I've never owned a Stevens but have never heard anything bad about any Savage rifle to be honest. I think there are a number of shooters that don't like the apperence or Savage rifles for whatever reason but that is a prefference issue. Either one Stevens or Axis would make a great rifle.

IMHO if you want a rifle that you will enjoy shooting a lot, get it in the 7mm-08. It has better ballistics than the .308 with slightly more recoil than a .243 Has the inherited spot on accuracy derived from the .308 brass necked down to a 7mm bullet.

Happy shooting!