First Post - First Axis - Great Gun

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I purchased an Axis (.223) to assist my Izhmash Biathlon Basic 7-2 KO with coyote hunting duties. And to put it simply, I'm thrilled with the results I'm getting from the Axis. For the $250 spent on this rifle, the accuracy is impressive.

Just today I was experimenting with a new coyote hand load for the Axis and thought I'd share the results. Mind you, this is only the first attempt with reloads. Given the crosswind I was fighting and the less-than-optimal rest I was using, the results from 100 yards were excellent.

First group:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...ps19c60c4b.jpg

Second group:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...ps90ab09aa.jpg

The gun (Burris E1 4.5-14):
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...ps444495e5.jpg

Yep, they are surprisingly accurate rifles for the money. Savage really got a winner on the "Entry Level" rifle market. I've had very similar results to yours out of both my wife's Axis in .223, and my Left handed Axis in .223. So, yours is not just a random fluke.

To be honest, I am having trouble finding a bad load for my .223 Axis...:biggrin-new:

Mine didn't care for the PMC Bronze I fed it. The Hornady V-Max groups, on the other hand, looked much like the groups I posted above.

My reloading bud will have another hand load worked up for me by Monday. I look forward to trying them out - hopefully under friendlier weather conditions.

We're using Varget powder and Nosler Varmageddon 55gr HP's. I won't have the exact reload recipe until we decide on a final product.

Mine loves Sierra 69gr HPBT Match sitting on top of H4895....

Don't you just love it when a $300 gun shoots as well as those more expensive ones! :victorious:

Axises are very nice. With a very little work, mine has a better trigger than my Accutrigger Savages.