Author Topic: my savage axis review (Read 8560 times)

scotsman · « **on:** July 28, 2012, 06:54:50 AM »

I wandered in the pawn shop/gun store this week in my little home town and came home with a new savage axis in 223. These are just my thoughts on the rifle after firing it a little. First of all it is a cheap rifle, 300 bucks for the package rifle with a bushnell sportsman scope. It looks cheap and it feels cheap, it has a detachable box magazine that is about the worst I have ever seen. Part plastic and part metal blocked off for the small 223 rounds and it is hard to load. I have read reviews about the bolt being smooth but mine is not, even cleaned and oiled up it is jerky feeling and loose at the same time. It does not eject well even when working the bolt with authority the brass sort of just dribbles out. The scope is very low end useable but only just. The trigger feels as heavy as a mosin nagant and that is not an exaggeration. I have read reviews that talk about the accuracy but my rifle didn't impress me much. After zeroing I fired 50 grain federal hollow points best 4 shot group was over 2 inches. Cheap russian 55 grain and my 55 grain fmj loads using varget and bl-c2 were about the same a little over 2 inches. The surprise was some 62 grain ruam import that shot to about 1.5 inches, and those are about the worst ammo I have ever used. It may be that with a little work it will shoot better and it may do better with a heavier bullet. All in all it isn't a bad rifle and maybe I just expected a little too much for the 300 dollars. For a kid or someone who just wanted to try shooting and see if it was something they enjoyed it would probably be just right. I think it won't live at my house for long and I will go for a remington or a better quality savage.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2012, 01:50:00 PM »

scotsman

Your not the first to have issues with the AXIS , the master plan at Savage was to phase out the Steven's 200 once the new rifle was in production , alas that is not happening as the " new kid on the block " is not living up to its own hype . And their new style " Ergonomic " stock leaves a lot to be desired too .

stimpy

scotsman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2012, 06:39:55 AM »

I have a stevens 200 in 7mm08 it is a good shooting cheaper rifle. I guess I expected the axis to be about the same. Oh well 300 hundred bucks is cheap education these days and I can always swap it off for something else.

GEMSTATE · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2012, 04:55:00 PM »

Many thanks for a excellent review. Saved a lot of trial and error and money. Thanks Again!

mkee · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2012, 12:30:10 PM »

yeah, thanks for the review. I almost bought one to build a cheap wildcat round on. Glad I saved my money.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:37:26 PM »

Have the .223 Axis also, but bought it when it had the Edge name. Experience the same problem with poor ejection and the trigger left a lot to be desired. Have not tried to solve the ejection problem, but have been told to remove the ejector from bolt and widen the groove in it for the pin that holds it. As to the trigger, found a lighter trigger spring at my local hardware store and did some polishing on the sear to improve the pull....got it down to 2 1/2-3lbs. Don't experience the poor groups you report. Mine shoots around 1" groups at 100 yds. One thing you did not mention, that may only be noticeable when you shoot from a benchrest like I do. When pulling the trigger I could see my crosshair move up to an inch on the target before firing pin released. Solved this problem by replacing the plastic stock with one I made. Seems the factory stock design/trigger guard piece, allows the stock to flex in area above and behind the trigger guard.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2012, 06:02:10 PM »

I guess I am of the few that has no problems with plastic stocks. However, the Axis does need a little work on the stock. There is some flex in the palm area. I have been working on one for my son-in-law. With a wire cutters I removed a few coils from the trigger spring and some polish I got the pull down to right at 2-3/4 pounds. Right now got it to 3/4" groups with factory ammo. With a better stock this could be a shooter. I find the Stevens to be a better value. Maybe the next generation Axis will improve on the issues.

LilHog · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2012, 01:45:55 AM »

I have an Axis in 223 and it shoots very well. My bolt is super smooth and no ejection problems at all. I went to the hardware store and bought a lighter spring for the trigger, now it breaks very clean and creep free. I agree the stock is in need of work and I've added weight in the buttstock and packed it very tightly and it has improved it's flex to a point. Mine will shoot 1"-2" at 100yds depending on the ammo, it shoots wolf steel case very well especially the 62 grain stuff. My only real gripe with the gun is it has a long action and it places the scope farther away from my eye then I would like. It's a budget rifle and it let me shoot and have fun until I could save and buy something better, I've had it for 6 months now and I don't regret buying it at all. I'm about to purchase a Savage trophy hunter or a Weatherby carbine in the next week or two, so the axis was a stepping stone for me to something better. The axis is a keeper and it's always good to have a backup or beater rifle, or better yet something to hand to a family member.

wmdron · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2012, 11:12:59 PM »

I recently had the opportunity to try an Axis in 30-06 . My feeling is that for deer in the eastern woodlands I believe it will do the job. Very basic rifle with what scotsman said of it holding true for the one I tried. I think the Stevens 200 would be a better bet if you wanted a rifle to tinker with.

