Ruger American Gen II vs Savage Axis II vs Mossberg Patriot

The deer camp economy

Walk through any deer camp in November and count the rifles. A few heirloom guns, a few custom builds, and then the real backbone of American hunting: plain synthetic-stocked bolt guns that cost less than the scope on top of them and somehow keep killing deer year after year.

The Ruger American, the Savage Axis and the Mossberg Patriot are the three big names in that class. Each maker has updated its rifle since the first versions came out, and each has made different trade-offs to hit its price. Here's what each one gets right, what it skimps on, and who should buy it.

The quick comparison

Ruger American Gen II: the feature leader

Ruger's Generation II update reads like a list of things budget-rifle owners used to buy aftermarket. According to American Hunter's review, the Gen II stock adjusts for length of pull from 13.75 down to 12 inches and has an adjustable comb, so one rifle can fit a teenager now and an adult later. The barrel is cold hammer-forged, medium contour, spiral fluted, 20 inches long, and threaded at the muzzle with a radial-port brake. A one-piece Picatinny rail sits on top, which makes scope mounting simple.

The trigger is Ruger's Marksman Adjustable, set between 3 and 5 pounds. The bolt is machined from one piece of stainless steel with three lugs and a 70-degree throw, which gives more room between the bolt handle and a large scope. Ruger's own catalog page lists a long run of chamberings, from .223 Rem and 6.5 Creedmoor to .308 Win, .30-06, 7mm PRC and .300 Win Mag, plus straight-wall .350 Legend, .400 Legend and .450 Bushmaster.

What it gives up: It costs more than the plainest versions of its rivals, and the brake makes it louder for you and anyone near you. Remove or swap the brake only as the manual describes. And the short 20-inch barrel gives up a little velocity with some magnum cartridges, which matters less at woods ranges than at long range.

Buy it if: you want one rifle that fits different shooters, you plan to put a quality scope on a rail, or you want a threaded barrel from the factory.

Savage Axis II: the proven plain choice

The original Savage Axis came out in 2011 as a no-frills value rifle, and American Hunter notes it shipped without Savage's AccuTrigger. The Axis II fixed that, adding the user-adjustable AccuTrigger that made Savage's more expensive rifles famous. The Axis II XP version reviewed by American Hunter came with a detachable four-round box magazine, steel pillar bedding, a molded synthetic stock with a 13.75-inch length of pull and a soft recoil pad, and a 22-inch button-rifled carbon steel barrel with a 1:10 twist. The review also notes Savage headspaces each barrel with a gauge and lock nut during assembly, a precise way to set the chamber-to-bolt fit.

The AccuTrigger's AccuRelease blade, Savage explains, blocks the sear so the rifle can't fire if jarred or dropped, which is what lets the trigger itself be set lighter. Adjusting it means removing the stock (two action screws), using Savage's tool, then torquing the screws back to spec and confirming every safety position. If that sounds like more than you want to do, a gunsmith can set it.

What it gives up: The plain stock and basic looks. It's a working rifle, and it looks like one. Factory scope packages are convenient, but bundled scopes are usually basic; plan to upgrade the optic if you hunt at long distances or in low light.

Buy it if: you want a straightforward deer rifle with a good trigger, and you'd rather buy a packaged scope and go hunting than shop for parts.

Mossberg Patriot: the widest trigger range, and walnut

Mossberg's Patriot leans traditional. Mossberg lists its LBA (Lightning Bolt-Action) trigger as user-adjustable from 2 to 7 pounds, the widest range of the three. The barrel is fluted with a recessed match crown, the bolt is spiral-fluted, and the rifle feeds from a detachable drop-box magazine. Mossberg offers synthetic and walnut stocks; the walnut model's page lists a fixed 13.75-inch length of pull and a 1:8 twist in 6.5 Creedmoor. Threaded barrels appear on specific models, and Mossberg notes the threaded 11-degree crown is limited to 450 Bushmaster and magnum versions.

Mossberg also sells Patriot scoped combos with Vortex optics, plus Super Bantam scoped combos with a 20-inch barrel aimed at smaller shooters. If you want a nice-looking walnut rifle at a value price, the Patriot is the one of the three that delivers it.

What it gives up: The Patriot's ecosystem of aftermarket stocks and accessories is smaller than Ruger's or Savage's, and some models don't have the threaded barrel or rail you'll find on the Ruger. Check the specific model number for the features you want.

Buy it if: you want a rifle that looks like a classic hunting rifle, you value a wide trigger adjustment range, or you're buying for a smaller shooter and want a Super Bantam combo.

Where to look

None of these three had a dedicated product page we could confirm at Ammunition Depot when we checked, so the most useful starting point is the retailer's bolt-action rifle category, where you can filter by brand and caliber. Your local shop may also have them on the shelf, which lets you handle each one.

Feeding and outfitting it

Pick a cartridge with ammo you can actually buy. .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor hunting loads are widely available, and all three rifles are offered in both. Buy a few different loads and see which one your rifle groups best before season.

You'll also need a scope and mounts unless you buy a combo. The retailer's optic accessories section carries rings and mounts; match them to the rail or bases on your model. After mounting, follow our zero-and-verify guide, and if your groups wander, see why scopes lose zero before blaming the rifle.

How they differ in practice

• Fit: The Ruger's adjustable stock is the biggest real-world difference. If more than one person will shoot the rifle, it matters a lot.
• Optic plans: If you already own a good scope, the Ruger's rail is the cleanest mounting option. If you want a scope in the box, the Savage XP or a Patriot combo saves a step.
• Looks: Only the Patriot offers walnut in this group.
• Trigger: All three are adjustable. The Patriot has the widest range on paper; the Savage's AccuTrigger has the longest track record.
• Barrel: The Ruger's threaded, braked barrel helps with recoil but adds noise. The Savage's longer barrel on the XP gives a little more velocity.

The verdict

Store your rifle unloaded and locked, take a hunter education course if your state requires one, and check your state's hunting regulations for legal deer cartridges before you buy.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.