• Savage Axis Firing Pin Variations Explained

    Since the introduction of the Axis in 2010, Savage Arms has made several revisions to the design of the firing pin and the firing pin spring. The original design featured a heavier firing pin as well as a one-piece firing pin spring. This original design worked extremely well and provided sufficient energy to reliably ignite primers.

    The second generation firing pin was lightened up slightly and the firing pin spring as changed to a three-piece design that works out to a 22-lb. spring rate. This design change resulted in an issue where some users (10-15%) would experience light primer strikes that wouldn't always ignite the chambered round due to insignificant impact energy being delivered.

    The current third generation firing pin was lightened up even more and has a noticeably different appearance to it - specifically at the front of the firing pin. Savage also updated the firing pin spring to a new 28-lb spring (green) to eliminate the aforementioned light primer strike issue associated with the second generation parts. This new heavier green spring is roughly about 1/4-inch longer than the previous spring, which when combined with it's heavier weight results in an extremely stiff bolt lift when installed (even more so than the first and second generation designs which weren't the lightest to start with.

    The video below from Desh Industries provides a good visual depiction and explanation of these changes to the Axis bolt components over the years. More information about Desh Ind. andd the products they offer can be found on their website: https://deshind.com/




    Comments 5 Comments
    1. prdatr's Avatar
      prdatr -
      My Axis is a 2017 model so I wonder if it has the one piece spring. Bolt lift is easy and I have not experienced any light primer strikes.
    1. J.Baker's Avatar
      J.Baker -
      I highly doubt it. Savage has been using the 3-piece spring setup since probably 2013-14 at least. Not all guns experience the light strikes issue, so apparently you were smiled upon during the luck of the draw with your Axis.
    1. wbm's Avatar
      wbm -
      Can the 3-piece be replaced with the original?
    1. J.Baker's Avatar
      J.Baker -
      Quote Originally Posted by wbm View Post
      Can the 3-piece be replaced with the original?
      I would say only if you have the original style firing pin to go with it that would have come with the single spring. The firing pin that came with the first 3-pc spring arrangement looks similar, but was lightened a bit so putting a 1-pc spring on it may result in light primer strikes. The firing pin that's now being produced with the heavier 3-pc green spring is even lighter.
    1. Robinhood's Avatar
      Robinhood -
      Thanks for the article Jim. desh provided some good visuals also.