Savage Axis 30-06, im not shooting it well..

[Joelb58]

Hello-

I am somewhat new to shooting a rifle so I apologize in advance if my questions are dumb. Out today with my savage axis 30-06 that I received as a gift. My second time shooting it...

Shooting at 100 yards using a caldwell front and rear rest. Shooting 180 grain remington core lokts for the majority of the shots, some nosler trophy grade 180s for the rest.

First shot was well off the target, I chalked this up to some oil being in barrel from last cleaning.

I then proceeded to shoot roughly 35 shots in a 1 hour period. They were roughly inline with where I was aiming. Groups were not great but 95% would be kill shots on a bear (I am getting ready for a spring hunt).

Anyway, as I approached my 40th shot, the bullets started flying well off target. Placement was erratic and groups were nowhere near "groups". Someone suggested this might have been from the barrel heating up (it was 40 degrees outside). Is that a possible explanation?

I really do not think I was doing anything to change my tactics and still shooting from the rest.

I will note that I left my scope caps off as I was tweaking the scope and placing my non shooting hand on top of the scope for support. Perhaps my hand mistakingly knocked the scope adjuster after one shot and threw my zero off?

Thanks...

 

[mrbofus]

Hello-

I am somewhat new to shooting a rifle so I apologize in advance if my questions are dumb. Out today with my savage axis 30-06 that I received as a gift. My second time shooting it...

Shooting at 100 yards using a caldwell front and rear rest. Shooting 180 grain remington core lokts for the majority of the shots, some nosler trophy grade 180s for the rest.

First shot was well off the target, I chalked this up to some oil being in barrel from last cleaning.

I then proceeded to shoot roughly 35 shots in a 1 hour period. They were roughly inline with where I was aiming. Groups were not great but 95% would be kill shots on a bear (I am getting ready for a spring hunt).

Anyway, as I approached my 40th shot, the bullets started flying well off target. Placement was erratic and groups were nowhere near "groups". Someone suggested this might have been from the barrel heating up (it was 40 degrees outside). Is that a possible explanation?

I really do not think I was doing anything to change my tactics and still shooting from the rest.

I will note that I left my scope caps off as I was tweaking the scope and placing my non shooting hand on top of the scope for support. Perhaps my hand mistakingly knocked the scope adjuster after one shot and threw my zero off?

Thanks...

Well it will be interesting to get other opinions here but I will fisrt say IMO that 40 round in 1 hour from an 06 in alot.
Yes you probably heated up the barell and quite possible were flinching with each shoot.What size target? what were the groups? 1-2-3-4 inch? how many rounds per group?
what scopes? are the scope mounts tight?

Try it again after cleaning the rifle and shot 3 or 4- 3 shot groups with a minute or 2 between each shot and then see what it looks like.
The AXIS with factory ammo should shoot 2" or better and you may have to try different brands of ammo, some rifles like 1 flavor better than another.
Dont shoot to much in one session. When you start getting frustrated its time to step away for awhile.

Just my opinions

PS. any good quality 140 gr bullet should be more than enough for Bear out of the 7/08

 

[Deleted member 48126]

How hot was the barrel? It could gotten fouled up since sporter, factory barrels don't react well to fouling like custom barrels. Is the barrel free floated? A pressure point on the barrel from the stock can cause that as well.

 

[gohring3006]

I was at the range a week ago I have a TC venture 3006 was there for three hours, I had a pile of brass when I was done (at least I thought ) when I got home I counted 28 pieces and I thought that was a bunch for three hours of shooting I personally think you wasn't letting your barrel cool down long enough with a sporter barrel try some 165s in it it might do better or it might do better with 150s every rifle is different I will say this the savage axis is a great rifle if your on a budget but it could use a little help in the trigger dept.also if it come with a scope already attached after 40 rounds it could have loosened up so I would check it and the action screws its a production line gun and u don't know if the production worker was hung over or what but I think your probably heating the barrel

 

[mitch260]

I agree with the barrel being over heated if you really did shoot that much.

I have experience with 2 savage axis's, one in .22-250 and one in .223. Both are exceptional shooters. The .22-250 shoots sub 3/8 MOA at 100 yards with factory ammo or hand loads. the .223 will do 1/2 MOA all day long with factory ammo as well. I have been very impressed with the accuracy for a $300 gun.

 

[Joelb58]

Ok thank you everyone

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I had an axis in '06 a couple of years ago and it was a fair rifle. It would hold moa without much work at 100 yards. I wouldn't hold the scope when you shoot as it will likely induce a cant as the rifle is fired; you may also accidentally adjust your scope if the caps are off. As you said the rifle was shooting worse towards the end of the shooting session, I suspect either barrel fouling or shooter fatigue.
I personally wouldn't run 40 rounds through many of my rifles in an hour as heat can become an issue quickly (especially my overbore 7mm's), and I usually clean after every box or two. That said, I ran at least a couple of hundred rounds through a Ruger '06 in an afternoon once to burn off ammo before I traded it, and the rifle would dump ten rounds into less than 2" at 100 yards rapid fire at the tail end of the run.

 

[Joelb58]

thank you.