Bought the Savage Axis yesterday and fired it for the first time at the gun range today. It is my first rifle. The scope was way off (like by a foot to the left and a foot up), but the guy at the range did the bore-scoping on it and showed me how to tweak the two wheels on the scope. After a few more adjustments of my own, I started hitting dead center on the target from the 50 yard distance. So proud of myself and this rifle :). Only cost me $329 with the scope, so I think it is a great value. If a rookie like me can hit dead center at 50 yards the first time with this low-cost rifle, I don't understand why people would ever buy the really expensive ones. I am sure the Ruger is another great option, but I can't speak for it since I never used one of them.

One reason one mag was easier than the other is because one was loaded and one wasn't that makes a bid difference

From the beginning it wasn't hard to detect your bias. Just looking at the scopes, it's obvious that the Ruger is your baby. You are more nit picky with the Savage and frequently give your Ruger the edge. That's all fine, you are entitled to your opinion and to share it. In the end it comes down to the buyer to make a choice but I've noticed that the Rugers have been going up in price and are running about $100 more than the Savages. I've thought about getting a Ruger and I have not a thing against them, but I know I can make my Savages shoot... really shoot. I got an Axis II in 6.5 Creedmoor that out of the box was "meh" okay. I did some filling in with epoxy to stiffen the fore end of the stock. Did a minimal action bedding job. Worked up hand loads for it. And it shoots ho-hum Mid South bullets at 1/3 MOA. Hornady SSTs get 1/4 MOA. I could probably do the same with the Ruger and I may yet because most folks give them good grades on accuracy. Although I don't own one yet, I don't get into picking nits and would rate them about the same... as long as I could obtain the same accuracy from the Ruger because that is MY bottom line.

I went with the savage axis XP II. A ton more features for nearly same price as the original axis. The adjustable accu-trigger is killer.

Got a Savage axis 243 that shoots half moa with hand loads. Bought it used for 240 bucks, can’t beat that. I agree the stock is more “flimsy”.

Excellent analysis! Both rifles are fine for entry level and for a person with some interest, skills and willingness to spend for upgrade many of the production limitations can be rectified. The shooting performance of both is the critical factor, they hit where they are aimed. The Ruger can be a pretty quick upgrade by polishing the bolt, even simply as working it with lapping compound will likely take those machining ribs off that you hear when cycling the bolt. Trigger work would be in order for the Ruger but that would not be too far out of reason as many discerning rifle shooters have triggers worked. The Savage would be a more difficult upgrade. Trigger work would be much needed. The stock is just about a need of replacement with something more substantial....either a composite with more beef or a custom wood stock with some provision for a new trigger guard adapted from another rifle....a costly modification and not economically feasable unless the owner had the skills to invest. If the fore end was the only problem with the Savage you could fill that channel with gel acraglass and stiffen it up nicely. Perhaps there is a way to strengthen the area of the stock around the tang with some metal inserts to beef up that area too...but there goes a lot of time and money unless the owner is self capable to do those mods. My pick hands down would be the Ruger...that three lug short throw bolt lock up is desirable.

I tried out both guns, settling on the savage, both are good entry level rifles but the savage has better accuracy, which in the end was the deciding factor

I own a Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor and a Savage .308 I really can't say anything bad about any of them. I must of got a great Savage because its real tight in the stock and the safety. All I can say is when you do buy a weapon check it out before taking it home. I read before taking home the Ruger the stock issues it had and the gun gods were good to me on that purchase as well. I see people grab a weapon and just pint in the air. Look at the build people each gun needs to be gone threw inspection before taking home.

Seems to me he is a bit biased towards the Ruger from the start. That being said, I am a lover of Ruger firearms and like just about anything Ruger puts out.

I have both . I have a Ruger American 450 and savage axis 350. Love them both . Have taken multiple deer with both. So to me they are both great tools

Great overview of both rifles. I went with the 6.5 Creedmoore. Axis Xp

I have the Ruger Predator in 6.5 Creedmore and it is a tack driver. Can't go wrong with the Predator. Deer, coyotes, hogs have fallen to this Ruger. The problem I have is deciding on which rifle goes with me to the pasture, Remington 700 in 270, Winchester 70 in 30-06, or the Ruger 6.5. Nice problem to have.

On the Savage I installed a CARBO trigger kit ($20) and dropped pull weight to 2 1/4 #.