Savage Axis sight-in

PawPaw · January 4, 2013, 02:51 PM

I bought a couple of these rifles for teenaged grandsons for Christmas. They're both left-handed, so the choice was simple. My retailer was able to find two in .25-06 and I put them on layaway. They're actually a whole lot better rifles than I suspected that a rifle that I paid $318.00 NIB to be.

Sight-in was fairly simple, would have been easier if I hadn't used old bargain scopes that I had on the bench. But even with cheap bargain scopes, they sighted-in fairly easily.

It will be a little while before I can really sit down with the boys and wring those rifles out, to shoot for group, but I believe that they're going to be very nice rifles. They certainly seem to be accurate.

Next grandkid in the line-up tells me that he really likes the .308 cartridge. We might put a Ruger American on layaway for him for next year so I can do a side-by-side test.

Doyle · January 4, 2013, 04:29 PM

PawPaw, if the kid really wants a .308 see if the barrels on the Axis can be changed as easily as on a normal Savage. If it can, you could probably sell the .25-06 barrel and replace it with a .308 barrel for next to nothing. The .308 normally goes on a short action, but using a long-action donor shouldn't cause any problems.

PawPaw · January 4, 2013, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doyle

PawPaw, if the kid really wants a .308 see if the barrels on the Axis can be changed as easily as on a normal Savage. If it can, you could probably sell the .25-06 barrel and replace it with a .308 barrel for next to nothing. The .308 normally goes on a short action, but using a long-action donor shouldn't cause any problems.

Well, Doyle, the Axis uses a barrel nut, so changing the barrel shouldn't be a problem. All I need is a barrel vise and a spanner wrench. Those are relatively inexpensive.

I think that this kid will be happy with his .25-06. It's the next grandkid in line that likes my .308. He really likes my .308, but he ain't getting it. It's mine. He might get it eventually, but I suspect he'll carry me to a hole first.

reynolds357 · January 5, 2013, 12:39 AM

Savage makes Axis in .308.

bull bob · January 7, 2013, 11:39 AM

Doyle,

Be careful about that, the Axis uses a different recoil lug setup than the other Savage rifles. The lug is actually in the stock with a notch in the barrel that sets onto the lug. If the barrel was made for the Axis, then it should work.

PawPaw · January 8, 2013, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Savage makes Axis in .308.

Well, it's a catalog item, and I've seen exactly one in left-hand. I ordered these rifles in March of 2012 and the dealer searched nationwide for them for nine months. We could find left-hand rifles in 30-06, .25-06, 270, 260, 7mm-08 and .243, but the .308 left-hand rifles were simply not available. The dealer still has two on order and no joy at this time. I finally decided to go with a .25-06 for the boys. The .25-06 is a great caliber for younger shooters, it's got enough boom to suit them, and it's very accurate. Recoil isn't a problem. Plus, we've got several in the family so we reload for the cartridge. (Of course, I reload for the .308 too.)

Yeah, you're right. Savage catalogs a left-hand Axis in .308, but I haven't been able to find one.

Doyle · January 8, 2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Doyle,

Be careful about that, the Axis uses a different recoil lug setup than the other Savage rifles. The lug is actually in the stock with a notch in the barrel that sets onto the lug. If the barrel was made for the Axis, then it should work.

I did some more research. The recoil lug is behind the barrel nut. Any small-ringed savage barrel will fit into the Axis and the recoil lug doesn't come into play.

bull bob · January 8, 2013, 02:18 PM

Oops, my mistake. I should have looked at mine instead of trying to go from memory.

January 4, 2013, 02:51 PM	#1
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 2,633	Savage Axis sight-in I bought a couple of these rifles for teenaged grandsons for Christmas. They're both left-handed, so the choice was simple. My retailer was able to find two in .25-06 and I put them on layaway. They're actually a whole lot better rifles than I suspected that a rifle that I paid $318.00 NIB to be. Sight-in was fairly simple, would have been easier if I hadn't used old bargain scopes that I had on the bench. But even with cheap bargain scopes, they sighted-in fairly easily. It will be a little while before I can really sit down with the boys and wring those rifles out, to shoot for group, but I believe that they're going to be very nice rifles. They certainly seem to be accurate. Next grandkid in the line-up tells me that he really likes the .308 cartridge. We might put a Ruger American on layaway for him for next year so I can do a side-by-side test. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

January 4, 2013, 04:29 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Bradenton, Fl Posts: 4,125	PawPaw, if the kid really wants a .308 see if the barrels on the Axis can be changed as easily as on a normal Savage. If it can, you could probably sell the .25-06 barrel and replace it with a .308 barrel for next to nothing. The .308 normally goes on a short action, but using a long-action donor shouldn't cause any problems.

January 5, 2013, 12:39 AM	#4
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 843	Savage makes Axis in .308.

January 7, 2013, 11:39 AM	#5
bull bob Member Join Date: October 29, 2010 Posts: 72	Doyle, Be careful about that, the Axis uses a different recoil lug setup than the other Savage rifles. The lug is actually in the stock with a notch in the barrel that sets onto the lug. If the barrel was made for the Axis, then it should work.

January 8, 2013, 02:18 PM	#8
bull bob Member Join Date: October 29, 2010 Posts: 72	Oops, my mistake. I should have looked at mine instead of trying to go from memory.