Meet the Axis 2 Pro
The newbie looks nothing like the basic black synthetic Axis rifles that first set a standard for the ultimate in bare-bones affordability for bolt actions. No sir, this is not that rifle. The Axis 2 Pro wears a redesigned, more ergonomically friendly synthetic stock with a vertical pistol grip, ambidextrous palm swells, and modern texturing.
The bolt handle has been enhanced and improved. Metalwork is now coated in Gun Metal Bronze Cerakote. A one-piece 0-MOA Picatinny rail comes standard, as do inset sling studs, a threaded muzzle, and user-adjustable AccuTrigger. Other popular Savage features remain, including the detachable magazine and thread-in headspacing.
Axis 2 Pro Variants
At the time of this writing, Savage catalogs five current production versions of the Axis, with the 2 Pro sitting atop the heap. Listed here with their MSRPs, you’ll notice that no standard Axis remains, nor the Axis II (Roman numeral) versions:
- Axis XP, $479
- Axis 2, $489
- Axis 2 XP, $549
- Axis 2 XP Hardwood, $689
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Axis 2 Pro, $629
The 2 Pro series already offers a trio of finish combinations, pairing that Gun Metal Bronze Cerakote with either Savage Woodland, Savage Western, or Forest SP camouflage synthetic stock schemes. In an especially thoughtful move, both Compact and Left-Handed variants launched simultaneously. Depending on the model, retail pricing ranges from $599 to $629, with real-world prices lower still.
The list of chamberings, already only a handful of months after the launch, is extensive: .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 6mm ARC, .25-06 Rem, 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .350 Legend, and .400 Legend. The only exclusions that might be noted by hunters are common magnums like the .300 and 7mm classes.
Test Rifle
Our test rifle came in a chambering commonly overlooked these days. We were pleased to see the .25-06 option, especially on a young budget gun from Savage. It wears a 20-inch heavy sporter threaded barrel, and both receiver and barrel are built from carbon steel.
Exterior spiral fluting, along with the Cerakote, adds to aesthetic appeal and practicality in durability and cooling rate. With suppressor ownership on the rise, the 5/8x24 threading makes suppressed shooting a breeze. The dropbox magazine holds four rounds of .25-06.
Though the stock is molded similarly to the customizable Ergo furniture, LOP on our Axis Pro is fixed and measures 13.75 inches to the end of the rubber butt pad. The adjustable AccuTrigger found on several other Axis models, as well as Savage’s vaunted 110 series, remains here. User-adjustable from 2.5-6 pounds, our test rifle’s trigger broke at a hair over 3 pounds out of the box. The gun tips the scales at 6.8 pounds bare.
Accuracy Testing
The Axis 2 Pro had our attention from outward appearances, features, and feel, but all that is window dressing without performance to match. To that end, we mounted a quality optic in the new Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44.
Though many overlook the aged .25-06 chambering, ammunition is still plentiful and readily available. We hit the range with a healthy mix of options, including: DoubleTap 100-grain SC-THP, Nosler 100-grain Partition, Remington Core-Lokt 120-grain JSP, Federal Premium 117-grain Sierra Game King, and Hornady American Whitetail 117-grain Interlock. We worked with and without a suppressor, opting for the direct-thread Banish 30. Regardless of the configuration, firing the mild .25-06 is pleasant, especially in this Axis 2 Pro.
Knowing Savage’s ability to wring above-average accuracy from relatively inexpensive rifles, we expected minute-of-deer-heart repeatability. Instead, we found group after group at or sub-MOA.
Whether shooting suppressed or standard, the 2 Pro performs. Its favorite loads came out as the Double Tap 100-grain Lead Free and Federal Premium tipped with Sierra Game Kings, followed closely by Hornady’s American Whitetail, but realistically, we wouldn’t hesitate to take any of our test loads hunting.
Field Notes
Almost everything about the new Savage Axis 2 Pro hits above its price point. The aesthetic, adjustable trigger, chambering listings, snappy modern camo patterns, and most important, the accuracy. The ergonomics of the stock, with its more angular pistol grip, forend width, and comb alignment, is a marked improvement over past iterations of Axis models. The bottom line is a Pro model that looks, feels, and shoots like a far pricier rifle.
If there’s any room for improvement, it would be with the stock. To be fair, this is completely nitpicky and not actually expected on any Axis model, but although the buttstock appears to have the removable spacer setup, it’s just molded decoration.
Savage’s 110 family of bolt guns – all at considerably higher price points – offer this. If this rifle had that system, it would be unstoppable, but that’s also an unrealistic wish on a budget-priced rig. The compact Axis 2 Pro models offer an abbreviated 12.75-inch LOP.
A Successful Hunting Rig
We enjoyed range time with our Axis 2 Pro so much that we took it on a Midwest whitetail hunt and lucked into harvesting one of the biggest bucks we’d ever seen in the wild. One well-placed .25-06 round took out both lungs, and the trophy was down in less than 20 yards.
Before and since, we’ve been singing the praises of that Savage Axis 2 Pro rifle, .25-06 chambering, and Vortex Viper HD scope as a winning combination.
Final Thoughts
Savage’s Axis 2 Pro looks and feels the part of a serious hunting rifle. Better yet, it backs that up with real-world performance. The chambering offerings are extensive, features practical and impressive for the cost, and most of all, the rifle is accurate beyond expectations.
