’t know much about budget scopes. I’ve always been an iron sights guy but I’m on team “ optical clarity is more of an advantage than magnification”, I believe I stole this idea from Jeff Cooper (pbuh). I have noticed a world of difference in terms of quality with each increase in price bracket with the scopes I’ve owned. I’m terms of extreme budget options I would take vortex over bottom end bushnell any day of the week, diamondbacks punch way above their weight class
This is to say, my two cents is. Instead of buying a high mag budget scope get a lower mag mid range one for the same price. Again, the used market is your friend
A bit of a hot take here from a seasoned hunter and gun collector like you…
Lots of sources of used guns outside of CGN
This is to say, my two cents is. Instead of buying a high mag budget scope get a lower mag mid range one for the same price. Again, the used market is your friend
A bit of a hot take here from a seasoned hunter and gun collector like you…
Lots of sources of used guns outside of CGN
