New rifle

[Jim]

Over a month ago, I ordered a Savage Axis Youth model in .223 left hand. I got it home a coupla' days ago. The scope came in yesterday and I got everything mounted and set up.

I'll be loading Bators with light charges for Janet to shoot it and will also use those same light charge loads for small game. I'm going to do some G'hog and 'yote shooting with it, so I'll be working up some loads for it with NATO balls.

Now if the weather will warm up just a bit, I'm ready to start load development and hit the range.

[S&W-629]

Thats cool.I just got a Rem 700 in 223 and i love the thing

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm not sure which powder you're thinking of using, But I had a similar quest. I have a large quality of older Red Dot...so that was my first choice.

I was using a Plain Base Ranch Dog boolit. 225-50gr
I started with 6.0 gr. of Red Dot, it was suggested somewhere and
was well within a safe starting load. Accuracy was incredibly poor,
20" Patterns at 50 yards. I started dropping charges and once I got below 4.5 gr. accuracy started inproving.

the sweet spot for my gun (CZ-527) was 4.0gr of red dot, which gave me about 1600fps and 1.5" five shot groups at 50 yards. Sorting out imperfections in those tiny boolits is key...especially if it has a plain base.
Jon

[MUSTANG]

Jim:

I have the Standard Axis in .223 and find it quite accurate. Areas of the rifle that need improvement:

a. Magazine is metal and plastic, with plastic being where it holds and engages the rifle stock. Hard to seat and lock in at times.

b. Magazine loading is more difficult than most bolt guns or AR style platform magazines. You have to slide each of the rounds in, sort of from the front and down.

c. Extra magazines are way too expensive in my mind, at a retail of nearly $50.00 (1/7th the cost of a rifle/scope combo from some of the Big Box stores).

d. The barrel has a 90 degree shoulder at the end of the chamber where it is fits into the receiver, results in some rounds hitting the flat shoulder and not sliding into the chamber. Slow, deliberate, consistent operation of the bolt can help feeding.

e. If yours came with Scope Rings installed, test them for torque. Mine came with rings and scope. The rings to base and screws holding scope in were loose on mine when I got it.

f. There are some on the Internet who find the bedding point and stock to be less than satisfactory. I have not had problems.

g. Trigger is WAY TO HARD. I clipped some of the spring off the Trigger Spring and made it much more enjoyable to shoot, and had slight improvement because of better trigger control. Following are some links on working on the Axis Trigger.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jytBGdJSjWA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evfvT70togE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3GvLTi2CCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn8SUPjxbgs



Other than those areas, mine is a great rifle. Bought it because of low cost, reputation for Savage accuracy, and a rifle that could take abuse as a Jeep Rifle for when we are out in the desert and mountains. You and the family should enjoy it.

Mustang

[Olevern]

Congrats on you new rifle, Jim. You're getting as bad as me with making additions to your collection.
Enjoy!