New to me Savage 111 in .270 WIN. Thoughts on ammo and glass

When you talk about your budget for a scope - are you paying retail? Any deals, like LE/First Responder? Nearly every optics company, like Leupold, or Vortex, even Trijicon, offer some form of LE/FR deal at about 40% off.

Palmetto State Armory often has great sales, and a bundle with a good mount - e.g. a 1-8 Strike Eagle with mount, for about $350. Great scope, I’ve bought a couple at that price, though it is not what I would recommend for your purpose however.

Vortex Diamondback, for example, is good glass in your price range. Get that LE/FR discount, and you can move up a spot in their line-up.

I’m a big Leupold fan, and the same logic applies - retail or discount?
 
Great rifle! Great cartridge!

I’m a Leupold guy so that’s always my first choice/recommendation for scopes. The VX line has some really good value entry level scopes for the money. I’ve had my VX 1 3x9 (now discontinued) for years and it’s never failed me.

Hornady and 130 is solid choice, but you really need to see how well it works for your rifle. 150 rounds of hunting ammo should last you quite a while. As long as accuracy is reasonable I’d go with it. I could probably get a decade out of that amount of hunting ammo.
 
Our customers seem to really like the Nosler 130gr. Ballistic Tip hunting round.. As for glass there are many, many good options on the market today. For entry level scopes on a rifle like that we have had good luck with Riton's offerings..
 
I've heard others talk about the importance of good mounts - what, in your opinion qualifies? What should I be looking for in a mount?
People sometimes recommend one piece bases over two piece, but that’s a misconception if the one piece only uses one of the rear mounting screws. Plain old aluminum Weaver bases are fine as long as you use name brand rings. I’ve never had a problem with Weaver, Leupold or Burris brand rings and bases.
 
Two separate bases will def give you extra clearance above chamber for when you may want to load a round in manually or if there are issues with ejection.
Weaver bases are usually cheaper but will not take accessories meant for Picatinny bases or rail. Picatinny bases or rail will take accessories meant for both - Weaver and Picatinny.
Even WM has a decent selection of bases, or at least they did in the past. Just make sure you don't get ones meant for giving you additional elevation.
 
I would love to reload - and will at some point. I have basically all the equipment (Dillon Progressive), including some dies, but no bullets, powder or primers. I have plenty of brass in the calibers I'm interested in and also lots of lead that I've melted into ingots, but haven't quite made the leap. I have a friend who will help me, but I have never made the time yet...

I will get some WipeOut and give the bore a thorough scrubbing and see how she looks. And that means that I now have an excuse to buy more goodies!

I don't do much here for firearms so please don't hesitate to PM. I load for about 16 rifle cartridges. For 270 single stage is the way to go but make no mistake, you have a great progressive press. Powders for 270are ok for a progressive. Mind you, I am a NUT for MOA or less in a rifle so I have a specific benchmark.

Keep saving the brass. Keep them separate for each rifle every time out in baggies. I have man rifles, and after learning the art of reloading, I almost never buy factory ammo. For handguns, I want factory ammo as I'm lazy in that realm. Rifle is a different world and a rifle is like a woman. Barrel built on the same day but a slight nuance you can only control by reloading and measuring makes her sing!
 
Two separate bases will def give you extra clearance above chamber for when you may want to load a round in manually or if there are issues with ejection.
Weaver bases are usually cheaper but will not take accessories meant for Picatinny bases or rail. Picatinny bases or rail will take accessories meant for both - Weaver and Picatinny.
Even WM has a decent selection of bases, or at least they did in the past. Just make sure you don't get ones meant for giving you additional elevation.
This rifle already has a rail across the ejection port so I don't think that clearance is an issue.
 
Been very pleased with my 270 for almost 15 years.
Switched out from basic Silvertip Winchester to Federal 150gr. which has been fine. Also bought Barnes vortex, but have yet to use them. I also had to readjust my Pentax scope, with the ammo change and the 270 is traditionally a flat shooter. Used both a Vortex 3-9 and my Pentax 4-12. The Vortex had slightly better glass, in my opinion.
 
