I am considering buying a .223 rifle for practice and to carry on the RTV. I am considering the Ruger American, Savage Axis, and the T/C Compass. Any experience, pros/cons, from any of you that own one or have been around one. Thanks.
I've got a ruger american predator in 308. I put a vortex 4-12x40 on it. It's a great rifle for the money.
I won a stainless steel synthetic Savage Axis chambered in .270 from Ducks Unlimited a few years ago and I have been pretty impressed. Cleaned and polished the bolt a little and it's been smooth as butter cycling cartridges. Light weigh and easy to maintain and for sub $400 you don't mind taking it into the bush and using it. I would be interested in the Axis II as Savage added an adjustable trigger on the new model. Mine came with glass but I upgraded that. Took this 10 pointer this past fall.
Ruger American ranch. I have a Ruger American predator in 308 and it is a great rifle so far. The bolt is a little scratchy out of the box but is wearing in nicely.
Cousin in Wisconsin bought a Savage Axis in .223 several years ago.Broke in the barrel then was at a shooting range one day when another guy wanted to shoot against him with a "better rifle".Cousin outshot him. My son has a 783 Remington in .270.Plenty accurate for him and he's kind of particular about guns which shoot where you aim.
I would say the ruger.. yes I shot one made near Lebanon NH.. lots of time workers buy them on employee discount and sell them cheap and buy a new model..
After a ton of research on the net, I went with a Savage Axis (one for me and one for the wife). We got the Accutriggers, money very well spent imho. Also came with Weaver 3x9x40 scopes mounted. $327 each out the door of my local FFL, from Cheaper Than Dirt a few years ago. Most everyone reports sub MOA accuracy with factory ammo. I've never shot any factory ammo in them, but the first and only lead I've tried (Vmax), on top of the first and only powder (H335), produced ~5/8 inch groups out of both guns at 100 yards. Prairie dogging machines. A friend has a Ruger American.308. It shoots about 1 1/4 " groups with factory ammo. Not sure how many different kinds of ammo he's tried. Nothing wrong with that.
I bought my brother an axis is .223 it clover leafs with brown bear ammo. The axis is by far the more accurate rifle out of the three suggested. I've been oh so close to buying a axis II in 6.5 with a heavy barrel.....An easy 1k yard sub moa rifle. For just plinking.... Anything works. For what you want literally any rifle will do.
My buddy has two of these, one in 7mm and one in .308. I've shot them and they are nice once you put better glass on top.
Thanks for the comments. I've handled them-just can't warm up to the Remington. I'm sure those Savages are shooters-I have an American Classic in .250 Savage-and I got 1" groups with the first ammo I loaded for it, haven't even really worked with it.
Savage is known for excellent accuracy with their button rifled barrels. Add a great adjustable trigger and it all makes for a pretty reasonable, but good rifle. Sent from my Z832 using Tapatalk
That AC in .250 savage is the bees knees. Got one myself and it shoots lights out. Remmy 100gr sp, HSM 100gr hornady sp and gamekings.
The #1 thing I tell folks when they ask me about which gun to get is, "which one feels the best in your hands?" If a rifle or shotgun, I also add, which one feels good against your shoulder- ultimately if it feels comfortable to you, you'll enjoy shooting it, and shoot it well. For price, Savage led the way for years with an accurate, good quality rifle that was all-inclusive, i.e. included the mounting rings, scope, etc. Some other manufacturers have since added lower-priced models too which include scope/hardware.
I still believe that savage leads the way in the entry level rifle category. Ruger has closed the gap with the American. I have a few Americans for crappy rain days and they shoot good. My buddy has one in 30-06 that drives tacks but also kicks like a mule. I have a savage axis II with accutrigger and wood stock in 25-06 that shoots really well. The plastic stock guns are great for crappy weather when you don't want to take your babies out in the elements! Ive found myself purchasing more and more of the budget rifles because I just want to leave the nice valuable ones in the safe to look at every once in a while.
