Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum New Ohio deer rifle

Being that Ohio is a straight wall cartridge rifle state, I bought myself a Savage Axis Left hand 350 Legend. I put a Glades Armory extended bolt on it today. I need rings and a scope and I'll be ready for the range.

Ron

Ron,

As a fellow lefty and also in a straight wall cartridge state...keep us posted on accuracy when you hit the range.

I will Doc! We've had good luck with our 350's so far. I have an AR-15 upper in 350
From Bear Creek Arsenal that shoots great. I shot a big doe with it in 2020. My brother and another hunting pal were so impressed with my rifle, that they both bought Ruger Ranch Rifles in 350 last year. They are both very accurate also. It also beats getting abused by the recoil of a 12 gauge with slugs. My arthritic neck just can't take the abuse any more.

Ron

No accutrigger?

Nope, it's not the Axis II. Just a plain old Axis. I put an MCARBO trigger spring kit in it. It has a pretty nice trigger now.

Ron

Sweet

I have this exact rifle and you will not be disappointed. I have had great luck shooting mine as it is very accurate and fun to shoot. A very light gun as well

One of the few Lefty bolt actions available in 350. My brother and I have Dies, primers, a few pounds each of H110, and Lil Gun. I bought 500 Starline brass last year. For bullets we have a couple hundred each of the Hornady 170 grain soft points, and 165 grain FTX. Not to mention that I stashed back some 150 grain Deer Season XP, and 180 Power Point factory ammo. We should be good for while once we figure out what shoots best.

Ron

Nice!

I had Savage build a LH Timberline in 350. A bit heavy but shoots great.

I use Rem 7 1/2 primers, Starline brass, Lil' Gun, and Maker 150 grain tipped TREX copper bullets.

I get the straight wall cartridge state laws but will never get the 350 Legend. I'd much rather have an 375 win, 38-55, 44mag, 45 colt, 45-70, or 50-70. Plan on making up an marlin in 375 win

I have a Marlin 1895 45-70, a Remlin 1894 .44 magnum, and a Ruger .44 semi auto carbine. The 45-70 makes my neck hurt anymore. I like the .44s, but also like tinkering with new stuff. The 350 is an honest 150-200 yard deer cartridge. Recoil is about half way bewtween a 5.56 and a .243. What's not to like? In the area I hunt, a 100 yard shot is a poke. In 28 years of hunting there, my longest kill on a deer was about 80 yards. This was done with and H&R 12 gauge Trophy Slugster loaded with Federal Premium Barnes copper expander slugs. It is a tack driver as shotguns go, but again, I can't take the recoil like I did when I was a young man.

Ron

I'm a big fan of the .375 Win, and have taken many White Tails successfully. The 38-55, is so doge gone close to the .375 Win, that I wouldn't argue about it at all.

In Indiana, for public ground, it has to be .35" or bigger bullet and the case (does not have to be straight) can't exceed 1.8". The 350 Legend meets those criteria.

Ok, scope installed. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x50 Straight Wall BDC. Loading some Hornady 165 grain FTX bullets with H110. Probably won't get to the range for a week or more.

Ron

Ok, I took my lefty Savage Axis to the range today. I shot 3 rounds with the Winchester 145 FMJ ammo to get it zeroed (first target). Then I shot a 3 shot group at 50 yds with 150 grain Deer Season XP. I was pleasantly surprised. The average velocity was 2291 fps. I shot 3 180 grain Powerpoints, and 3 165 grain Hornady FTX factory rounds. They shot ok, but not as good as the Deer Season. One of the Hornady rounds blew a primer. Anyone had a factory round do that?

Ron

Here is the case with the blown primer.

Ron
closest coles to me now

I had Hornady Whitetail loads blow primers, but it was in a cheap BCA upper so not sure if it counts.

Here are the groups I shot with the 180 grain Power Points, and 165 grain FTX. I think I could improve these although they are definitely minute of Whitetail at 150 yards already. The dime was added for scale. I didn’t shoot any at 100 because it got windy. I think this rifle will get done what I need it to. I must say that the blown primer concerned me.

Ron

I haven’t loaded the 165 FTX yet. Been busy. Had a nice day today and thought I’d get out and burn some gun powder. I’m working up slowly with H110 until I get to about 2200 fps and hopefully with good accuracy. I’ll report when I shoot the handloads.

