After having good luck with several Savage Trophy Hunter rifles in different calibers I brought home a preowned .223 Savage Axis from the pawn shop to put together for a varmint gun. The trigger had a heavier pull than I care for so I installed a trigger kit and put together some hand loads and headed to the back yard range. Knowing my lack of ability at the bench I am happy with the results. I have taken a couple of coyotes with this combo so far.
I bought a Axis .223 on a lark, Academy Sports had them for just a little over $200 after a rebate. Trigger was not good, but an hour or so of careful stoning ans spring clipping got the pull weight down to a solid and safe 3#. Chamber has a very long throat, me-thinks Savage chambers these guns with 5.56 reamers, since they know folks are going to shoot 5.56 in them anyway. First 10 3-shot groups with all the different factory 5.56/.223 loads I had on hand averaged .75". Federal 50 grain VT shoot amazingly well, wish I had bought more when PSA had them for $6/box. Shoots H335 & Hornady 50 gr SP very well also. Carry it most days when the dogs and I walk around my lake in case something needs shooting.
The Savage Axis are capable of shooting good groups, but I heartily dislike the stock ergs so much that I've been happy to trade some accuracy potential for a better fit and feel.
60 gr V-Max with a max book load of Tac is another good load in mine. Not crazy about the Axis stock and was considering a Boyd's Classic but I'll probably leave it as is, hate to mess with something that shoots this good. The only thing I've changed on it was installing an M Carbo trigger spring. I've had a lot of 223s and never had one that shoots any better.
Nice job on the video. I enjoyed watching it. Those Savage axis rifles my be the best bang for your buck, as far as accuracy goes. I have worked up loads for a few people that had them and they always amaze me how well the do for an inexpensive rifle. Good shooting! QM
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