The Axis XP Compact is Savage's entry point for new and smaller-framed hunters, and it is a genuinely capable rifle rather than a token starter gun. This one is chambered in .243 Winchester with a 20-inch barrel and ships with a mounted scope, so a first-time buyer is not left assembling a package. The .243 is the classic young hunter's cartridge: recoil light enough that shooters do not develop a flinch, but plenty of performance on whitetail, antelope, and coyotes. The shortened stock and barrel make it easy to handle from a blind or a shooting stick.

This firearm ships to your chosen FFL dealer for transfer. Order online from Dawson Defense, an Arizona-owned licensed dealer and importer.