Savage Axis XP

Dasherdriver

Dasherdriver

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Sherwood Park, Alberta
I have been looking at this rifle as a possible candidate for a young lady who will be hunting for her first time this fall. It's currently available in 7mm-08 which is my calibre of choice due to the lessened recoil and versatility of the calibre of round. It would be used primarily for deer, but if the occasion calls for it, she might one day want to go after moose or elk with it.

She wants a rifle of her own and I have read a lot of reviews on this piece, the conclusion that I am coming to is that it's pretty decent value for money, highly accurate, and dependable. Doesn't have the bells and whistles like the accu-trigger but the price at Cabela's right now is $410 including a Bushnell scope. Any thoughts, anyone?

Please don't tell me that I could do better suggesting something like a Weatherby Vanguard... much as I love my Weatherby. If we're talking alternatives, let's compare apples to apples.
 
I had the same debate when my wife needed her first hunting rifle. Ended up getting the savage model 11 scope combo (scopes are garbage, replaced factory scope twice before I just gave up and bought a bushnell 3200) in 7-08 with the accu trigger and she loves it, she's small and manages the LOP and recoil with no problems. The little extra cash is worth the accu trigger.

I'm pretty sure one of my hunting buddies just picked up a savage axis xp that had the accu trigger in 7-08 yesterday from cabelas
 
Atr911 said:
Are you looking at the model that comes with a scope?
Click to expand...

Currently looking at the one at Cabela's, advertising it in green camo for $409 with the Bushnel 3x9x40mm scope. Very utilitarian, and honestly it's probably not something I would buy for myself; my two go-to rifles are my Weatherby Mk V and a TC Venture in .270 that I just bought. But these aren't exactly entry-level rifles, and in this case that's what I am looking for. Something solid, reliable, accurate, and relatively inexpensive.
 
$410 is way to much. You should be able to get one on sale for about $300, i think they are only $340 regular price at wholesale sports.

The stock is crap. Plan to get a Boyds for it. Otherwise i like mine in 270. With a new stock it'll be an amazing sub-$500 rifle.

They are prefect for something that'll get you shooting now, and you can upgrade the stock, scope, and trigger down the road to make it even better.
 
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I've got one in .223 as a knock around gun and for the price it can't be beat. It feels like it costs but I can hit shotshell hulls at 100 yards and it's by far the lightest of my bolt guns to carry around all day. As for the scope I don't know how a 08 recoil will affect it but mine hasn't wandered since I sighted it in 3 years ago.
 
That is way too much. Get one off the EE. I had one that i got for 300 including a decent scope.

That being said, maybe spend a bit more and get a better savage. I have a model 11 and i love it. The axis felt like a toy , real cheap plastic and the worst feeling action i have ever had the displeasure of experiencing. I may have actually laughed out loud the first time i slid that bolt...
 
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I have owned numerous top of the line "expensive" bolt guns and one $380 Axis...guess which one shoots the best of them all...not the expensive ones!!! Sure the Axis has a plastic stock...it's just a handle to hold the shooting platform and it does the job adequately. Sure the trigger was "stiff" by standards set by the "expensive" guns but the .223 still shot a ".249 first group right out of the box", yes, it did get "easier" to shoot very good groups after some trigger spring changes but it didn't shoot any better.

For an inexpensive shooting platform I am very satisfied with my Axis
 
Just bought our daughter a savage muddy girl in 7mm-08 still a little big for her but not not for long. Trigger sucks and i will put another in it, but for what you get and wht you need it is the best bang for you buck.
 
Get a xp II in black almost the same price. Lots of the sponsors on here have better pricing than cabellas. Buy one without a scope and spend a few extra on the scope. The rifles have great reviews the scopes they come with not so much. plus I think I saw a $100 mail in on some savages the other day.
 
7mm-08 is a great caliber but can be challenging to find ammo "off the shelf" and when you do you will notice that it seems "over priced" compared to just about every other standard caliber.

Having said that, I own a 7.08 and have zero reservations about using it for moose - in fact it IS my moose rifle.

That price for the Axis XP is "excellent" so if you want the gun, jump on that deal. The current wholesale price is MORE than the price you note so in a few weeks expect the price to jump by close to 100 bucks.

As someone else has noted here, the length of pull might be a little long in this model for a young lady and the triggers are very heavy on just about every Axis I have handled (over 50), but they are, according to owners, a very accurate rifle off the shelf.

In an apple to apple comparison the only other rifle I would suggest at the same price point, but somewhat more difficult to find, would be a (now replaced by the Patriot and Patriot Bantam which would run about the cost you quoted "without" a scope) ATR100 Mossberg youth model.

These (the ATR 100's) came scoped with a shorter LOP plus an insert or two to extend the butt as the shooter grows AND they have the Mossberg version of the accu-trigger.

Super nice "entry" rifle, just may have to do some looking around. As stated, the model has been replaced by the Patriot, but there are still lot's of ATR's in supply system.
 
In response to the above post, some of those ATR Mossys have a muzzle brake installed from the factory...not something to buy a new shooter, very uncomfortable muzzle blast will discourage or cause the new shooter to probably acquire a flinch right from the start. My s.i.l. has two of them, used them once and put them away until I removed both brakes. Now they are very nice guns to shoot and both will do an inch at 100.
 
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