Savage axis 2 xp

[u/tictac556]

Shot my savage axis 2 xp chambered in 6.5cm and I just have to say, I'm so damn impressed with this extremely budget rifle. My best 4 shot group was a banger, 2 shots in the same hole at 200 yards. I shoot 4 shot groups because my magazine holds 4. The rifle is a savage axis 2 xp 6.5 creedmoor Optic is a vortex diamondback tactical 4-16x44 FFP Ammunition is S&B 140 gr soft points The rifle is zeroed at 200 yards Primary use is coyote hunting

[u/Bald_Cliff]

Been eyeing the axis 2.

Getting pumped reading your experience.

[u/tictac556 → u/Bald_Cliff]

Spend a little bit more and get the axis 2 pro and don't get the xp because the scope is trash. At least thats what I would do if I was going to do it over again.

[u/Bald_Cliff → u/tictac556]

Wasn't planning on the XP.

Lead differences of the pro? I'm also wanting it in 308.

I'm southern ontario so outside of Yotes, I won't get much chance to hunt with it, and a new shooter this is just to get the collection and getting me sending down range for a decent price.

[u/tictac556 → u/Bald_Cliff]

I also live in southern Ontario, which is why 6.5cm was appealing to me. The main difference in the pro is it comes with a medium profile barrel that is threaded, it come cerakoted, it has a factory installed 1913 rail instead of the standard Weaver bases, it has a larger bolt handle and the stock has been redesigned and has a more modern grip angle and design. It also comes with the accutrigger.

[u/Bald_Cliff → u/tictac556]

Thanks.

I'm back and forth between 270, 6.5 and 308, but with my wife being a lefty, I now have to buy 2 of each of our hunting guns so cost is a big factor for me (plus we still saving for that first house) and also to not have to maintain two separate calibres per firearm.

The pro definitely seems worth it.

[u/tictac556 → u/Bald_Cliff]

Oh man I feel that! 270 is so damn expensive, .308 is great but not very useful in southern Ontario. I was iffy on 6.5, but im happy I made that choice. 6.5 can get expensive but I think i pay $35 per box of the cheap S&B 140 gr soft points, and they're obviously very accurate.

[u/Bald_Cliff → u/tictac556]

I'm curious (outside of the lack of game for harvest) why you hold 6.5 in the South over 308. As I understand it it's better at long range but I'm not really in a position to go over 200 yards based on the land I hunt.

Forgive me for the questions, trying to figure out my personal preference so hearing your philosophy would help.

[u/tictac556 → u/Bald_Cliff]

In southern Ontario you're only allowed to hunt with a rifle caliber no greater than .277. Lots of guys hunt down here with .270 win, .243 win and .223 rem. I was actually going to get a .223 but the savage has a 1-9 barrel twist rate and I would prefer 1-8 or 1-7 so 6.5cm was the next best option based of cost and accuracy.

[u/Bald_Cliff → u/tictac556]

I see, twist rate was not something I was even thinking about so thanks for putting that on my radar.

I never really expected to hunt with it down here, only if I were to go up north for a moose trip.

My deer down here will be with a 220, and I'm more a waterfowl guy than pretty much anything else.

You've given me much more to consider.

[u/tictac556 → u/Bald_Cliff]

220 works excellent on the whitetail with a quality sabot! In terms of 6.5 I'm pretty sure they're all 1-8 twist, and i think the .308 is 1-10. If you're going to just shoot targets and maybe a moose .308 will likely serve you better.

[u/poruchik_r → u/Bald_Cliff]

I have Axis 2 in 270 and planning to post it on GunPost. I am not hunting, so shooting paper at $2 a pop is a bit much. I will probably get the same but in 223. I did around 20 shots and this rifle is a monster

[u/NewWatchTime]

I went with a Savage 110 and really love it. Savage makes such good rifles for the price.

[u/RelativeFox1]

Too bad you didn’t buy a tikka. It would have been more accurate so you could have used it for hunting.

extreme sarcasm

[u/tictac556 → u/RelativeFox1]

😆👍👌 yes sir

[u/No_Praline_1835]

Nice rifle dude.

[u/tictac556 → u/No_Praline_1835]

Thanks 😊 I've made it my own with the paint job and a few accessories.

[u/No_Praline_1835 → u/tictac556]

I really love the camo. I wanna do a custom m90 camo on one of my guns.

[u/tictac556 → u/No_Praline_1835]

Thank you! I used a few sponges and just dabbed the paint on it randomly

[u/cptseawolf]

My Axis 2 6.5CM is also a banger. Barnes 120gr vor-tx also groups well for me. I have a Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 and can ring a dinner plate gong all day at 300.

[u/tictac556 → u/cptseawolf]

I have 3 10 inch gongs that I like to set up at various ranges, I can push it out to about 650 yards but I mostly shoot 500 yards and in but smashing the gong at 300 is easy for this setup.

[u/throwaway1010202020]

People like to shit on them because they are cheap guns but they are very accurate.

I had an axis 2 in 6.5, shot it at 600 yards several times. By no means competitive with a $10k purpose built rifle but it was surprisingly consistent.

[u/tictac556 → u/throwaway1010202020]

Yeah definitely! If you do your part it will perform. The skinny barrel gets hot fast but as a hunting rifle, I don't need anything more accurate than this.

[u/throwaway1010202020 → u/tictac556]

Yeah and honestly the gun is never going to shoot sub MOA at 300+ yards anyways so it doesn't really make much difference when the barrel gets hot. I was averaging 2.5-3MOA in 10 shots at 600y with little practice and I am by no means a pro.

[u/H0B013 → u/throwaway1010202020]

I consistently shoot 2 inch groups at 300 with my .223 axis 2 pro. I never understand why I hear this narrative so much when all 4 of the axis 2s I have shot have been very accurate rifles

[u/Penguinbotxv]

S&B never fails even for it's price.

[u/tictac556 → u/Penguinbotxv]

I don't see a reason to spend $60.00 for Hornady ELDX when the $35.00 box of S&B performs the way it does. It definitely puts the hurt on the coyotes.

[u/Penguinbotxv → u/tictac556]

I've been lucky enough to shoot each 6.5 cm round from s&b except their edge rounds, I suggest trying their hpbt most guns love it.

[u/tictac556 → u/Penguinbotxv]

Ill give it a try. This gun seems to like 140 gr so as long as i can get the bthp in 140 gr I'm game. I mostly buy my ammo at a local shop, its a small shop with few choices but I like to support local. I'm sure they would be happy to order it for me if they don't have it on hand though.

[u/AlbertaFree16]

The axis has always been the best budget rifle on the market, out of the box accuracy is crazy for these being like $600