New Savage Axis 3-0.06

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Picked it up for under 400. Been wanting either a vanilla .308 hunting rifle or .30.06 to use up my poorer reloads and so preserve my more expensive rifles.

It didn't come with a scope. It has a autumn wood stock with green accents which I really like. Matches my clothing really well for hunting.

So I never heard of this rifle before so thats what Im here to ask. Are they good and durable? What scope should I put on it?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I had a 1st Gen. Axis in .223. Was very accurate, with a nice trigger- but the magazine catches were really flimsy and fragile and spare magazines were ridiculously expensive at the time. Also, top loading wasnt possible due to the tiny port and feed lip design- so I sent it down the road.

Supposedly, the current production guns have a new and more durable magazine. If not for the crappy mag on mine, Id still have it.

For a quality, inexpensive scope, I like the Burris Fullfield line.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

but the magazine catches were really flimsy and fragile and spare magazines were ridiculously expensive at the time.

Yea that's what I noticed. the magazine catch really sucks

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Please tell me i'm not alone but after collecting all the milsurp rifles I could want I seem to now be interested in the plain jane/fudd guns that I never had any interest in before. Maybe after obtaining that which I felt was most important to me, I feel more free to explore other genres of the hobby as well?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have a few commercial rifles and many more milsurp guns. Military arms made prior to 1970 or so are built to last centuries and CAN be just as accurate as a cheap, modern hunting rifle- although usually alot more difficult to mount optics to.

However, the average modern $300 Walmart rifle will outshoot the average WW2 rifle and be lighter, more corrosion resistant, and have stronger bolts and receiver steel.

Modern hunting rifles hold little real interest for me, but I wont deny they have their place. Cant imagine having a whole "collection" of them, though......

 

[Hugger-4641]

If that Axis is comparable to the ones my SIls , they are respectable. I have been reloading and sighting in their 308, 22-250, and 6.5cm, these are Axis II. Actions are not as smooth as I like, but they are accurate.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

but I wont deny they have their place.

Yes, the rifle that I can shoot whatever reloads I want through it. Take it camping wherever and not care what happens to it cosmetically.
Display it in my wooden gun cabinet.
My valuable war horses will stay safe elsewhere.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

If that Axis is comparable to the ones my SIls , they are respectable. I have been reloading and sighting in their 308, 22-250, and 6.5cm, these are Axis II.

What is the difference between the different gens and when did the Axis first come out?

 

[Hugger-4641]

Not sure when they came out, but the Axis is the base model, the Axis II XP has the adjustable Accu Trigger and stock. The Axis II has a wood stock. Otherwise, I believe the barrels and actions are the same.

 

[tallpaul]

I believe the xp designation is a scoped combo... wood stock is a different model number in both axis andaxis II- axis two has the accutrigger

 

[Hugger-4641]

I believe the xp designation is a scoped combo... wood stock is a different model number in both axis andaxis II- axis two has the accutrigger

Yes. My fingers are dyslexic, and autocorrect is a P.I.T.A!
They also come in camo stock, I have one of each in my safe at the moment.

 

[wombat13]

I have an Axis II in .25-06. It has the accutrigger. About a 1 MOA rifle with all 100 gr. Factory loads I tried. Did not like 120 gr ammo at all. I put a Leupold VX-3i on it. Very happy with it.

 

[giggitygiggity]

The Axis is a solid rifle. It’s definitely nothing fancy, but it is accurate. As others have noted, the magazine is flawed in the sense that it does not provide positive confirmation that it is set. I much prefer the magazine of the Thompson Center Compass as it actually clicks in and is not reliant upon a piece of plastic springing into place.

I have 6 Axis rifles. They are all gen 1. I got 5 of them a little over a year ago when Walmart had them on clearance AND Savage was offering rebates on top so I would have been a fool not to buy them.

 

[tallpaul]

The Axis is a solid rifle. It’s definitely nothing fancy, but it is accurate. As others have noted, the magazine is flawed in the sense that it does not provide positive confirmation that it is set. I much prefer the magazine of the Thompson Center Compass as it actually clicks in and is not reliant upon a piece of plastic springing into place.

I have 6 Axis rifles. They are all gen 1. I got 5 of them a little over a year ago when Walmart had them on clearance AND Savage was offering rebates on top so I would have been a fool not to buy them.

Yeah... I got several of them on clearance with the rebate. Havent even shot any yet but I did get a orx chassis for the in .223 I got in the mix. Grabbed a hardwood 06 and a synthetic too cheap to leave behind.. I had some 06 ammo from a garand I used to have and some trade ammo...should be a great cabin or truck guns.... I have some hopes for the in in the chassis... We will see

 

[d2wing]

I bought one last year it shot ok, but the stock was really flimsy.