new caliber/new barrel/stock?

[Axis II]

So I own two savage axis 223rem rifles with one being a tack driving heavy barrel, accu trigger and the other is a standard barrel and trigger I rarely shoot because I have the heavy barrel. I have been playing with the idea of doing something with both rifles but would like some more experienced advice. Primary function of both rifles is target and varmint shooting. farthest range we have is 300yards and possibly 400 coming. Varmints range from 50-350yards.

1) Rebarrel and re stock the standard into something like 222rem, 204 ruger, 17rem. any caliber that will fit this bolt face.

2) Rebarrel, re stock and bolt face for something a little larger say 22-250/243/6.5. Kind of embarrassing when others are hitting woodchucks at 300-350yards and your sitting there cause you don't think your 223rem can make human kill or even hit them.

3) Keep the standard the way it is because I already have brass, dies, ammo?

4) Ditch both rifles and get something else?

I am planning with tax time to upgrade the heavy barrel to a boyds stock seeing how its used the most but another part of me says why sink another $150 into this rifle when I could buy something better. Another part of me says keep the axis rifles because you can get E.R shaw barrels for $200 and if I ever get to do an out of state rifle hunt I can easily throw a larger caliber on there myself without buying a new rifle.

Anyone have a caliber suggestion for using the 223rem bolt face? I'm not well versed in all the different calibers.

 

[chas08]

How about ditch one and get something else with a different size bolt face. Like a 22/250 or a .243.

 

[WestKentucky]

Before you jump into .204R you should look at 20practical.

 

[Axis II]

How about ditch one and get something else with a different size bolt face. Like a 22/250 or a .243.

I was trying to do the builds myself cause I can get the barrel and bolt face cheaper than a new rifle in heavy barrel.

 

[Axis II]

Before you jump into .204R you should look at 20practical.

I think I'm limited to certain calibers from the barrel maker.

 

[WestKentucky]

I think I'm limited to certain calibers from the barrel maker.

Then you need a different barrel maker. If they are already making .204R barrels then all it takes is a different reamer.

 

[Axis II]

Then you need a different barrel maker. If they are already making .204R barrels then all it takes is a different reamer.

any suggestions on a barrel maker? I found E.R Shaw and it seems EABCO is the same as them too? I have to ask why the 20 practical? I see its screaming over 22-250 velocity.

 

[WestKentucky]

Your already shooting .223, so 20 practical is a really simple case to form from the brass you already have. Your literally only buying a barrel, reloading die set and bullets.

 

[WestKentucky]

Shaw makes good barrels. I'm know guys with Shaw barrels and have heard good things. I have shot one of the 20practicals, and the groundhog just basically exploded. Extreme velocity is impressive on small critters.

 

[ontarget]

Why wont your .223 make humane kills on vermin at 3-350 yards? That should be well within the effective range of that cartridge.

 

[Newtosavage]

If you want to keep the .223 bolt face, your options are really limited. Lucky for you, swapping bolt faces front baffles and mags are easy to do with the Savage. I bet you'd really enjoy shooting a 6.5 CM and there are plenty of spare new heavy barrels out there right now from all the Cabelas 12FV buyers who just bought the rifle for the action.

 

[Axis II]

Why wont your .223 make humane kills on vermin at 3-350 yards? That should be well within the effective range of that cartridge.

Everything I have read says its only a 150-200yard gun on game. I'm a hunter but when it comes to stuff suffering it tares me apart so I have never taken the chance. I've seen them hit with a 22-250 and run back to a hole so its always in the back of my mind.

 

[Axis II]

If you want to keep the .223 bolt face, your options are really limited. Lucky for you, swapping bolt faces front baffles and mags are easy to do with the Savage. I bet you'd really enjoy shooting a 6.5 CM and there are plenty of spare new heavy barrels out there right now from all the Cabelas 12FV buyers who just bought the rifle for the action.

I did look into that caliber as well as the 308win and ruled 308 out cause man that's double the price for bullets. Right now I'm leaning 20-22cal cause of bullet price. Even 243 is somewhat affordable. I'm still playing with the idea of selling the other axis and just get the model 12 or selling them both for maybe a model 110. I figured with one of those I wouldn't have to buy a barrel and stock and maybe ultimately have a better rifle.

Just got a lot of options. too many to choose.

 

[ontarget]

Everything I have read says its only a 150-200yard gun on game. I'm a hunter but when it comes to stuff suffering it tares me apart so I have never taken the chance. I've seen them hit with a 22-250 and run back to a hole so its always in the back of my mind.

150-200 for deer size game. If you don't want to use it in favor of a different caliber that's cool but it should work just fine at that range with appropriate bullets. You could put a bad shot on a woodchuck with a .50 cal and watch it run back in the hole.

 

[Axis II]

150-200 for deer size game. If you don't want to use it in favor of a different caliber that's cool but it should work just fine at that range with appropriate bullets. You could put a bad shot on a woodchuck with a .50 cal and watch it run back in the hole.

