Just became a rifle owner.

kmw1954 · August 9, 2020, 08:34 PM

Having always being a pistol owner/shooter the recent turn that brought me to a part time job at a rifle range finally got the better of me.

This morning I picked up a very nice used Savage Axis 223 that came with a Konus 3X9 scope and a very nice soft case.

The serial number search leads me to a N suffix which puts it at very late 2018 or 2019 model. It does not have the Accu-Trigger. Also could not determine which scope model this is. Seller tells me it has less than 20 rounds shot in it. That he purchased it for coyote hunting and then lost interest. He is now shooting a very nice 6.5 Creedmoor that he showed off.

My intent is that this will be a very nice entry level gun, inexpensive to shoot and should do 100/200yds pretty easily and 300 yards when I feel BOLD.

big al hunter · August 9, 2020, 09:37 PM

It should be all that you want in a beginner rifle. As you stated it is cheap to shoot and good to a fair range. I have the same rifle, but an earlier model. Mine had a flimsy plastic stock that flexed too much. So I put a Boyd's stock on it. Have fun, and congratulations on the new gun.

CleanDean · August 9, 2020, 10:35 PM

Congrats ... Wishing you a bunch of great trigger time.

Rangerrich99 · August 9, 2020, 11:48 PM

If you do your part, 400+ yard shots won't be that much trouble. Solid rifle, that will serve you well for decades to come.

ms6852 · August 10, 2020, 04:10 AM

Congratulations . From personal experience I have shot the .223 to 500 yards, wish you many years of fun shooting.

jetinteriorguy · August 10, 2020, 06:14 AM

You’ll be surprised, you’ll be popping clays at 300 yds in no time. I’ve shot my AR’s only out to 440 yds and keeping them sub MOA was no problem.

jmr40 · August 10, 2020, 07:10 AM

With good quality target ammo 223 is a fine target round out to at least 600 yards and by all accounts the Axis rifles shoot well. If you can shoot well at 100 yards 300 isn't any harder. You have to account for a few inches of bullet drop but that isn't hard to do.

It is figuring out how much the wind will blow your bullets around on windy days at truly long range. Unless it is a pretty strong wind 300 yards doesn't give the wind much time to have a huge effect.

The scope is a budget model, but will probably serve your needs at least for a while. You'll probably want to upgrade down the road. BTW, it is a 3-9X, not a 3X9 scope.

Mr.RevolverGuy · August 10, 2020, 09:47 AM

Feel BOLD?

Dating myself here. My time in the Marine Corps required prone 500 yard shots with open sights.

I agree with jmr40 with optics and practice this will be a great 600yrd and under rifle for you. Come back and let us know how you do.

kmw1954 · August 10, 2020, 01:33 PM

Mr.RevolverGuy I bet your eyes were much younger then also. But yes I'm expecting to enjoy the heck out of this.

On the latest MidSouth flier they have a nice new Bushnell 4X16 Nitro scope on sale. May need that to see out that far. But that's for another day.

hub1home · August 10, 2020, 01:38 PM

If this stays up here long enough, the readers will have you making shots to 1,000 yards +.

brasscollector · August 10, 2020, 02:25 PM

Does your rifle have a 1:9" twist?

kmw1954 · August 10, 2020, 08:43 PM

Yes it is 1:9". Why do you ask?

brasscollector · August 11, 2020, 02:43 PM

Well, for some of us the twist rate may be the deciding factor in purchasing a particular rifle or barrel. With the 9" twist you will probably have decent accuracy if/when you decide to try something heavier than your usual 50-55gr 223 ammo, say something in the 65-70gr range (possibly heavier). Most of my 223s are either 1:8" or 1:9" twist and can accurately handle anything from a 40gr Vmax up to a 75gr HPBT.

kmw1954 · August 11, 2020, 03:08 PM

From what I am reading 1:9 = 60-70gr best weight. 55gr getting light and 75gr getting heavy.

Will soon find out.

