Savage Axis in .308

[robodad]

I couldn't find any recent topics on this rifle so I figured I would start another discussion, My brother is wanting to know what your opinion of this rifle is, he will be using it in Wisconsin for whitetailed deer and to break his son(14yo) in on a high power.

What is the Good, Bad, and Ugly ??

[yorketransport]

They're great entry level rifles. Most that I have seen and shot would hold a 1.5"group or better (sometimes much better) at 100 yards. For the price you get a light weight, reliable gun with a detatchable magazine.

The down side as I see it is a lack of aftermarket support. Stuff like triggers and stocks. If that is an issue he could go with a Stevens model 200. Those rifles us the same parts as the Savage model 10 and 110 variants.

Andrew

[JBar]

I have an Axis in .223, I did some home gunsmithing and and adjusted the trigger so you don't need aftermarket. I tossed the scope that came with it and put on a Redfield and it shoots <1" groups at 100. Extra magazines are or were only available from Savage and pretty spending IMO. I say good gun for the $$, not a great gun but a good one.

[PlateauNDN]

That's good to hear JBar, I was looking to purchase this same rifle for my son here in a couple of weeks and was looking to get it in the camo paint or tan paint, not sure yet.  I'm not a big aftermarket guy and I'm teaching my son the Basics before he even touches his soon to be new rifle.  I've got an older model winchester .308 righty automatic with wooden stock and I think it has too much of a kick for him so I've been looking for another version and I think I've found it.

[jackelope]

  I've got an older model winchester .308 righty automatic with wooden stock and I think it has too much of a kick for him so I've been looking for another version and I think I've found it.

I wouldn't plan on the recoil from the Axis being less than that of your old heavy autoloading Winchester. You might step down a caliber to a .243 or something but I'd be willing to bet that the Axis in .308 will kick harder than your Winchester. If you're already looking at a different caliber, then disregard my post.

[PlateauNDN]

  I've got an older model winchester .308 righty automatic with wooden stock and I think it has too much of a kick for him so I've been looking for another version and I think I've found it.

I wouldn't plan on the recoil from the Axis being less than that of your old heavy autoloading Winchester. You might step down a caliber to a .243 or something but I'd be willing to bet that the Axis in .308 will kick harder than your Winchester. If you're already looking at a different caliber, then disregard my post.

Thanks Jackelope, but he's only going to fire it maybe 20 or 30 times before he actually uses it on an animal.  This is going to be his first kill and when this ceremony occurs per our tradition during the feast he has to give away everything he wore and used to harvest the animal and also share the entire animal with the people so it can bring him good fortune for the future.  During our Ancestors time this was considered one of the final steps to becoming a man and a warrior for the Tribe.

It's a great ceremony and this will be my first as a father and I can't wait for this fall!

[shedcrazy]

I bought the exact gun and caliber for my wife and 11 year old to use. So far so good, make sure they have plenty of eye relief. The rail for the scope mounts don't leave much room for adjustmant's. Pretty good shooting gun. We are using 165 grain Hornady SST.

[Mookie]

It's a Savage with a super cheap stock and a different front lug. There are aftermarket triggers out there, Rifle Basix SavR and Timney I think. It's got a savage barrel, therefore it should shoot, and most of a savage action, they made it easily mass producable. Plenty of aftermarket scope mounts available, Weaver makes a nice tactical 0 and 25 MOA mount as does EGW, both good prices, under $40 I believe.

Another option is the Marlin, they have been getting outstanding reviews for accuracy and quality. Basically they had a Savage mount a Remington and this is what you end up with.

[Sneaky]

Savage has always made an affordable, accurate rifle. I would buy this before a Remington 770 or comparable "cheap" rifle based on my previous experience with savage/stevens rifles and also my first rifle, a remington 710.

To me, there isn't really a "better" rifle, its more about the rifle that you like. I like ruger m77's and savage 110's, you may like remington 700's and winchester model 70's. For these reasons, its a good idea to get an affordable rifle for the first one so that the kiddo can grow up and decide for himself what type of rifle to move onto next. I think the savage is a good choice 

[robodad]

I really appreciate the input from you all, I think he has decided to get that rifle and trade in the scope that comes on it for a 2x7x32 Nikon though not the greatest set up in the world but for the brush he will be hunting is should be a decent setup. I will pass all this information on to him and again, Thanks a bunch for your input !!! Can always depend on getting sound real world advice right here !! 

[marlin]

Marlin XS7 in .308 is an amazing rifle. I dont think the Axis competes

[addicted]

Marlin XS7 in .308 is an amazing rifle. I dont think the Axis competes

Do you have both?

[marlin]

No I dont so youre right I cant really bad mouth the axis.. but I think the savage 110 is more in the same class as the XS7. I would rather have my xs7 than a savage 110, and I wouldnt even consider the axis. I would classify the axis more in line with the remington 710/770.. I have had a 710 before and it was a cheap rifle for sure. A friend has both the 770 and a savage 110, I wouldnt trade my marlin for both of those.. Just saying. Take a look at the marlin.
 when I got the xs7, I was considering the howa 1500, the remington 700 sps, the savage 110 and others, but I got a sweet deal on the xs7 and Im really glad I got it. The savage edge and axis, and remington 710/770 werent even considered.

[CAMPMEAT]

I really appreciate the input from you all, I think he has decided to get that rifle and trade in the scope that comes on it for a 2x7x32 Nikon though not the greatest set up in the world but for the brush he will be hunting is should be a decent setup. I will pass all this information on to him and again, Thanks a bunch for your input !!! Can always depend on getting sound real world advice right here !! 

The scope isn't worth the gas to trade in. Keep it and by a scope of his/your liking. You notice that most traded in guns don't have scopes on them, but have the rings ? sportsmansguide has some nice Pentax scopes for sale. I've got 4 of them and they are very nice scopes for the money.