Savage Axis XP Compact 7mm-08 Left Hand 20″ — Superb Youth Deer Rifle

Description

This is the rifle for the shooter nobody builds for. Left handed, small framed, and after a deer cartridge that will not beat them up — the Savage Axis XP Compact in 7mm-08 covers all three at once. It has a shortened length of pull, a true left-hand action, a threaded 20 inch barrel and a 3-9×40 scope mounted and bore sighted.

What Compact Actually Changes

A compact rifle is not simply a shorter rifle. The change that matters is length of pull — the distance from the trigger to the butt — and getting it wrong is the single most common reason young and smaller-framed shooters develop bad habits. Too long a stock forces the shooter to stretch, which pulls the head off the comb, breaks the cheek weld and makes recoil land on the arm rather than the shoulder.

The Savage Axis XP Compact shortens the stock to fit, which means a young shooter mounts the rifle properly from the first day rather than learning to compensate. The stock can be built back up with spacers as they grow, and because Axis stocks are inexpensive, moving to a full-length one later costs very little.

Specifications

• Model: Savage Axis XP Compact, left hand
• Caliber: 7mm-08 Remington
• Barrel: 20 in, threaded
• Action: bolt action, left hand
• Stock: black synthetic, compact length of pull
• Finish: black
• Optic: 3-9×40 riflescope, mounted and bore sighted
• Configuration: XP package

A word on growing into a rifle. The usual advice is to buy a full-size gun and let a child grow into it, and it is usually wrong — a rifle that does not fit teaches poor technique that persists long after the shooter is big enough for it. A compact stock now and a full-length stock in three years costs less than the shooting habits picked up in between. Savage Axis stocks are widely available and straightforward to change.

Why it is worth considering

• Compact length of pull, so a smaller shooter mounts the rifle properly
• True left-hand action, not a mirrored stock on a right-hand receiver
• 7mm-08, enough cartridge for any deer with genuinely mild recoil
• Threaded 20 inch barrel
• 3-9×40 scope mounted and bore sighted at the factory
• Stock can be replaced with a full-length one as the shooter grows

Who it suits

The Savage Axis XP Compact in 7mm-08 is aimed at a young or smaller-framed left-handed hunter, which is about as underserved as the market gets. It also suits an adult of shorter stature who has spent years shooting rifles that do not fit. If the shooter is already full grown and right handed, the standard Axis XP costs the same and fits better.

Ammunition, Optics and Transfer

7mm-08 factory ammunition is widely available in 120 to 154 grain loads. For a young shooter, the lighter 120 to 140 grain hunting loads keep recoil down while remaining entirely adequate for deer; 140 grain is the sensible all-round choice. The threaded muzzle takes a brake, which is worth considering if recoil sensitivity is the main concern, though this cartridge in this rifle is already gentle.

The supplied scope is mounted and bore sighted rather than zeroed, so a range session before the season is essential — and with a new shooter that session is worth having anyway. Manufacturer information is published by Savage Arms. Compare with the full-size 6.5 Creedmoor and the straight-wall 400 Legend versions, browse our full Savage Arms range, or the rifle catalog.

All firearm orders ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and MAG5 Firearms will coordinate the paperwork with the dealer of your choice.