Catfish · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2012, 01:07:43 PM »

I picked up one in 22-250 at a gun show. Yea, it`s a cheap gun and the trigger could be alittle better, but it shoots under 1 moa with some ammo I had loaded for another 22-250 and will make an excellant carry gun for varments.

JonnyReb · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2012, 02:33:04 AM »

I hate seeing so many with issues, I picked a .308 for $257.00 (walmart)and love it. I like the stock, the super slick bolt and the smoothly finished internals. My trigger is perfect for hunting, 5lbs, and has 0 creep, no side to side wobble and a crisp lettoff. I don't care for the safety, should be metal imho and same with the plastic clip holding the mag in, wish it were metal. Still, nothings giving me any trouble, its light and easy to hoof around. Shoots where you aim it. If i'd paid 500.00 i'd feel ripped off but for 1/2 that its a true bargain. Jeff

poncaguy · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2012, 12:53:04 PM »

I have a Savage Edge 223, cut the barrel off to 16", gun smith did trigger work, ,just under 3lbs now. I get 1/2" groups with 50 grain Hornady Vmax.......nice truck gun for yotes...........for the money, good rifle, as are the 200's and Marlin XL's........really pleased with my new Ruger American 270, great trigger, light, good detachable magazine...

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2012, 05:10:07 AM »

I've got one in 308 Win with the scope package. The first thing I noticed after that heavy trigger was the length of the scope. I have several other of somewhat better quality which are just to short to fit. I got a set of extension rings to solve that problem and yesterday undertook the trigger situation with misgivings.

Having had stressful prior encounters with springs and other unknown objects being suddenly propelled out of unseen crevices during disassembly and being clueless where or how they go back in, I am happy to report that there is a silver lining in a low cost simple trigger assembly such as the one in the Axis.

The trigger assembly was easy to remove with one pinfrom the action, the trigger equally with one pin. There was a very small "C" clip to retained one pin, the type of clip that if it takes off on you, you will never find it it again.

The spring screwed out, yep the spring is of two diamenters and the smaller side acts as a screw to hold it in place. There is one more spring that sit in a blind hole in the barrel and pushes against the trigger assembly, Easy to see and remove/install. It has some purpose, I just don't know what it is. $:-\$

I removed two coils on the big side of the rtriger spring , got it all back together, after a fair selection of cuss words in regards to installing that "C" clip which is the second part of the operation that can cause a sudden disappearance of said item. Perhaps the is a special tool for those infernal items, I managed to get it back on with needle nose pliers.

The operation did not turn it into a Timney or Basix trigger but it is a definite improvement.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 27, 2012, 07:46:54 PM »

They may function, but where I work behind the gun counter, customers much prefer the Ruger American or Mossberg ATR in the same general price range. DP

goldhound56 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:59:04 AM »

My hunting buddy has one in 7mm-08 . He loves it !!!!!!

BBF · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2012, 10:04:13 AM »

I've managed to get a Basix trigger for it, easy easy installation and setup. The barrel is being shortened. A handy compact rifle now in a blind.

mechanic · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2012, 04:32:51 PM »

Mine in .223 is as accurate a gun as I've ever owned out of the box, and for the money seems a good value. I bought mine sans scope on sale for $249.00, took it home and polished up the trigger. Sub moa

Ben

nwhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** December 24, 2012, 11:10:25 AM »

I also bought an axis in 223 at a gun show, paid $240 for it, It shoots any load under 2" and I have had no problems with it, I also had a m70 featherweight in 223 and the axis would outshoot it so I sold the winchester.
In my opinion they are far better than the similar priced remington 770, I would not hesitate to by another.
Keith

Crazyman110 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2012, 06:39:37 AM »

I bought an Axis in .22-.250 after reading the reviews I expected to have to do some work to get it where I wanted it. I knew I didn't want the scoped version so I bought a bare bones one. After reading about the horrible trigger pull and the way to get around to fixing it, the trigger was nice and crisp. I'm not going to put out what I did to the trigger but if you "youtube" it there are many how to videos. I was able to get my trigger to about three pounds. I installed a 6-24x BSA Majestic and worked up some hanloads. I couldn't happier with it! It's a $300 rifle and you need to take as you would a $300 rifle. Sure I have cheap surplus rifles that the fit and finish is better but being on a tight budget I couldn't afford a more expensive rifle with a better trigger. At 100yrds My groups are well under an inch and I can hit 5 inch plates out past 200yrds with it.

nwhunter · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2012, 03:27:44 PM »

Crazyman, I have to agree, such a cheap gun should not work as well as the axis does, decent trigger, great acuracy.
Keith