I've stopped hunting with my mil surplus rifles. I got the axis in 223 and it's a tac driver but the bolt handle is a pain opening right up against the scope. Looking to get a 6.5 for larger game and can't decide on the axis for $250 or the XPR for just under $400. Anyone own the XPR?

Go with the winchester

look at the Mossberg patriot predator while you are there , spits the difference some for price but has a nicer feeling bolt and handle while still having a nice trigger and shooting very well. also the predator is threaded muzzle and takes a break very nicely

the Howa /Weatherby and Ruger are also 60* bolt throw

I own the xpr in 30.06 and it out shoots me . I'm not at all a good shooter but I can consistantly shoot 3" groups at 200 yards with factory Remington cor lokt.

I wouldn't put down your shooting if you can hold 1.5 moa with corelocks

Don't get the XPR if you like to eat heart. I also have the XPR in .30-06 and it's a heck of a shooter for a factory gun. I had sub-moa groups when I sighted it in with factory ammo. Killed 4 deer with it in 2 years, all the hearts looked like this...

Both will work.

The winchester is on sale right now so the patriot and xpr are the same price. For some reason the fluting on the patriot bugs me. 60* is what I really want I think. I just found the ruger american predator with threaded barrel for $365 used but it says it has the old style mag. What does that mean? Where there problems?

That's my favorite part!

You are certainly right. And I just found the savage on sale for $189 with no scope. Would be a great canoe gun. The new stocks look like they got rid of the weak spot in the wrist too. Wish I didn't hate the bolt or it would be a no brainer.

I have no knowledge of the Winchester. I love my savages. Tak drives, I have shot Browning and like them also.

right now I am seeing the XPR for 469

the Moss Patriot predator for 369

the things that made the Mossberg a better value to me were ,
1. threaded muzzle my 308 hardly recoils with the brake on it

2.the rail over the entire action I was going to have to buy one any way for any gun I bough

3 the big bolt handle

4. the 5 round magazine not really a deal breaker over the 3 for hunting but there was a particular shoot I wanted to use it for that needed the ability to easily load 5 rounds .



the bolt fluting didn't do anything for me one way or the other , it is there maybe it helps , if nothing else it doesn't hurt any thing.

the bolt design is extremely easy to break down and clean unlike a Remington.

I looked at the XPR the ,and at the time the clickyness of the safety bothered me seems minor but it seemed so loud with no way to quietly disengage ont he one I tried , but with as similar as so many of these rifles are it is the little things that make it or break it over another for each person , they can all be right for the right person.





my goal with the Moss Patriot Predator was a 8 pound or less rifle ready to hunt , cheek bag , brake, optic, sling everything but ammo, I missed by 2 ounces I could make it if I swapped out the cheek rest bag for a lighter option but I like they storage and it feels good at 8 pounds 2 ounces


for you savage guys who would like a different bolt handle , there are a few places making them and all it requires is disassembly of the bolt , you can get the swept back , longer , bigger knob , knurled lots of options.

I could live with the flutes. Looks are secondary for me. The patriot does loom like a solid rifle, not sure why the prices are high around me. I looked into the glades armory bolt. I may get one eventually but the Mainer in me just can't spend $65 on a bolt handle for a $198 gun.

then try this first https://www.hornady.com/shop/accessories/shooting-accessories/lock-n-load-bolt-ball
5 dollars is a lot easier to take and I like the one I have on a different Mossberg rifle , it does just what I needed it to

So the reason the patriot is $385 is it's the Synthetic Cerakote version. Might be worth the few extra dollars.

my Patriot Predator is not the cerocoat version but I almost went that way , at the time they were 365 and 442 as I recall prices change but that is what my local dealer quoted me last October

if the cerocoat weather guard version is now only 20 dollar more rather than 75 I would do it .

for 75 I had a hard time justifying it.