Scope Rings for Savage Axis

[giggitygiggity]

I have a Savage Axis .223 heavy barrel rifle and I'm topping it with a Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 4-12x40mm scope. I'm planning to buy the Weaver one piece base, but I am stumped on what rings to get. More important than brand, what size (low, medium, or high) do I need? I know the Axis rifles have a high bolt throw so I want to make sure that the rings do not put the scope so low that I end up scratching it with the bolt handle. I suspect medium rings will be just fine, but I'd appreciate your feedback and recommendations. Thanks!

 

[Elkins45]

The clearance issue is more likely to be with the objective lens than with the bolt. I think a 40mm would probably clear with low rings, but I'll bet a phone call to Savage would get you a definitive answer.

 

[Hookeye]

I had an Axis. Weaver base and low Leupold Rifleman rings had the bolt smack the eyebell of my Redfield Revolution 4-12X.
Medium rings and factory stock......place scope too high for me (and I'm not freakishly built).

The bolt handle is stupid in deisgn.

I actually ground mine down for clearance and reblued it (buddy bead blasted it first). I have seen some Axis with bolt handles swapped, cost is $40 IIRC.
Look better but dunno about clearance.

Ended up making a Kydex cheekpiece for the stock, which then allowed Medium rings (and may have negated need for bolt mod).

Stock was factory, and stiffened w epoxy in forend hollows. Did trigger job.
Gun shot great, actually kinda scary for such a cheapy.

But a long action and short action cartridge.......plus the overall feel, I sold it for less than I had in it (not counting the mods).

2 pc Weaver bases, didn't allow as much fore and aft scope adj.
Solution back then was for an EGW 1 pc base. At $40.

$300 rifle, needing a new stock (Boyds didn't make any yet), a $40 scope base, and a $75 trigger (Rifle Basix)..........seemed silly.
I did the trigger deal myself, came out great for $2..........but it was not adjustable like the aftermarket one.

 

[Hookeye]

The bolt knob did not hit the scope, it was the section with the two hollows. Was not a lot of material removed, but with the curve and hollows it's not the best type of setup (aesthetically).

Contoured mine to be tolerable.

But I'm a picky dude. And that is why I got another 700.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Thanks for the feedback. I went with the medium Burris XTR rings. We shall see how the setup does. That said, it's pretty stupid that Savage failed to factor in bolt candle clearance when it made the Axis. It's one thing if it was designed to shot without optics, but come on... it's an bull barreled, bolt action rifle. Everyone will be putting a scope on with the simple expectation that the bolt handle is not going to hit the scope.