When you talk about your budget for a scope - are you paying retail? Any deals, like LE/First Responder? Nearly every optics company, like Leupold, or Vortex, even Trijicon, offer some form of LE/FR deal at about 40% off.

Palmetto State Armory often has great sales, and a bundle with a good mount - e.g. a 1-8 Strike Eagle with mount, for about $350. Great scope, I’ve bought a couple at that price, though it is not what I would recommend for your purpose however.

Vortex Diamondback, for example, is good glass in your price range. Get that LE/FR discount, and you can move up a spot in their line-up.

I’m a big Leupold fan, and the same logic applies - retail or discount?
It will be at retail.

After reading cujet's reply on the side focus feature, I think that I'd like to stay with that - the cheapy Primary Arms scope on my AR has that feature and it seems kind of handy.

I know this is a bit above the price range that I listed, but what about THIS SCOPE?

To be honest, it's a bit bewildering the amount of options out there, especially since I'm a complete newbie at this.

EDIT: How does the above scope compare to THIS BURRIS SCOPE?
 
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Savage is a great platform for a switch barrel rifle, and a lot of people chamber pre-fit barrels for them. With some basic tools and watching a few YouTube videos you can switch calibers [that use the same bolt face] if you choose. It's a long action which imo is a plus for a switch barrel rifle.
 
It will be at retail.

After reading cujet's reply on the side focus feature, I think that I'd like to stay with that - the cheapy Primary Arms scope on my AR has that feature and it seems kind of handy.

I know this is a bit above the price range that I listed, but what about THIS SCOPE?

To be honest, it's a bit bewildering the amount of options out there, especially since I'm a complete newbie at this.

EDIT: How does the above scope compare to THIS BURRIS SCOPE?
The Diamondback is a solid choice. I have no experience with Burris. I'm sure both will serve you well. But you still have some work cut out for you once you choose.

The real key with any of those is to know the ballistics of your load - your "dope". Fancy reticles are great, but unless you can accurately judge the distance, and know exactly what your load does at that range (out to 400 yards, you said), the reticle doesn't matter.

In the higher end, Leupold will make you a custom dial, and you laser the range, dial the scope to that range, and you're dead on target.

Great feature, but it costs.

https://www.leupold.com/custom-dial-system-explained

This scope stretches your budget a bit, but allows for the CDS - https://www.leupold.com/vx-3hd-4-5-14x40-cds-zl-duplex-riflescope

$600 but it comes with a CDS. I would be very tempted to just go for that one.

Primary Arms has a range of products - the silver, then the gold, then the Platinum. I think they're all made in Japan. I've heard good things about the higher end - and I would consider them as well.

I think your choice (staying in budget) comes down to a reticle that allows you a 300 and 400 yard holdover aiming point. That's the range at which bullets, even a .270 which is pretty quick, start to really drop.
 
I've got this, but have yet to mount it so I can't really evaluate it yet. Midway also has a Vortex Viper HS-T 6-24x 50mm for $384.99 that looks like a steal if you don't need an illuminated scope.

That *seems* like a really good deal! Honestly for the sake of simplicity and since I really don't know what will ultimate be the right or best scope, I think that I'm going to have to start somewhere, and I think that it will be here. Thanks much for the recommendation!

Is there any reason that I would need a tall or "high" mount vs the medium mount for my rifle?
 
Is there any reason that I would need a tall or "high" mount vs the medium mount for my rifle?
Reading the comments on the Vortex web site, the HS-T 6-24x50, a couple mention medium height rings on a bolt action rifle. I'm not qualified to confirm that is right for your Savage.
 
I have my eye on this SCOPE , which has good reviews. It might be a little more scope than you want to but it is tough to beat imo for the money.
 
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