Savage Axis Review.

Cal · #1 10-03-2011, 09:01 PM

I've seen alot of people asking questions about the Savage axis, because its a fairly new gun there doesnt seem to be alot of reviews on them so I thought I'd review the one I just bought.

I bought the Axis because I wanted a gun that I could leave in my service truck for shooting wolves. It needed to be cheap and it needed to be durable. I bought an Axis in .223 with a scope included for about $350 and after a few weeks these are my thoughts on it.

The good:
First and formost this thing is way more acurate than I expected! I'm shooting the absolute cheapest bulk amo I can find and this thing will still shoot 1.5" groups at 200 yards pretty consistantly. I hate to say it but my cheap "truck gun" is actualy probably the most acurate rifle I own. I'm not crazy about the way the stock looks but I like the way it feels better than the standard Savage stock. The gun is well ballanced and seems rugged enough to survive many years behind the seat of an oilfield truck. The scope isnt great but its good enough for my needs.

The mehhh...
The trigger is pretty bad. Its not any worse than most factory triggers I've had though and a little better than some. I think its probably one of the uglyest guns on the market, but thats a matter of taste. The saftey was almost a deal breaker for me, its big and its plastic and its ugly. It does its job but untill I actualy shot the thing I had a few second thoughts because I hated the safety so much. The ejection port is pretty small, not as small as a Tika t3 but trying to load a .223 shell directly into the chamber is still pretty awkward.

Conclusion..
In all this gun is entirely good enough to handle many years of use and abuse, it is about as good as anything else on the market that is being sold as a "budget rifle". Its better than lots of them and is way cheaper than almost all of them. Although the Axis is a good gun at an even better price its biggest downfall is that you have to compare it to the other Savage models which are very good as well and IMO the Axis' steepest competition. The Stevens 200 and Savage 111 are better guns IMO. The Stevens doesnt have a clip and it didnt come in a package deal which would have made it enough more money by the time I got a scope on it that I went with the Axis. I seriously concidered getting a Savage 111 package which was only 100 bucks more but the smallest caliber it came in was .243 and I realy wanted a .223. I'm realy happy with my Axis but if I was buying a bigger calliber I would have deffinatly went with the 111, the Stevens is also probably a little better quality as well but all 3 guns are close enough that the choice would realy come down to individual preferance.

sureshot · #2 10-03-2011, 09:21 PM

I bought the axis in a 30-06 and I love it. Its light enough to pack through the bush, I find it very accurate and even the action is fairly smooth. I like the looks of them but I got the one with the camo pattern. As for recoil I don't find it to bad. I will be buying another one in either the 223 or 22-250. and will be buying the wife one in a 25-06.
In my opinion if your on a budget this is the way to go. The way I look at is the deer don't care how much you spent on the rifle.

Andy

slam · #3 10-03-2011, 09:24 PM

What is the scope that they are packaged with?

sureshot · #4 10-03-2011, 09:26 PM

A bushnell banner I believe.

Andy

slam · #5 10-03-2011, 09:32 PM

I was thinking about a package in the 30-06 so may have to hav a closer look at it. Thanks for the review and info.

1shotwade · #6 10-03-2011, 09:47 PM

I don't want to start any wars but my old man just bought a cooper .270 and put a leupold vx3 on it and my little brothers axis .270 package are equally accurate! i didn't believe it till I shot both last week! The axis was 1/10 the price and damn it shoots!

schian · #7 10-05-2011, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slam

I was thinking about a package in the 30-06 so may have to hav a closer look at it. Thanks for the review and info.

i picked up the 111 in 30-06
so far so good, haven't harvested any animals with it, but its definitely grouping good, even with cheap ammo

jamie weagle · #8 10-17-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slam

What is the scope that they are packaged with?

they come with a bushnell 3x9 nothing fancey but work pretty good i bought the 30 06 last year got two does and a buck white tail with it works good for me but have just upgraded my scope this year .... happy hunting

Brady · #9 10-18-2011, 12:45 PM

Well I bought one of the camo flavoured Axis in 7mm-08 for the kids. Wasn't happy with the factory mounting, everything on the scope was only thumb tight, but after some tightening, we have one dead wt to credit to it. 200 yard shot, right where I aimed. The barnes 130 TSX sure layed a licken on her. For the price......damn fine rifle, esp for the kids/me. LOL

timsesink · #10 10-18-2011, 01:05 PM

Any experince with that plastic catch on the mag coming breaking in cold weather? seems like at -30 it could snap pretty quick. I looked at one @ Cabela's and alomst bought it in 243 or 22-250.

