Savage AxisII XP in .223 followed me home

[jimbo728]

I got out today, Im mostly housebound, and dropped into a Walmart in a nearby city. They had exactly what I said I would buy if they had it. Savage Axis II XP in .223 with Accutrigger. Under $400.00 made it irresistable coupled by the fact my American Rifleman from January has been open to their Axis review page for weeks.
My local Walmart had a Remington 770 in .30.06 for under $300.00. It too was a package rifle.
Cant wait to sight it in the Savage and see how it shoots.
Any other Axis buyers out there? So far all I have heard are good things.
Sure will be glad when I can get to the range. Winter here has been a b.... . But at least I have something to look forward to.

 

[David R]

I was torn between axis and model 25. I shoot 100 yard and 200 yard offhand matches. The model 25 is what I ended up buying because wood and steel.

My 25 has accutrigger. It makes my Remington 700 VL trigger seem terrible.

How does it shoot?

David

 

[bentcam]

my hunting buddy got a 243 axis package without accutrigger for his grandson,
back in oct. out of the box it shot 1 1/4 inch 3 shot group, with in 2 inches of point of aim. trip to gunsmith for trigger job (6#gritty) 4# clean, shoots 3/4 inch. not pretty but sure does shoot. good luck. jim

 

[jimbo728]

I dont know how it shoots yet. It`s going to be a while. I was hoping to find a 110 in .223 but the Axis showed up and I bit. Love the trigger, I can live with the plastic stock, I like the scope, but the magazine design is terrible. It`s a problem single feeding. Cartridge needs to be started in the chamber to feed. Inserting the mag requires extra attention also.
But it will serve its purpose. If I didnt become partially parylized I would have never needed a light weight rifle with a light trigger. I would still be perfectly happy with my M1. Thats life.
Jim

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Savage has been known to make a very good rifle for the money! I own a late 50's 340 in 22 Hornet and had 2 others plus a 340 in 30-30. They all shot great. I also have 3 current Model 10, 12, and 110 models. With good glass and good ammo they are very hard to beat. Sometime around 2004 or 05, I was in a LGS and they were trying real hard to get rid of a used 110 left handed bull barrel in 223 with a scope, I got out the door for $200! My second son is Left Handed, and had got out of the Marines the summer before, So I picked it up as a 4th of July/birthday present. I zeroed the scope (a cheep-o 6-18x40mm) for 200 yards with Winchester varmint 46gr, 3700 fps ammo. I had a hard time shooting it left handed but got 3 consecutive 3 shot groups under 1/2". He got the rifle and 200 rounds of that ammo for his birthday. He hunted varmints for a few years and sold the gun, scope and his last 80 rounds to a friend for $400 and bought a Stag LH AR-15. I don't care how much he tries, he'll never get that AR to shoot as good as that Savage! Ivan

 

[bentcam]

the magazine design was of concern, i picked up a spare for him, they don't load by sliding from front to back, it just snaps in the top and the latch that holds them in the rifle is questionable. jim

 

[LVSteve]

Try single rounds from the magazine. In my experience many push feed rifles like the Axis still feed better from the magazine.

 

[jimbo728]

I havnt even fired the rifle yet but cabin fever has caused me to be thinking too much.
As a result I bought an extended bolt handle, really needed, a bipod, just a UTG, a new Classic Boyds Nutmeg stock , its gotta look nice, right?and some Black Hills 69gr Match ammo.
One of the problems with cabin fever is you can really justify buying stuff.
Jim

 

[tbgunner88]

I havnt even fired the rifle yet but cabin fever has caused me to be thinking too much.
As a result I bought an extended bolt handle, really needed, a bipod, just a UTG, a new Classic Boyds Nutmeg stock , its gotta look nice, right?and some Black Hills 69gr Match ammo.
One of the problems with cabin fever is you can really justify buying stuff.
Jim

A true gun nut, when the weather is too bad to get out and shoot, you find yourself shopping for shooting supplies. I'm right there with you, I've spent $107 just in the last 2 days internet shopping, the good deals just won't stop popping up. My wife gave me the look this evening after my latest order, I better watch myself.

 

[jimbo728]

It helps knowing Im not alone. Laughing as I type. If I were still married I`d be out on my tail.
Jim

 

[jimbo728]

Finally got the .223 Axis II to the range today to sight it in. 4 shots to zero at 50yds.
This is a big milestone for me. Was parylized, bad Lyme disease, and was not even supposed to ever move my arms again. Thank God I was thinking, well the best I can hope for is bench rest when the docs were giving me the bad news. Today I did it,after almost 3years. Never give up.
To get back on topic, The Axis boresighting from the factory was only 3 inches low left. Not bad. 3# trigger from factory. 100 yards was under an inch.
Very happy with this rifle and glad to be back on the rifle range.
Jim

 

[jimbo728]

Off the bench again, like coming home. Oh , I used to be lefty, but now I have to shoot righty.
Jim

 

[jimbo728]

Well, I got out to the range today again with it. I struggled some but managed a little over 1". Im sure it was all me to blame. My shooting buddy shot a 3 shot group with his handloads and all 3 holes completely covered with a dime.
Terrific rifle for the money.
Jim