Ill give it a shot this summer. Still would like to do something with the other rifle that just sits there. I know id get maybe $100 for it being an old basic axis so figured do something useful with it.

 

[BigBore44]

Everything I have read says its only a 150-200yard gun on game.

Then everything you’ve read is wrong. Do what you want. But a .223 is more than enough for varmints out to 400+. Have you ever even printed your gun at 300?

 

[ontarget]

That's cool. I am always looking for a good reason to buy a new rifle. I wouldn't let that Axis go for $100. though.

 

[Axis II]

Then everything you’ve read is wrong. Do what you want. But a .223 is more than enough for varmints out to 400+. Have you ever even printed your gun at 300?

I gave my buddy some ammo 24gr benchmark 55gr v max to shoot for me when he checked his 22-250 at his range and he said it shot pretty flat based on the cheat sheet he made for my turrets. I have faith in myself but just worried the round isn't fast enough at those ranges to kill. I guess ill just have to try it. I took a chance last summer at one 270ish and he didn't move but went to another farm and hit one at 90yards and it ran like 10ft.

 

[BigBore44]

I took a chance last summer at one 270ish and he didn't move but went to another farm and hit one at 90yards and it ran like 10ft.

So are you saying you missed the one at 270ish and then put a bad shot on one at 90? Or are you saying you DRT’d one at 270ish and then put a bad shot in one at 90?

There’s no substitute for trigger time and learning your rifle. Having someone else print your rifle doesn’t help you. It only tells you what they can do with it.

 

[LoonWulf]

With good bullets selection, and placement, the .223 will easily kill stuff up to 50-60lbs at 300-350yds.

Ive shot quite a few feral goats from 20-300yds with .223s.

Ive shot a number of smaller critters just as far. Two different loads for different game, but equally as dead.

As to changing it up, no reason not to, just realize your doing this because you WANT to. I say that in the context that if you rebarrel, sell, or otherwise, make sure its what YOU WANT!
Youd be surprised how important that is a few months down the road.

Were it me i would keep the heavy barrel .223, as your contemplating.
I would then swap barrel, bolt parts, and mag on the light barreled gun (if you sell the parts, you should get enough from the lot to replace the bolt parts and mag).
Most likely i would go with some variant of 6mm, with a long med heavy barrel and fast twist. The .243 is a good default choice, especially since that axis is long action. With that caliber you can shoot a much wider array of bullets than the .224s. you also have access to a variety of high bc bullets as well as a goodly number of varmint bullets.
If your contemplating a possible out of state hunt then perhaps add a second barrel in the same profile in say 7-08/.308 or even a 06 based round and magazine. This could be done at a later date, but you still be used to handling the same rifle.

 

[Ramone]

In your shoes, I'd be thinking about getting a heavy barrel in .224 Valkyrie.

Same bolt, mags, etc.

 

[Bartojc]

keep the heavy barreled, sell the other. Get into something like a .243. You can use the .243 for varmints as that was the original design. With heavier loads you can shoot deer/antelope/etc. With a .223 and a .243 you are covered for varmints up to deer sized game. If you don't care for .243 maybe a 7-08 since you reload. The 7-08 is a little more punch and a little more range.

-Jeff

 

[someguy2800]

400 yards is not going to be a problem with a 223 on a woodchuck with a good varmint bullet like a 55 grain V max.

Something else to consider, a typical 55 grain 22-250 load will have the same velocity at 500 yards as a 223 shooting a 75 grain match bullet. The 22-250 will shoot flatter to get there, but the 223 will have 20% less wind drift and is getting there with a 20 grains heavier bullet.

 

[GooseGestapo]

CDNN still has some new old stock Marlin X7S in .243win. $249.
You can sell the Axis sporter, and be way ahead.
The X7S I had was excellent. Better stock than Axis.
I sold the Marlin to a friend for grandson. He's crazy about the rifle.
I replaced the Marlin with an Axis. Couldn't stand it, though it was just as accurate as the Marlin.

If you can't get a ground hog at 350yds with a scoped .223, you need to sell your rifles and get a Mossberg M500 shotgun and stick with shooting squirrels at 50ft.
I shoot 3" groups at 300yds with my RRA NM AR.
With IRON SIGHTS... and I'm 62yrs old.
Instead of spending $$$ on gun mods, I suggest a good laser range finder, better rifle scope, handloads, and most of all, range time... and maybe a ballistic app for your phone.

 

[Axis II]

So are you saying you missed the one at 270ish and then put a bad shot on one at 90? Or are you saying you DRT’d one at 270ish and then put a bad shot in one at 90?

There’s no substitute for trigger time and learning your rifle. Having someone else print your rifle doesn’t help you. It only tells you what they can do with it.

DRT the one at 270ish but the one at 90yards ran away with its innards hanging out of its rear end.

As for the printing of the rifle i just had him mark the turrets for me using my handloads. I had turret numbers for factory AE 50gr Varmint and 55gr Factory v max out to 300yards but wanted him to check those numbers for me seeing how i don't have a place to shoot that far anymore. Everything was within like half inch of each other.