Beta-pg · #11 10-04-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshot

I bought the axis in a 30-06 and I love it. Its light enough to pack through the bush, I find it very accurate and even the action is fairly smooth. I like the looks of them but I got the one with the camo pattern. As for recoil I don't find it to bad. I will be buying another one in either the 223 or 22-250. and will be buying the wife one in a 25-06.
In my opinion if your on a budget this is the way to go. The way I look at is the deer don't care how much you spent on the rifle.

Andy

I bought this rifle chambered in the 25-06 a couple weeks ago. Just a heads up, the felt recoil on this rifle is considerably more then on the exact same rifle chambered in .308 I bought for my father. It packs quite a kick surprisingly. But other then the usual trigger complaints, I love it! 309 + GST at wholesale... can't beat that!

The scope is a Banner.

savage shooter · #12 10-04-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta-pg

I bought this rifle chambered in the 25-06 a couple weeks ago. Just a heads up, the felt recoil on this rifle is considerably more then on the exact same rifle chambered in .308 I bought for my father. It packs quite a kick surprisingly. But other then the usual trigger complaints, I love it! 309 + GST at wholesale... can't beat that!

The scope is a Banner.

The scope is absolutely not a banner!!!!'

BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES · #13 10-04-2011, 11:40 PM

I own this Rifle I really like it , nice and light Scope came off instantly , only bad thing I have to say is that the mounts were loose when I got them took a little tightening . But shes good to go and is now grouping 5 shots and a quarter covers the grouping at 150 yards off a bench rest . I got the 308 . The one thing I also found is that rifle sure does not like the Federal ammo . So I went back to old faithful Hornady Custom . Im very happy with my new rifle .

Alberta Bigbore · #14 10-05-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGBADJOHN

I own this Rifle I really like it , nice and light Scope came off instantly , only bad thing I have to say is that the mounts were loose when I got them took a little tightening . But shes good to go and is now grouping 5 shots and a quarter covers the grouping at 150 yards off a bench rest . I got the 308 . The one thing I also found is that rifle sure does not like the Federal ammo . So I went back to old faithful Hornady Custom . Im very happy with my new rifle .

lol

kayaker · #15 10-05-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGBADJOHN

. But shes good to go and is now grouping 5 shots and a quarter covers the grouping at 150 yards off a bench rest . .

Not calling you out or anything but that is simply extreme accuracy! It does that consistently with a 6lb trigger and factory ammo???? If the quarter covers 5 holes at 150yards that would translate to around 1/4 MOA...

Torquil · #16 10-05-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGBADJOHN

I own this Rifle I really like it , nice and light Scope came off instantly , only bad thing I have to say is that the mounts were loose when I got them took a little tightening . But shes good to go and is now grouping 5 shots and a quarter covers the grouping at 150 yards off a bench rest . I got the 308 . The one thing I also found is that rifle sure does not like the Federal ammo . So I went back to old faithful Hornady Custom . Im very happy with my new rifle .

I hear you there
all the ones I sell i remove the scope ,rings and bases ,locktight retorq and bore sight.

havent had any complaints about the rifles yet

Hunter1602 · #17 03-31-2015, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES

I own this Rifle I really like it , nice and light Scope came off instantly , only bad thing I have to say is that the mounts were loose when I got them took a little tightening . But shes good to go and is now grouping 5 shots and a quarter covers the grouping at 150 yards off a bench rest . I got the 308 . The one thing I also found is that rifle sure does not like the Federal ammo . So I went back to old faithful Hornady Custom . Im very happy with my new rifle .

I can't even do that with my White Gold Medallion Browning and my Leupold...
You must be a heck of a shot, or you sell cars for a living.

Cal · #18 10-04-2011, 11:46 PM

"The scope on it is absolutely not a Banner!"

