Savage Axis XP Youth Rifle - Thoughts? Reviews? Suggestions?

This ^
Agreed, why the fuck wouldn't they just spend another .18 at the factory and use metal springs originally. In a pinch you and I are able to potentially tweak a metal spring to get us through a hunt. Plastic goes snap and we find ourselves looking for a paperclip, thread and a rubber band.....

 

Maybe the plastic spring is $.06.

There are concessions to be made when you're shopping a new rifle in this price range from a major manufacturer. Cheaper stocks/bedding, cheaper trigger assemblies, cheaper barrels, less fit and finish. I hope that poster comes back and chimes in, I'm genuinely curious about with all the corners cut on these types of rifles why a magazine release spring of all things is the thing he mentioned as a possible durability issue.

 

BTW I'm not trying to sound like a prick, I'm really curious to discuss this as it isn't something I'd have put a second thought to.

 

ERMEGERD THERRD BERRMP

 

Thanks for all the info and comments?

:beer:

After a little more though/discussion. Her budget is under 500$. She wants something in a youth model that has a scope.

Were going to go check out a few shops that sell used rifles this weekend to see if we can find a nice used Remington or Winchester.

 

I'd be jazzed if you let us know what you end up with.

 

and a VW fan to boot!

 

Been messing with them for over a decade now.

Long as I remember, I'll keep this thread up to date.

 

Because

Ok, longer answer. The savage edge (a year later renamed axis due to copyright infringement) was designed from the get go to be made as inexpensively as possible and to be sold as inexpensively as possible. There isn't a part on any firearm ever made that couldn't be better for another dollar, but eventually those dollars add up and there goes the budget.

The edge/axis made quite a few breakthroughs in price by combing pieces. The rear sling stud doubles as the attachment point for the recoil pad. The actions for both long and short action are identical. The only thing that makes a short action is a different trigger guard, coupled with 1 of 2 magazines. You can change an axis into any caliber with 10 seconds and a new trigger guard (and barrel/bolt face of course). The stock is universal across all calibers. They did quite a few other things also but that's off the top of my head. In the end they turned out a pretty good rifle for a really good price point.

The mag in reference, attaching a metal spring to a plastic mag is more failure prone than going all metal or all plastic. Going to the metal spring makes is more likely you'll be in the field wishing for a roll of duct tape. So the .18 difference is more likely $10-15 difference for a metal mag. And so far I've used mine in sub zero temps, no problems so far and I'm far from gentle on my tools.

However, they use the same quality barrels on their entire line. So you can grab any savage/stevens barrel and swap over.

The biggest negatives I've come across since they introduced the rifle.
1. Trigger. It's heavy from the factory, 6-8 pounds. That's not an ideal weight for an experienced shooter. But this is a budget rifle, usually picked up early in a shooting career and a heavy trigger is IDEAL imo for a rookie shooter that can't keep his booger hooks off like he should.

The trigger does break cleanly though, and you can drop weight to 2-4 pounds with a .10 spring. It takes about 10 minutes. And it's a pretty decent trigger at that point.

2. Stock. It's ugly. But again imo, I've never seen a pretty synthetic stock so it's no uglier than any other to me. And I always say a rifle is as pretty as the groups it turns in. So the savage is really pretty to me.

3. Stock again, it's flimsy and can flex. By all accounts the stock flexes if you set it across to cinder blocks and bounce in the middle. Pretty much like any other stock made. If it doesn't it breaks, and you shouldnt be bouncing on your rifle in any case. But again imo, the stock could whip 90 degrees after every shot, as long as it keeps turning in good groups.


Personally I own 1 savage edge. I was dicking around on GB and saw an auction that didn't have a reserve and no bidders on it. I ended up with a NIB 25-06 for $209 shipped. The downside is I had 2 'better' 25-06 in the collection. I have some nice guns

But a few years later I have exactly 1 25-06, and it's the edge. It outshot every other rifle and it's the one I carry hunting every year. Except for elk, I use a bigger caliber for bigger animals. The edge, assuming I do my part, turns in touching groups at 100 yards with me on a bipod, harvested several animals out past 600 yards. It's light and easy to carry in the field. It's a great hunting rifle. It's not a great benchrest rifle. And if I ever fall down a ravine and break it, it cost me $200.