Ron

Still waiting on my LH 700 at Shaw. I dropped it off on Dec.13 so it will be 6 months in about 3 weeks. I'm going with a 22 in. stainless heavy sporter barrel. Plan on trying some of the same bullets that you're testing.

Update on my left hand Savage Axis. I called the factory about the blown primer and they suggested that I send the rifle back for inspection. I did send it and just got it back yesterday (6/17). They replaced the barrel and extractor. They told me the barrel was undersized and that most likely caused the blown primer. I thanked them for their honesty. I put the scope back on it and am going to sneak off to the range Monday for a test session. I’ll report on the accuracy and chrono’d velocities with the new barrel.

Ron

This is probably the fourth time I have heard similar things about the savage axis in 350.

The store I worked at sent two back...same thing, replaced extractor and barrel.

Theirs was that it would not extract after firing.

Something must be off about their reamer dimensions or some similar issue...not sure what but every other chambering, zero problems.

$500 will get you an ambidextrous Henry SS in .350, .450, .44, or .45/70. If I ever go to the Midwest, that’s my plan.

Link please? Been looking for one locally but I'll probably just have to order BNIB.

I get it Pappy. I just wanted a bolt rifle. I have other lever guns.

Ron

I gotcha. Been looking at all the options, even though we have no restrictions here, I’m about as likely to go to the Midwest as the Moon, and need another rifle about as much as I need another winky.

Just Loony Brainstorming.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/single-shot-rifle/

Like gold, they’re where you find them. I have a .410, have owned a .308, and have a .357 on the way. Good guns with nice checkered walnut stocks at a bargain price. A cheek riser pad is helpful for scope use.

We’re held hostage by our state reg’s right? I have a bolt rifle 350 for the regular deer season. The late one requires a handgun or muzzleloader, and I’m finished with muzzle-loaders, so I picked up a used Contender Super 14 in 7 mm TCU.

I had it rebored to 350 L as there is very little clean-up of the TCU chamber for the 350 L. Add a 2-7x handgun scope and a sling stud doubling as the front forend screw. Add a bipod and I’m good to about 175 yds.

I’m also done with the big boomers (for me) — the 444 and 44/70 — in Contenders/rifles and they are unnecessarily big for deer IME.

I’m with you on that. I’ve long wanted a .444, but it’s really overkill for our scrawny deer. My last .45/70, a Number 1, was too much fun. I have a .44 Low Wall and the .357 on the way, so that oughta do me. Been going smaller with bottleneck rounds too, 6s and a Grendel.

Ok guys, bear with me and I’ll post some pics. I took my newly factory re-barreled left hand Savage Axis 350 Legend to the range today. I got it sighted back in with Winchester 145 grain FMJ rounds then started on the good stuff. Today I only shot at 50 yards and was happy with the results. Next time I’m going to shoot at 100 yards. I shot several factory loads (150 grain Deer Season XP, 160 grain Power Max Bonded, and 165 grain FTX), then I shot 4-4shot groups with our handloads. The Handloads are in Starline brass with 165 grain Hornady FTX bullets. I started with 25 grains of H110 and went up a half grain to 26.5 grains, which is still 1/2 grain off max on the Hodgdon powder web site. I’m posting the pics from my IPhone, so I’ll post each photo separately. No flattened primers or stiff bolt lift by the way.

Ron

Ohio757,

I have read all your posts and appreciate you sharing your development of your new Ohio deer killing machine.

Doc

Well done, Sir.

Those targets look great to me. I'll be more than happy if mine shoots that well when Get it.

Thanks for kind comments guys! I’m thinking Bambi may be in trouble this season!

Ron

I followed this saga in the Ask the Gunwriters forum, glad it has worked out so well for you.

Post pics this fall!

Will do Gael!

Ron

Got some new loads to try next trip to the range. 170 grain Hornady soft point interlocks loaded with 24.5, 25, and 25.5 grains of H110. Something new to test (which I love to do).

Ron
pic uploader

Don’t let the naysayers get you down. The .350 is easy and available. There’s always something “better”, but there’s nothing wrong with “good enough” either.

Glad you got things sorted out.

That rifle seems to shoot everything well. Nice shooting!