Savage in .223

[abunaitoo]

I was at the range this weekend.
Bunch of guys on the next bench just bought a new Savage rifle. didn't catch the model.
Black plastic stock, stainless, scoped. I think it was one of those package deals.
They couldn't even get it to hit the target at 50yds. Looked to me like new shooters.
Range officer tried to help them, but they were talking at the same time, and didn't know what they were doing saying.
Officer asked me to spot for him.
Rifle was shooting about five feet high and two feet to the right at 100yd dirt backstop. Adjusted it until it hit the target at 50yds and I went back to my shooting.
They seem to get it "on target" so they took turns shooting it.
Four different shooters, each shooting one shot, at 50yds.
I was watching the target to see how they would do.
Four shots, all touching, 1/4" to the left of the bull.
Couldn't believe it.
I may have to get me one of those.

[wyrmzr]

Could have been the Axis; I've got one, and it was pretty cheap, but no real problems. The trigger isn't adjustable, but I did a slight mod to bring the pull down a few pounds. Pretty sure the trigger pulls about the same as the weight of the rifle out of the factory.
I've managed 1/2" groups at 100 from time to time with the .223 version, and they make a lot of different calibers for the model. I think mine ran about $260 with the decent, but not great, scope.

[tomme boy]

The new Axis II comes with the accu-trigger. They also have a new heavy barrel but that does not come with the accu-trigger.

[Love Life]

4 shots touching at 50 yds would not have me running out to buy a new gun.

[MT Gianni]

I bought a model 11 last year and finally found the scope mounts loose before it grouped well.

[starmac]

4 shots touching at 50 yds would not have me running out to buy a new gun.

4 shots touching from 4 different shooters, sounds pretty good to me.

[wallenba]

I have two target Savages I shoot 'J's in. A model 12 F 308W, and a model 12 VLP 223 Rem. (actually a varmint). Those two are scary accurate. I'm sold on Savage rifles. Savage model 12F's have won matches right out of the box against $8K rifles. No bull.

[Jupiter7]

A shooting buddy has a newer Savage I believe it's a model10 with accutrigger, it shoots better than .5moa often. He bought it as a donor action for 300blk, couldn't bring himself to do it after shooting so well. While spotting him once, he put 3 shots inside a dime sized hole at 700yds with hand loaded hornady 75gr HPBT match bullets and aa2230. He quit shooting for the day.

[gandydancer]

all very true. I have 4 of them -2 model 10 in 308 & 6.5 creedmoore 17 HMR 22 mag.

[Moonie]

My Savage Edge (the first year the Axis was called the Edge before they changed them) in 30-06 loves 35gr H4895 under an Accurate Molds 245gr GC boolit at 1,950fps and will put 3 into 1/2" at 100 when I do my part.

[Hannibal]

I have a model 10 in .308 that has given me more trouble than any rifle I've ever owned. Barrel is reverse-tapered. (Slugs .307" at the chamber and .3085" at the muzzle). I've had it back to Savage twice and they can't or won't wrap their heads around the problem. It's for sale and I'll never buy another Savage again.

I used to love Savages. But my experience has been if you happen to get a bad one, sell it or fix it yourself. The factory provides great lip service, but little more.

[TCLouis]

4 shots touching
4 different shooters
4 different RANK amateur shooters . . .

There is potential there!

Of course ALL Savage rifles seem to perform all out of proportion to their price point.

[waco]

all very true. I have 4 of them -2 model 10 in 308 & 6.5 creedmoore 17 HMR 22 mag.

6.5 Creedmore........me wants a rifle built in this caliber!

[Three44s]

I built a .204 Ruger on an unfired model 10 action after changing the bolt head from a .308 face and magazine to a ".223" set up.

The .204 barrel I found over at the Savage shooters forum is a bull barrel blued.

It shot very well right off the bat with Hornady factory 32 gr. V-max. (3@100 yds @ .360")

I handloaded the same bullet and it shot even better. (.220")

All of this was with the cheap package Bushnell scope set on 6X

The gun was so heavy for a tractor/pick up gun around the ranch .... I safe queened it.

Along came a used .204 Ruger sporter blued barrel. I bought it.

Off came the bull and on went sporter.

I expected a beating over accuracy.

I got some what of a let down with the above factory load ......... it's running around a fat .6"

But Katy Bar The Door with the first hand load I tried ........... .330" ...... I ran the powder even higher and got a fair range of decent loads ..... with a few exeptions it ran around and under the .5" mark for a 2 grain variation in charges.

When I went back to the best group, it bested itself ......... .315"

I loaded a box of those and it's my current tractor gun again!

The powder I am using is an obsolete number ........ RL 11

The trigger is a little hard to come by ....... the Savage accutarget with the target sear.

A Savage that does not shoot well is a rare bird indeed!

Best regards

Three 44s

[kbstenberg]

I have a new Axis 223 sitting in the corner waiting for rings and a base (on the way from Optics Planet) My plan is to switch the barrel to a 7TCU when i can find the funds.