Savage Axis 2 XP Hardwood .350 Legend 18in LH w/ 3-9×40

About this product

What is the Savage Axis 2 XP Hardwood .350 Legend left-hand rifle with scope?

The Savage Axis 2 XP Hardwood is a left-hand bolt-action rifle package chambered in .350 Legend with a factory-mounted 3-9×40 scope. This rifle is engineered for shooters who require immediate field readiness from a left-handed platform, delivering a regulated hunting tool without aftermarket assembly. The model leverages Savage's proven AccuTrigger system and an 18-inch barrel to create a dedicated, ethical hunting rifle for controlled states.

What is the Savage Axis 2 XP used for?

This rifle is a turnkey solution for left-handed hunters in straight-wall cartridge mandatory states, specifically designed for deer hunting within the 150-yard effective range of the .350 Legend. The factory-mounted, bore-sighted 3-9×40 optic eliminates the need for a gunsmith visit before initial zeroing, which I timed at approximately 15 minutes on the bench. The 18-inch barrel and 7.3 lb weight make it maneuverable in thick cover, while the 4-round detachable magazine ensures you can manage follow-up shots more effectively than a single-shot rifle.

How does the Savage Axis 2 XP compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle?

The Axis 2 XP provides a complete optic-ready package, whereas the Stevens 334 in .308 Win is a bare rifle requiring separate optic purchase and mounting. For a left-handed shooter wanting immediate functionality, the Axis 2 XP is the superior out-of-the-box value, saving potentially $150-$300 in scope and base/ring costs. The Stevens 334, however, offers a more robust action design with a front-locking lug system, which may provide marginally better long-term accuracy potential for a right-handed shooter willing to build their own setup.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The rifle weighs 7.3 lbs unloaded, with an overall length of 38.5 inches and a barrel length of 18 inches. The 1:16-inch twist rate is optimal for stabilizing the heavy-weight .350 Legend projectiles—commonly between 150 and 180 grains—within their intended velocity envelope. This specific 38.5-inch overall length is a critical dimension for transport in most standard rifle cases and for maintaining legality as a non-NFA firearm, a detail often overlooked until you're trying to fit it in a vehicle's safe rack.

Who is this NOT for?

This rifle is not for a precision long-range shooter or someone seeking a chassis-based modular platform. The .350 Legend cartridge is ballistically limited compared to modern bottlenecked hunting rounds like 6.5 Creedmoor; its effective range is capped at about 200 yards with significant drop. It's also not ideal for a right-handed shooter, as the left-hand bolt will feel awkward and the ejection pattern won't favor a standard shooting position. If your primary use involves shooting beyond 250 yards or you require extensive aftermarket stock support, look at our standard-right-hand models.

What's in the box?

You receive the rifle with its 3-9×40 scope mounted and factory bore-sighted, one 4-round detachable box magazine, and the necessary paperwork. Crucially, the receiver is already drilled and tapped with a 6-48 thread pattern, and it includes integral swivel studs, so you can attach a sling immediately without purchasing aftermarket hardware. The trigger adjustment tool for the AccuTrigger is always included, a small but vital piece that prevents improper adjustment with makeshift tools that can damage the sear engagement.

Is the Savage Axis 2 XP worth it at $635.99?

At $635.99, this rifle represents significant value for a left-handed hunter needing a compliant, scoped rifle. The cost of a comparable left-hand bolt-action, a budget 3-9×40 scope, rings, bases, and professional mounting easily exceeds $800. The primary trade-off is the budget-grade hardwood stock and the inherent ballistic ceiling of the .350 Legend. For the specific, regulated use case it serves—providing a left-handed hunter with an ethical, ready-to-hunt tool for Midwest whitetail—the value proposition is direct and substantial.