Despite having great luck with the Savage Axis platform, my latest acquisition of an Axis chambered in .22-250 had been a disappointment. It certainly is a pretty rifle. It’s the stainless version and it’s wearing a nice Boyd’s stock and the stock Axis trigger hit the garbage can moments after the rifle was taken from the box, replaced by a Rifle Basix fully adjustable model.
The problem with this Axis was that even though it was 1 inch high at 100, at 200+ it was scattered and almost missing the paper. At 300, it was No Idea City. To add to the issues, I had scoped this rifle with an old stock Japanese-made Bushnell Elite 6×24 target scope which has been a terrific scope on this rifle’s predecessor, but on the Axis I was somehow out of downward adjustment.
After extensive fiddling around trying to quick-fix the problem, I finally pulled everything down and started over. Rings off, bases off, all Loctite off, remount and relevel everthing and I added 1 shim set to the scope base.
Off to the range we went last weekend with a full box of fodder of various loadings. I didn’t tell the rifle, but this was do or die time, if I couldn’t figure this Axis out, it was going up for sale.
After getting dialed in at 50, the shimming had clearly done the trick and I was back within the vertical adjustment range. Now for the real test. Out to 100 we went and it was do or die time for the Axis.
Oh ye of little faith! As it turns out, this Axis is one of those naughty girls who likes it dirty. The more rounds that went down the tube, the better she shot. Finally, I had clearly found the right load, 50 grain V-Max on top of 8208 XBR.
The squares on the targets are 1 inch. Everything with the pet load was heading for the same hole, the only errors were all mine, I can assure you. All groups pictured are 5 shot groups.
She does start to walk to the left when the sporter-weight barrel starts getting hot. About 20 fairly fast rounds is enough for one shift. Not a problem as even on stalk/walk expeditions out into dog towns, I always carry 2 rifles so I can keep things cool.
I love it when a rifle comes together. It still amazes me the quality and accuracy one can buy for less than $500 these days. The Axis is a genuine bargain and a guilt free pleasure in the dog towns. When it’s shot out, I will gladly retire it without any guilt as shooting is what these rifles are for. Varmints! The end is nigh!
Grouse
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