Savage Axis II XP 7mm-08 Rem Bolt-Action Rifle with Bushnell Scope

I've had several Savage rifles over the years and a couple of the Axis. This rifle is as accurate as any other Savage that I owned, MOA groups using Nosler Accubonds. I really like the new stock design over the old Axis stock. The stock still has the same amount of flex as the old one, but the ergonomics are much better. However, the stock is quite slippery with very little tactile feel.
 The Bushnell Banner scope is ok at best, but its a $70 scope so you can't expect much. The problem is that the scope doesn't provide enough eye relief to us as-is on the rifle without really stretching your neck to get a good sight picture. I don't blame Bushnell, I blame Savage for putting together a package that is basically useless. I had to swap out the factory bases for a picatinny rail base from Weaver to be able to move the scope back far enough to get a comfortable shooting position.
 Overall, the rifle is good, but the package is poorly executed. The Weaver Kaspa that came with the old Axis rifles offered a much more useful package. Buy the rifle, but be ready to swap bases and/or scopes right away. The TC Compass package with the Vortex Crossfire or Copperhead is a much better investment in my opinion. I wish Savage offered a Vortex package, but I understand they have to keep everything in the Vista Outdoors family.