The Sub-300 dollar Savage Axis has been impressing me more and more. In just about every caliber, the reports have been overwhelmingly positive. The only hesitation or complaints have been in the trigger. It’s not a bad trigger by any means… it’s just not a good trigger by any means either.
Available in all the classic calibers, and 7mm-08. I think in the .223, .243, and .308, are the more appealing of choices to me. Quite honestly, this makes the cheap little Axis a very interesting rifle. Very interesting indeed. For a knock-around working gun, this just might be an absolute ideal platform.
Now, what scope would go good on this one? Normally, I’d personally start out with a Nikon Monarch. However, I want to keep this package as “affordable” as possible. Say, something in the 200 dollar range, or even a bit less. Nikon’s new ProStaff’s are pretty good. But I’d also take good hard look at the Vortex Diamondback BDC scopes. Something in a 4-12 would do quite well on this.
Let’s see… this rifle, with the Timney upgrade, and a Vortex Diamondback… You are looking at about 600 dollars total. I think this would make for a great lightweight knockabout package. Yes, very interesting indeed.
Edit: The Howa 1500 Scoped Rifle Combo that usually retails for about 499 is a good deal on a good rifle. The comparison to the Axis becomes a natural one. Which would be more accurate is a good question, which I can not answer. Both have proved to have very good accuracy. So I’ll judge that to be Sixes. The Howa package however is considerably heavier and it lacks a detachable box magazine, a feature that I favor when I have the option. Considering that with this Timney upgrade, the Savage Axis then has the better trigger, lighter weight, detachable mag… I think the Axis is the choice to make.