Budget Rifle Review: Savage AXIS II
Ryan Godshalk 02.01.23
For this hunter, the Savage Axis II has been a no fuss, serviceable, entry level rifle. New hunters, or outdoorsmen on a budget, will find it ready to do the job.
When I first picked up the Axis II, it did not inspire a deep emotional response. It’s not a rifle I see myself handing down, with reverence, to a future son or daughter. I saw it as a stepping stone for someone too broke to get into a Bergara or Weatherby. But over the past three years the Savage Axis II has performed admirably. The emotional attachment that was absent when I purchased the gun, has since been well earned, along with a handsome amount of weathering.
Just the facts
This Axis II, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, sports a Carbon Steel, 22 inches (55.880cm) Button Barrel, with a 1 and 8 twist. It has an overall length of 42.5 inches(107.95cm). The detachable mag carries 4 rounds. It comes standard with Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger, and is placed in a synthetic stock. MSRP of $479.00 USD. Naked, it weighs in at 6.3lbs(2.86kg).
Accuracy
With the Axis II, I feel safe betting a case of beer that I can punch a hole through a credit card at 100 yards. It’s even yielded a few sub MOA groups, in spite of my shockingly mediocre shooting skills.
While it might be getting a little long in the tooth, the AccuTrigger remains a dependable design, and more than adequate for hunting accuracy.
Reliability and Handling
The Axis II loses a few points here. The rifle came with a weak extractor. At times I’d find myself trying to fish spent casings out of the action. Not ideal if you have to put another round in the target when you’re on the clock. The action also doesn’t lend itself well to babying. A firm hand and decisive motion yields the most reliable performance.
Picking the Axis II up, you know instantly you’re handling a budget gun. The stock is light, but nothing to write home about. The Axis II is not the prettiest rifle, though it’s far from the ugliest. Despite all that, it’s proved to be surprisingly rugged. Before I became a true believer in trekking poles, my Axis II pulled double-duty as a walking stick on some precarious terrain. Not recommended use for a firearm, but even after such negligent abuse, the rifle was still able to produce good groups.
The ability to lock the bolt is also a feature absent in the rifle. At times in the field, I’ve pulled my pack off and noticed somewhere on the trail, a branch or something had snagged on the bolt handle and pried open the action. I’ve started using hair ties to secure the bolt handle to the stock when covering country, but a good three position safety, with a bolt lock, is definitely something I’ll be looking for on my next rifle.
Price
Savage’s website post’s the Axis II’s MSRP at $479.00 USD. I purchased my rifle well south of that figure. At present, there is a spread of good budget rifles on the market, and I would put the Savage Axis II among them. Lack of bells and whistles aside, I’d expect the Axis II to be able to keep up with rifles far more expensive. And when you’re on a budget, and need to get into some good boots and a good pack, a $350 rifle that can do 95% of what a comparable $1000 gun can do, is a seductive prospect.
At the time of writing this article, the Axis II is still my go-to centerfire option when chasing critters around the mountains and deserts. And while I do plan on replacing it with something a little nicer down the road, I’m not in a big rush. If you are of the mind that a hunter’s rifle is a tool, then the Savage Axis II shows up and does the job.
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And just a note, if you like the paint job on my gun, I shamelessly stole it from @TheLateBoyScout on youtube, who was gracious enough to explain in the comments how he achieved the look with bailing twine and spray paint.
