Ruger American Rifle or Savage Axis?

mike94silverado · January 17, 2014

I'm looking at both rifles in either 308 or 270... I have a Browning BAR 30.06 that I don't want to take in the brush anymore in Canada... Both these rifles are well priced and similar anyone have experience with either?

BlackZ71Silverado · January 17, 2014

Both .308 & .270 are good calibers and I use both for whitetail deer. The .270 will give you a little extra distance if you are going to be shooting at longer ranger but are usually found in only 130 & 150gr. bullets.

The .270 is a little flatter shooting and faster round. The .308 can be had in a low recoil round for kids, 125gr. I think. Normal weights are 150-165-180gr. bullets so there is more of an ammo selection there. I have killed deer out to 200yds with both without issue. I have also killed a bear with a .308 with Core-Lok 180gr. bullets. Never took the .270 for bear so no experience there. If I were you, I would go with the .308 since you already have a .30 caliber with the 30-06. The .308 may serve your needs a little better than the .270 depending on the game you are hunting. Tough choice but I would grab the .308 now, and a .270 later.

IMO The Ruger would be the better rifle. I am not a fan of the Savage action or their trigger. The Ruger feels like a better balanced rifle and is a good shooter. They also have great customer service if something were to go wrong. Never really had a good experience with Savage customer service. I bought an Axis for my nephew that had one of the scope mounting holes stripped out. The response from Savage was abuse, the rifle was brand new never fired. Ruger gets my vote.

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KMGZ400 · January 17, 2014

I agree with above.. But the savage is still a decent gun for what it is.. I have a savage 30-06 as a beater gun and it shoots straight and has been durable. and was dirt cheap... 345 bucks at a gun show, can go wrong with that

kstruckcountry · January 17, 2014

I have a Savage 111 .30-06. It's very accurate and was a steal. The accutrigger is sweet.

mike94silverado · January 18, 2014

My first new Rifle was a Savage 110 .243 (still have it, I don;t sell my guns just accumulate lol) I went and looked closer at both rifles today the Ruger feels like a nicer gun.... I just need to decide on the Caliber.... My Dad went with for something to do and have his horribly inaccurate but beautiful and immaculate condition 1969 Winchester Model 100 appraised.... for $140 and that winchester he's been cursing at for years he walked out with the .308 and a Nikon scope lol