August 9, 2020, 08:34 PM	#1
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Just became a rifle owner. Having always being a pistol owner/shooter the recent turn that brought me to a part time job at a rifle range finally got the better of me. This morning I picked up a very nice used Savage Axis 223 that came with a Konus 3X9 scope and a very nice soft case. The serial number search leads me to a N suffix which puts it at very late 2018 or 2019 model. It does not have the Accu-Trigger. Also could not determine which scope model this is. Seller tells me it has less than 20 rounds shot in it. That he purchased it for coyote hunting and then lost interest. He is now shooting a very nice 6.5 Creedmoor that he showed off. My intent is that this will be a very nice entry level gun, inexpensive to shoot and should do 100/200yds pretty easily and 300 yards when I feel BOLD.

August 9, 2020, 09:37 PM	#2
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	It should be all that you want in a beginner rifle. As you stated it is cheap to shoot and good to a fair range. I have the same rifle, but an earlier model. Mine had a flimsy plastic stock that flexed too much. So I put a Boyd's stock on it. Have fun, and congratulations on the new gun. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

August 9, 2020, 10:35 PM	#3
CleanDean Member Join Date: March 18, 2012 Location: Penna◇VIGILANT CURMUDGEON Posts: 80	Congrats ... Wishing you a bunch of great trigger time. __________________ FNH Scar 17 s --Black ; cause it goes so well with my formal wear, for those special occasions. Customized Mini 14 ,& ATI stock and a 3.5 lb.-- Pittsburgh trigger. / SIG P227 / Colt Python 8 in.Nickel / Colt Gold Cup N.M. ; Voere * KDF in .270 ; N. frame S&W revolvers; and TC Contender in 41 Magnum .

August 10, 2020, 04:10 AM	#5
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	Congratulations . From personal experience I have shot the .223 to 500 yards, wish you many years of fun shooting. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

August 10, 2020, 07:10 AM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	With good quality target ammo 223 is a fine target round out to at least 600 yards and by all accounts the Axis rifles shoot well. If you can shoot well at 100 yards 300 isn't any harder. You have to account for a few inches of bullet drop but that isn't hard to do. It is figuring out how much the wind will blow your bullets around on windy days at truly long range. Unless it is a pretty strong wind 300 yards doesn't give the wind much time to have a huge effect. The scope is a budget model, but will probably serve your needs at least for a while. You'll probably want to upgrade down the road. BTW, it is a 3-9X, not a 3X9 scope. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

August 9, 2020, 11:48 PM	#4
Rangerrich99 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Location: Kinda near Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,254	If you do your part, 400+ yard shots won't be that much trouble. Solid rifle, that will serve you well for decades to come.

August 10, 2020, 06:14 AM	#6
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	You’ll be surprised, you’ll be popping clays at 300 yds in no time. I’ve shot my AR’s only out to 440 yds and keeping them sub MOA was no problem.

August 10, 2020, 09:47 AM	#8
Mr.RevolverGuy Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 991	Feel BOLD? Dating myself here. My time in the Marine Corps required prone 500 yard shots with open sights. I agree with jmr40 with optics and practice this will be a great 600yrd and under rifle for you. Come back and let us know how you do. __________________ Mr.Revolverguy http://www.dayattherange.com Firearms Reviewed and Reported On: An unbiased opinion with real world use.

August 10, 2020, 01:33 PM	#9
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Mr.RevolverGuy I bet your eyes were much younger then also. But yes I'm expecting to enjoy the heck out of this. On the latest MidSouth flier they have a nice new Bushnell 4X16 Nitro scope on sale. May need that to see out that far. But that's for another day.

August 10, 2020, 01:38 PM	#10
hub1home Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2014 Posts: 182	If this stays up here long enough, the readers will have you making shots to 1,000 yards +.

August 10, 2020, 02:25 PM	#11
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Does your rifle have a 1:9" twist? __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

August 10, 2020, 08:43 PM	#12
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Yes it is 1:9". Why do you ask?

August 11, 2020, 02:43 PM	#13
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Well, for some of us the twist rate may be the deciding factor in purchasing a particular rifle or barrel. With the 9" twist you will probably have decent accuracy if/when you decide to try something heavier than your usual 50-55gr 223 ammo, say something in the 65-70gr range (possibly heavier). Most of my 223s are either 1:8" or 1:9" twist and can accurately handle anything from a 40gr Vmax up to a 75gr HPBT. __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

August 11, 2020, 03:08 PM	#14
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	From what I am reading 1:9 = 60-70gr best weight. 55gr getting light and 75gr getting heavy. Will soon find out.