There are other rifle packages out there in the same price range, but I haven’t shot one that shot as well. It is a keeper!Īs far as this rifle goes in its class, in my opinion there is nothing to compare it to. I dialed in my scope and fired a 5-shot group that you could almost cover with a nickel almost dead center of the bullseye. My group was about 1-inch right and 1 ½-inches low of the bull’s eye. My first shots were taken without doing a thing to the rifle or scope. After shooting a box of ammo, the action was breaking in and becoming very smooth and operated with very little effort. The magazine locked into place perfectly every time and I had no problems. The bolt action is smooth and there was no trouble with rounds feeding from magazine, which is sometimes a problem with detachable magazines if they don’t get seated back in the action correctly. Again, a very simple and functional design. The rifle has no iron sights, but it did come with a 3x9 Bushnell scope mounted on Weaver style bases. Nothing fancy…just what I refer to as a basic work rifle. 243 weighs in at a bit over six pounds, has a 22-inch barrel, 5-shot detachable box magazine, parkerized finish, and a black synthetic stock fitted with a nice recoil pad.
Prairie dog to elk and black bear, Savage has it covered with this rifle. The rifle line covers the hunting spectrum very well. Since then, the 6.5 Creedmoor have been added. When the Axis first showed up on the shooting scene, it was offered in. The most appealing thing about this new rifle is that it comes equipped with a scope as a package deal for about $300. The new Axis model is not simply a “remake” of the venerable Model 10/110 action rifles, it is actually an entirely new action and stock design.
I’ve had a serious fondness for Savage rifles ever since. Two years ago, I made a 569 yard shot on a doe during the late antlerless season. I had it ready to go for deer season and dropped a whitetail at 335 yards. I believe Savage rifles are outstanding “out-of-the-box” performers and they are built in the United States.Ībout 10 years ago I got a chance to test a Savage 110 in. I think Savage Arms is on a mission to lead the rifle industry in quality, affordable bolt action center fire rifles. It just took me a while to work my way to the Axis rifle. I can only offer the excuse that I had other rifles, pistols and shotguns to test, too. I know, for me to have a rifle and not get around to shooting it for six months is almost indefensible. OK…for those people that know me…you can get up off the floor now. I recently pulled it out of the vault to give it a test on the range. Savage sent me one of their new Axis II XP with AccuTrigger models back in February, right after the S.H.O.T. The rifle has been continually updated and refined. A razor manufacturer already had the name EDGE trademarked, so the name of the rifle was changed to Axis. Those of you who are students of the gun may remember that the Axis was originally introduced as the Edge, but a lawsuit ensued.