The scope on mine is a bushnell, the exact same bushnell that comes on a 111 package although both guns also come with a simmons scope sometimes too. I had thought that my scope was a banner, since you seem to know that its not could you tell us how you know that and possibly what the scope actualy is if it isnt a banner? As well it would be helpfull if you elaborated on what kind of problems you had with your Axis. I'm not saying your wrong but blurting out single sentance posts with no explanation on your opinion isnt very helpfull.

savage shooter · #19 10-05-2011, 12:03 AM

The scope is a Bushnell sharpshooter. You can tell because of the American style fixed focus ocular piece. Also, banners are shaped differently and say banner in gold letters around the objective end. The Bushnell sharpshooter is not sold retail. Its a crappy, crappy oem only product.

My edge had a misaligned barrel/receiver which meant that in order to get the rifle to bore sight at 100 yards the elevation had to be absolutely maxed and they let it leave the factory like that.

I fixed it by shimming the rear base and lapping the rings to that angle but the crappy aluminum base screw stripped in the process.

All in all, the savage 111 is vastly superior craftsmanship and design. It has an adjustable trigger which I brought down to about 2-3lbs. Adjustable with one turn of a screw and a few drop/slam fire tests.

It has no plastic working parts like the magazine release.

The recoil pad is easily replaceable with aftermarket options unlike the bizarrely installed Axis' recoil pad.

Each caliber in the 111/11 is manufactured for rather than having a universal magazine, stock, receiver, etc as it is on the Axis.

That's why the trigger guard is separate from the stock on the axis, to adjust the size of the mag well. Why would anyone want such a huge bolt throw and receiver and scope base muting length for something like a 223 or 308? It completely defeats the purpose.

Even if I ignore the problems with my specific gun, the axis cuts just a few too many corners to reach rock bottom dollar. The 111 seems to be the perfect compromise between cost and quality while still maintaining a certain minimum level of the latter. The Axis crosses the line from 'simply designed, good value' to 'cheap'.

Does that answer your question?

Note, on my Axis, I upgraded the scope to a banner and on my 111 to a Elite 3200 using Burris Z-Rings.

Also, Simmons was bought by Bushnell before the Axis made it to market so no Axis has ever shipped with a Simmons. Some of the older 111 packages have, though. Absolutely no current ones do.

Beta-pg · #20 10-05-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savage shooter

The scope is absolutely not a banner!!!!'

That is not the scope on my rifle sir. Sorry to disagree...

savage shooter · #21 10-05-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta-pg

That is not the scope on my rifle sir. Sorry to disagree...

What is not the scope on your rifle? You just quoted me saying it's NOT a banner.

Did you mean to address my post where I said it's a sharpshooter?

Because it is.

Here, Look at Cabelas website. You can see clear as day it's a sharpshooter.
http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?page...=1952&ID=26841

Unless maybe they changed it in the last week or something...

Does your scope have big white BUSHNELL letters on the ocular (eye) piece? If so, it's a sharpshooter.

If not, describe it or post a picture. There are only so many Bushnell scopes in production. I'll tell you what it is (hint: it's a sharpshooter)

Shanebear · #22 10-18-2011, 05:15 PM

Bought one about a year ago from Cabelas and ended up selling it. I couldn't stand the plastic detachable magazine it came with. Took the gun to the range during the winter and it ended up snapping from the cold. Sent the magazine for warranty repair and received it back five months later. Besides that it was surprisingly accurate for such an inexpensive rifle.

YGF · #23 10-19-2011, 10:58 AM

picked up a 30-06 yesterday and took it the range. out of the box it was hitting paper, after a couple rounds got it close, and after letting it cool down and a couple more rounds i was very happy with the accuracy ohh and oddly enough it came with a bushnell......!!

and as far as the mag goes ya it feels a little cheap but for a 330$ package rifle its not that bad and the trigger is abit heavy but again seems like its going to be a decent rifle until a guy can scrape up some more dough for something better.

axis30-06 · #24 03-31-2015, 01:28 PM

Last year i was looking around for a gun i looked at many different guns but the savage axis was the one that caught my eye. so i bought that and i DO NOT regret buying it at all. the only 2 issues i had with the gun was it wasnt bore sighted when i bought it even though they said it was. The second issue i had with the gun was all the bolts on the gun were loose so everytime i shot it,the stock would bounce. but other than that the gun is really nice and light, the action is really smooth, the only down fall is the trigger, the trigger is really stiff. if you are looking for a deer gun i highly reccomend the savage axis.