Like I said I have some nice rifles and I'm always moving my collection around. The edge is the only budget rifle I would pick up without worry and the only 'budget' gun in my collection. Where it will stay

Best advice I have is to at all costs avoid a rifle/scope package. A bad piece of glass on a really good rifle makes for a really bad combination. And a really good piece of glass on a mediocre rifle turns it into a nice little package. Factory package glass is JUNK from any manufacturer. Along the budget rifle below is a redfield scope. Budget friendly and good optics (by leupold) with a lifetime warranty. It is the entry level I would consider, roughly $150-250 if memory serves.



This ^ was last week. Roughly 1/4 mile by laser and me shooting some bastardized off-hand crouching abomination of a shooting position. If you want I'll preach how great the barnes ttsx bullet is. I love that bullet

 

And the great thing about synthetic stocks, it doesn't break your heart if screw them up. The above rifles first paint job. It's ok to throw up a little I don't think it made it out of the house looking like that but I had to document probably the ugliest thing I'd ever done.

 

Best post ever Indy. Great insight. Nice kill!

 

First, no such thing as a beginner's rifle that can kill a deer.

Beginner's rifle is the Browning 22 lever action. Sweet. Good for plinking.

Second. The 270 caliber is a prefect deer rifle. More long range energy than a 30-06. Recoil in a bolt action is mild. FUN to shoot. You could almost shoot it with one hand. FLAT trajectory. My win model 70 rifle puts three touching on the paper at 100 yards. You will have fun calibrating it before the hunt, unlike others that beat you up. But you won't have to. It's on zero out of the closet. BUT you will enjoy double checking.

A fantastic rifle.

 

Been gone for a couple of days. The plastic magazine spring was the only thing I thought was a serious flaw. There might be a couple other shortcomings, but that one caught my attention because a failure there would put a major crimp in a hunting trip. Metal springs are more reliable than plastic IMO.

 

I just picked up another 270, still debating what im going to turn it into or if im going to use it as trade fodder. It was a good price.

Recoil pad makes a world of difference. I built a 358 last year and took it to the range to function test. 10 shots had me cussing like a sailor. I put a limbsaver on it, total sweetheart now. I even put one on my 223 cuz why not of course im wildcatting it this week to a .20p, besides the noise im curious if ill even know it fired.

 

They have been out for several years and savage isnt the only company that uses them. I havent come across it as an issue, i spend more time on hunting forums than here. But if you end up with a rifle that uses one and youre overly concerned just pick up an extra mag and carry it with you. I carry 1 extra for my 460 when im hunting and ive never had the chance to use a pistol yet. But its with me regardless.

 

A big 'hell yeah" on the recoil pad! I used to do a lot of skeet and trap with an over under 12ga. Would end up with a bruised shoulder even with one. Would be impossible for me to shoot more than a few minutes without.

When hunting I don't feel the recoil due to the adrenaline and the relatively few shots and a coat. But at the range, shooting dozens of round, in the middle of the summer, light shirt, it's way more noticeable.

What is a .20p ?

 

20 practical, 223 necked down to 20 caliber. It pushes a 32gr at about 4000fps. It should be fun.

I havent bought ammo in a couple decades, im slowly running out of rifles that its even an option

 

Great info.

We're going out this afternoon to do some more shopping, maybe I'll have an update this evening.

 

Welp. After stopping at 4 more stores and looking at some things, the Savage XP in a 243 Win was the winner.

She checked out the Ruger American compact, the youth Remington 770, the Savage Axis XP, and a few other things rifles that were slightly over budget.

The Ruger was still too long even though it was compact rifle. The Remington was too heavy.

The Savage felt the best to her. The stock was the right length. The safety is easily accessible. It was light enough that she didnt struggle to with it.

The trigger is a little heavier than the other guns we looked at. The plastic magazine is weird, but doesnt seem as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

Next Sunday, were going to shoot a box of shells through the gun and see what happens.

 

Awesome! Let us know how it goes!