Amazing

[Mr.Snerdly]

to me at least. I was disappointed in the rate of erosion on the Axis 223. It has approximately 1500 shots through it but the throat is eroded to the point I am seating 69 grain Sierra bullets with only .080" in the case in order to get somewhat close to the lands. Even with this very shallow seating the bullet is still .060" off the lands. It just barely fits in the magazine. Even as worn out as the throat is it will still shoot from 5/16"-5/8" at 100 yards and I would be willing to bet the 5/8" groups are my fault and not the rifles. I guess it goes to show a lot of the things you hear, like having to seat bullets close to the lands or touching aren't necessarily true. If the 6.5 CM Axis shot 1/4 as good as this worn out 223 it would be acceptable to many. Can't believe they were made by the same company.

[charlie b]

It also depends on the bullets you choose to use. Typically SMK's don't care much about jump where many Bergers like to be touching or jammed into the lands.

I have to admit that once I found a load for my Axis (77SMK, 23.5gn Varget, Rem 7 1/2 BR primers, 2.28oal) I never changed the seat depth over 4000 rounds and still had 1/2moa groups. Could have been better but I normally could not shoot better than that.

Barrel quality is a random quantity when dealing with mass production. Savage has someone who straightens barrels after shoving/pulling the button through them. If one requires no straightening I'd bet it comes out like my Axis barrel. A good shooter when hot or cold, dirty or clean. 1st round within 1/2MOA of the 50th round. OTOH, my Model 12 was probably bent a bit to make it straight. It doesn't like to be too hot or too cold, just right :) It is also a bit touchy about loads. If off a bit it will go out to 2MOA or even a bit more.

[Mr.Snerdly]

^^^^Do you know how far off the lands you are now?

I think something was wrong with that Axis barrel to erode that fast, although with compensation for the wear it still shoots pretty good. I have another rifle, same caliber and with roughly the same number of shots and same powders, bullets, everything pretty much the same, eroded .008" compared to about .070" on the Axis. I will give Savage credit, they offered to replace the barrel for $125 and I am still deciding whether to do it or not.

[charlie b]

Sorry, but, no. I never measured it again.

For an Axis I would be tempted to take them up on the offer if it is a heavy profile. If not I'd start saving for a Shilen or better.

[Dave Hoback]

Well sweet! As long as it hasn’t lost anything, all’s good.

[wywindsor]

CharlieB your 23.5 load is a high26?? fps per hodgens load data. What kind of fps are you getting? I only had 2733 on a BL-2C load per their 2730.n However I was only about .020 off the lands.

[charlie b]

2800fps from the 22" barrel.

Sierra doesn't have data for 77gn in a bolt gun but they show 25.3gn Varget for the 80gn SMK at 2900fps in a 24" barrel.

[tomme boy]

you don't need to seat the bullet out. Waste of time