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Forum Index > Rifles general discussion > Savage Axis with grouping issues

Savage Axis with grouping issues

04 Sep 2015
@ 12:49 am (GMT)

Scott Criddle

I read your knowledge base and really feel that it was the most informative document I have read on the topic. I am a budget hunter who purchased a Savage 30-06. Off the bat I struggled grouping at 100yds. Everyone I spoke to said savage makes quality barrels and blamed it on the package bushnell scope or ammo. I spent hundreds of dollars on various factory loads and ruled that out as the issue. Saved up and purchased a leupold VX2 3-9x50 scope and now I can rule out the scope. So a day of reading online lead me to this site and the knowledge base. I feel that my Savage displays the larger problem of a random 6" grouping. I also see that you have specifically identified Savage stocks to be difficult to bed. So financially should I take the loss selling the gun and buy a different gun or spend the money it would take to build the savage?

Replies

1
04 Sep 2015
@ 04:18 am (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Hi Scott, thanks for your kind words.

I will tell you what I wrote in the rifles book;

Savage make budget rifles, thats their forte. The Axis is however, a budget version of a budget rifle. And from memory, I said something like, the next step down from this would be a pipe and a hammer (for ignition).

Yours has by the sounds of it, far more than bedding issues. Sounds very much like a dud bore. I would advise against spending any money on it sorry.

The book series will help if you want to avoid all the bullshit or what 'such and such reckons'.

All the best.
04 Sep 2015
@ 06:29 am (GMT)

Mike Davis

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
6" grouping....fark a duck mate yould be better off with Granddads old .303 and open sights...that is plurry disgusting for a new rifle...take it back to where you bought it and see if they can do anything for you...... 6" in this day and age..........just not right..... ok for a bush hobbit who shoots no further than 50 yards but just not right.
04 Sep 2015
@ 09:15 am (GMT)

Thomas Kitchen

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
hi scott.
i highly recommend Nathans books, the one on rifles will help you from having similar issues again.
the axis is not really a good platform to work off you'll see why in the book.

also have a look around on the forum there's few threads on guys working on tikka's, howa's plus few other brands might be good read.
also Nathans video's on youtube are great
04 Sep 2015
@ 10:57 am (GMT)

Scott Criddle

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Ok and thanks for the help and advice. I do have one last question, with a stainless barrel how many shots do you recommend shooting before letting the barrel to cool before shooting again while zeroing a scope? How long do you recommend letting it cool before the next group? And is it different with blued barrels.
04 Sep 2015
@ 08:09 pm (GMT)

Mike Davis

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
ok I shoot 3 shot group resonably quickly...steady on target but dont muck around .then wander up for bo peep at holes,wander back slowly, readjust dials, screw caps and suppressor back on (take it off between groups to aid cooling) then fire another 3.
once its getting close to the 2 1/2" high at 100 yards but centred nicely I may take time to fire slow group but as 99.999999999% of my hunting is 0-200yards I havent been too pedantic about it. a 1 1/2' group will do the job at this range anything under 1" is very good for me...my .223 does that all the time..the .270 not so much..the elcheapho 7.62x39 yeah nah not happening 2" is plenty good.
Nosler reloading manual says fire 1 shot cold barrel then 2 quickly after to simulate hunting type scenario...... cant fault that logic for 0-200yards hunting myself.
04 Sep 2015
@ 08:28 pm (GMT)

Mike Davis

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
one question that maybe hasnt been asked/answered .....have you ruled out the "nut behind the butt"
get a mate who can shoot well to shoot a group for you.
over the years Ive seen a wicked flinch ruin any chance of a good grouping get missed time and again.
I use a .270 ....based on 30/06 case so can speak from personal experience that it does happen.
04 Sep 2015
@ 08:39 pm (GMT)

Warwick Marflitt

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Hi Scott
Bummer 6" not good! But as a last effort I would check every part of the rifle for an overlooked cause. Methodically check all the screws holding the action to the stock. Check the scope mounts and rings for loose screws. Its worth the 15-20 minutes inspecting for an overlooked issue? Are the 6 inch groups all over and around the bulls eye or always in the same area left and high? Or low and always to the right? Just interesting to try and eliminate anything that's been overlooked and might be causing the issue? If its under warranty take it back and try another one? It can't be any worse than what you've got? Good luck mate.
04 Sep 2015
@ 09:22 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Hi Scott, whether blued or stainless, stick to 3 shot groups, allowing the rifle to cool in between.

I am going to come out and say this right now, the book series will help. Sorry for the hard sell but its the truth. The third book (Accurizing) has a step by step set of procedures for preliminary testing. Whether you want to pursue the rifle or start over, these steps will help you out. The books are a long term investment. The series was written for just these types of problems. Spend a wee bit now, save long term.

As the guys say, there is a chance that it could be something basic like screws, or it could be technique, seeing as technique has gone so far downhill these days. Chances are, if you are copying how others shoot at the range, you are doing it wrong. Just the wayu it is these days. For now, you can have a read of my hold that forend article in the rifle accuracy section of this site. My next book (weeks away) will have a full break down of range work and technique etc.

I think the guys would agree. If you want to, you could use book 3 to experiment for a bit without it costing you a great deal of money. The key factors are to actually avoid bedding at this stage, perform the prelim tests, then assess the next steps.
05 Sep 2015
@ 09:00 pm (GMT)

Martin Taylor

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Scott my Marlin XL7 06 is a similar design in a lot of ways to your Axis so l will briefly outline my journey with that rifle a few years ago!
Cheap stalking gun, first cf rifle for years!

Standard new rifle- short eye relief scope + shitty plastic stock, massive recoil levels = flinch & 3 moa average.

Fast forward a bit!

Laminated stock and a full set up with Nathans help and bedding kit. Still running with the same test Hornady factory ammo & same scope= .5moa and better!

I'm not saying run out and buy a stock, just work through the steps in Nathans book. You may be in the same situation l was in back then, a combination of faults. Maybe the rifle is a Ruffy, the books will step you through the fault finding process.

Good luck mate, Marty

05 Sep 2015
@ 09:33 pm (GMT)

Jamie Gillman

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Maybe rebarrel it with a Schilen. The Savages can be accurized but generally they're accurate outta the box.
I'm waiting on a 280AI for my Stevens 200.
29 Oct 2015
@ 09:00 pm (GMT)

Scott Criddle

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Just wanted thank all of you but I sold that savage and got a Rem 700 and it shot one MOA right off the bat. That savage was just a dud. My son's axis is a tac driver so I am keeping that one.
19 Nov 2015
@ 05:03 pm (GMT)

Paul Yates

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
Is it an Axis, or an Axis II with Accutrigger?

The reason I ask is because the standard Axis trigger is terrible.

I bought an Axis youth in .243 for my daughters and wife to shoot and hunt with. First few trips to the range were pretty frustrating. I hated the trigger right off the bat, but I could shoot "OK" with it. The girls could barely keep it on paper at 100m.

So, I did a trigger job on it. There's a guy on youtube who shows what to do. I used exactly the same method and exactly the same spring that he did (from a mechanical pencil). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZIVoZPlBNI

I can now easily shoot MOA groups with my 85gr SGK hand loads from that rifle, and all the girls can consistently shoot 3 to 4 inch groups (at 100).

Anyway, I just thought I would mention the trigger, because nobody else did and from experience the Axis trigger sucks.
19 Nov 2015
@ 05:07 pm (GMT)

Paul Yates

Re: Savage Axis with grouping issues
I see now that my post was far too late.

If your son's Axis is the standard one, consider the tigger job. In my experience it is extremely effective and safe.
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