Axis .223 range report: 3-18-12

Got out with the .223 Sunday. First target is 55gr. hornady v-max- 3 shots in 7/8". The other targets are all Black Hills reman. 60gr. v-max. 2 of them have 4 shots inside 7/8". I think i can do better and I KNOW the gun can do better. I was dealing with a gusty crosswind and was still able to do better than with my .30-06 Axis- so on a calm day should be much better. These were all shot at 100 yds. off of bench bag. I have shot groups this good off of shooting sticks with this gun- so real world accuracy is great and plenty good enough for anything i need to kill around the farm.

The last target is nothing remarkable until i tell you that it was shot at 45 minutes after sunset at 100yds.- which is 15 minutes past legal shooting time for deer in MN. So what i am saying is that the low-light performance of the Revolution scopes is plenty good for any deer gun-makes me think i wasted my money putting a VX3 on my .30-06. I still have not gotten a shot at anything moon-calling to test the redfield out there. Hopefully next year.
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Kind of amazing how these inexpensive rifles shoot, isn't it? Each winter I tend to find an inexpensive gun that I can mess around with as a winter project, with the idea of turning something bland into something interesting. This year, mine was an Axis .223. I got a good deal on the combo in blue. I popped off the cheap scope, DuraCoated the stock in Dull Earth Brown and the metal parts in Coyote Brown. I replaced the scope with a Nikon ProStaff 4x12. I got it to the range this week, and regretfully, had to improvise a less than great rest, having forgotten my shooting rest at home. The first 3 groups with Black Hills 52gr hollowpoints went 7/8", .6", and .5". That was the first ammo tested, and I have a variety of other stuff to try. Now I invested in a bunch of components, and will see what it can do with handloads. Should be interesting.

I have just tried mine yesterday at the range! Cheap bushnell Scope (3x9x40), I was so impressed with the group I was able to make with this Rifle at 100 yards; all within 1/4 inches, straight out of the box.

I was using the AE223 FMJ 55 gr. I had adjusted the scope at 50 yards and all my shots were about 1/2 to 3/4 inches above bull, so I guess the ballistic is correct.



I would recommend this rifle to anyone! The range officer offered me 75$ more than I paid for it. :D. I am keeping it.

Any ideas on how heat resitant is the barrel? I was very carefull not to overheat it and keeping it warm to the touch before firing a second round. Can we go trigger happy with it?

Martin From Quebec, canada.

At first, i was shooting through a 4-round mag as fast as i could get a good aim. This was in 40 degree weather and the barrel never got very warm. Now i let it sit a bit on the bench-bag between shots with the bolt open to maximize barrel life.

I have done this from day 1 with the .30-06 as that heats up quite a bit after 2 shots.

Thanks for the info!

My Edge 223 and Remington Model 7 223 love the Hornady and Fiocchi 40 grain Vmax.My AR 15 223 does too with a 1x7 twist which really surprised me!

Although not Axis/Edge, I do have two savage .223 rifles that both also shoot the 40 grain vmax Fiochi really well. One is a model 11 and the other is a model 25. They say all the savages have the same barrels, so I guess thats the case. You might try them out. At 3650 fps, they are very explosive!