Is the Axis an Axis II model? Does it have the plastic stock or the wooden one? Did it come with a factory scope and mounts? Was it previously owned? How long has it been since it left the factory?
I experienced the very same zeroing issues with my own Axis II 30-06 Long action, but the action length is not the issue.
The scope mounting was faulty, and this was a design flaw at the time. The Kaspa scope was also very cheap quality and could have been a factor as well. No matter how I tried to adjust it, no zeroing effort was a success. I was ready to throw in the towel and sell it; but is decided to get down to basics and fix the problem outright because it grated against my character to just dump a problem on someone else. Another might have just sold it to someone unsuspecting and been done with it; and I wonder whether that's what happened to you.
First off, don't be getting angry at anyone; it was a very common problem back about a decade ago, and is not so unusual with lowest-price-point rifles. You get what you pay for. Nobody was expecting something as basic as a design flaw and it went undiagnosed by most people.
Next, don't go off the deep end puzzling out what to do about it. The mounts could use an upgrade no matter what else is going on, and dropping big bucks on a minimalist rifle is poor economics. Lower grade mounts and rings will not compete with the top tier stuff, but they
will resolve a faulty design issue.
Here's what I did, and I am probably Cheapskate Number One here on The 'Hide.
I started with
a decent but affordable scope base. Then, some
inexpensive rings from a respected producer. These are not the items I used, but they are in the same category. The base provides a mounting slope of 20MOA, which is suitable for the 6.5 Creedmore. Remove the scope and base(s?) that came with the rifle (I'm assuming it is a 40-44mm objective and a 1" tube). Reinstall the scope with the items I've suggested, following the instructions included with the new parts. They usually provide the proper wrenches and fasteners. Install things quite tight, but don't go Gorilla on the screws (I.e., don't strip the screws). When you tighten down the scope ring caps, give a care to getting the cross hairs relatively level and the scope about as far forward in the rings as you can while still having the scope tube fitting neatly into the rings. If you put the eye to the scope while holding the rifle properly and the picture looks dark around the edges, the scope is too far forward.
No matter what else you do, getting a functional base and rings onto the rifle is essential. Getting the rifle functional comes first; perfection comes later. With the expected luck, this should solve the zeroing problem.
I know this sort of 'gunsmithing' may seem daunting at first, but it's really not all that hard to do. I'm also making a number of assumptions about you and your gear, but I'm erring on the side of keeping it simple while still getting the improvement we seek. There's also a lot of excellent advice in the posts above as well. I just think it's best to keep it simple, affordable, and basic at the very beginning.
Give the rifle a try at zeroing again.
If still no joy, the scope becomes the next thing to address. This being your first personally owned rifle, I assume the only scope you own is the one that came on it, and at this point, it could also be a part of the problem. Still keeping this simple and inexpensive, it's time to shop for a scope.
It's decision time. Is this rifle going to be a larger game hunter, or will varmints and target shooting be the main objective? Two choices,
Bigger Game, or
Varmint. Note that the 3-9 scope mentioned here already comes with rings. These are low tier items, but they work well enough. I actually shot 1000yd F Open competition with the Varmint scope for a couple of years. It got me on the target and kept me there just fine over all that time. Simply replace the existing scope with the new one just the same as above.
As first rifles go, this about as much as you really want to be doing right now. If things aren't working perfectly; get some local help from an experienced shooter. Have them go over the scope mounting, setting anything right that's off kilter; then spend your time on practice, and your money on some decent, but not exquisite, ammunition.
Getting off on the right foot about the marksmanship task is also the right thing to start out with right off the bat.
This is a genuine step in the right direction. For what it's worth, Frank Galli is the head Honcho here at Snipers' Hide; and the book is about his life's work.
Greg