Gun Review: Savage Arms Axis 2 in 6.5 Creedmoor

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

Savage Arms has built the new Axis 2 with features and accuracy that modern shooters and hunters have come to expect, and they’ve priced it at point that most people can afford.

Savage Arms has been in the rifle building business since 1899, and they’ve certainly figured out how to do it well. Savage Arms introduced the Model 110 in 1957, and this time-proved design is the template for the Axis 2. With the inclusion of Savage’s adjustable AccuTrigger, the Axis 2 takes accuracy seriously.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

The Axis I reviewed here is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with an OD polycarbonate stock and a black 22-inch button-rifled barrel. The MSRP on this rifle is $489. Looking around at the bigger gun dealers online, this rifle’s street price is below $450. There’s a fair amount of sub-$500 rifles on the market, but in terms of cost for what you get, this rifle delivers the bang for the buck.

For a rifle to be worth any amount of money it must be two things: safe, and accurate. The Axis 2 features one of the best safety and accuracy enhancements in a factory rifle in the form of the Savage AccuTrigger. Introduced in 2002, the AccuTrigger is user-adjustable between 2.5 to 6 pounds. Mine measured 3 pounds, 2 ounces of pull weight from the factory on a Lyman trigger gauge. It broke cleanly and crisply with no creep or overtravel. About 3 pounds is perfect for a field rifle, in my opinion, so I left well-enough alone.

Since the sear is physically blocked by the trigger, even with the manual safety off, you can set the trigger pressure where it makes sense for your application, without the worry of safety being compromised. Should you decide that an adjustment is necessary, trigger adjustment is done with the included key after removal of the trigger guard.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

The polymer stock comes equipped with sling studs. The fore end is tapered and has some nicely molded “bars” to aid in grip. The molded pistol grip allowing a nearly vertical hand placement. This also aids in accuracy, since this allows the trigger finger to move rearward in a natural position without any torque being applied from the shooters wrist. The stock has a nice comb, and an excellent recoil pad.

The stock did play a trick on me, though; it looks adjustable. The molded in lines make it seem like spacers could be removed to adjust the length of pull. Using a screwdriver to remove the recoil pad revealed that they were only mold lines in the polymer, and length of pull is 13.75”.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

Before heading to the range, I mounted a Leupold scope I had on hand in some medium height rings. The Weaver mounts that come supplied with the Axis 2 were milled accurately and made setting and leveling the scope easy. Once the scope was ready, I did some dry-firing to get familiar with it. The bolt comes dry and after a little proper lubrication, it was cycling nice a smooth. The oversized bolt knob is convenient, and I could cycle the action without breaking my cheek weld.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

Range testing started at 25 yards for a paper-check with some Sellier & Bellot 140 grain fmj boat tail. After 5 rounds to center up, I swabbed the barrel and moved out to 100 yards. The very first group of three rounds at 100 yards measured 1 1/8”, and slightly higher than expected. Another adjustment and three more rounds down range showed all three cutting the edge of a one-inch square. Center-to-center, it was inside an inch.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

Here’s where I got excited. I grabbed a box of Hornady 140 grain ELD Match and stuffed four rounds into the magazine. Taking my time and using front and rear bags, I sent all four downrange onto fresh paper…and I couldn’t count the holes.

I walked back to the truck, grabbed the spotting scope, and could see one ragged hole just a little right of center. I swabbed the barrel again just to let things cool down, moved my windage a half-minute to the left, and sent four more. Shifting over to the spotting scope revealed another ragged ¾-inch hole, favoring just above center on the bull.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

Using the ELD Match I decided to start pushing it out farther. That, after all, is what 6.5 was bred for. I used the 0.610 BC from my ballistic software, 2,700 fps, a G1 drag model, and a 1¾-inch height over bore for my inputs to get the try-data. At 200 yards, with no wind and a little luck, I printed a 3-shot group at 1 1/8 inch. That’s one of the best factory-rifle groups I’ve ever shot at that distance. I was so happy with that I walked the 200 yards down range to pull the target and keep it.

My shooting range has 12-inch steel plates out to 600 yards and a random smattering of deer, elk, and gongs beyond that. It took me 11 rounds to verify data for center mass hits to 600. That’s surprisingly good for any gun, much less for a sub-$500 gun topped with an average scope.

After that was recorded, I started having some fun with multiple target engagements. My best was a 200 yard, then a 300 yard, two shot string recorded at a 2.61 second split with my shot timer. Yes, you can and should run a bolt gun on a shot timer. And yes, the Savage can do it really well. After than run, I called it a day with 65 rounds down the pipe.

Over two subsequent range trips I’ve fired another 115 rounds, mostly a mix of the Hornady and the Sellier & Bellot. I also tested the 140 grain Nosler Whitetail Country, and it averaged 1 1/8” at 100 yards. That’s plenty accurate for a hunting-designed projectile, running a little slower than match ammo.

Recoil is mild and the synthetic stock is plenty comfortable shooting from the bench and standing behind a tripod. The bolt got smoother as things progressed with 180 live rounds and over 300 cycles in dry fire. Now I’m very happy with the ease and smoothness in cycling this gun.

Savage Arms AXIS 2 rifle

The removable box magazine has a metal body and a polymer base pad. It latches into the stock in the front and was easy to insert and remove. Loading and cycling have been wholly uneventful, with no feeding issues at all. There’s a loaded chamber indicator on the rear of the bolt. Directly behind that is the safety. That puts both visual indicators directly in line with the shooter’s eye. As I was shouldering the gun, I could look down and verify the status of both the safety and bolt.

The Savage Axis 2 is a safe, accurate, and very well outfitted rifle. Weighing in at 6.6 pounds without the optic, this is going to make for an excellent mule deer rifle.

Sadly, I received this rifle after the close of Colorado’s big game season and the wait ‘til next fall is going to be a long one. With the type of groups this rifle is putting out, it will be coming with me on a coyote hunt in the spring. If you’re in the market for a great shooting rifle that leaves money in the bank for ammo, give the Savage Axis 2 a serious look. Check out www.savagearms.com for more information.

Specifications: Savage Axis 2 Rifle

Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
Action: Bolt Action
Stock: Polymer
Sights: None
Barrel Length: 22 inches sporter, free-floated
Overall Length: 42.5 inches
Weight: 6.6 pounds
Capacity: 4+1 (one magazine included)
Safety: 2 position
Receiver: Matte black, drilled and tapped
Features: AccuTrigger, detachable box mag
MSRP: $489 (about $450 retail)

 

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