yep 308 makes a good short, mid, and long range ,I'd take a Savege 99 with iron sights in 308win , been looking for one in 300sav, I don't like scopes for brush hunting , not even a 0X red dot , it the thick stuff I don't want anything on top of my gun
I do prefer low power scopes even in brush at close range, much faster on target and my eyes ain't what they used to be and were NEVER that great.
I've taken deer close on the run out to 50 yards with scope. I get on target quicker. 1.5 to 2X for such use seems perfect to me.
Buddy of mine prefers irons and has the goofiest set up IMHO, but he likes it. He's got a Browning BLR in .308 (an EXCELLENT and accurate lever gun I personally prefer to the Savage 99) topped by a 4x12 in see through mounts, about the worst of ALL worlds IMHO, LOL, but he seems to like it. Whatever floats his boat, right? I'd put a 2x10 on it set low or just run the irons. I HATE SEE THROUGH MOUNTS. LOL
I think what he likes about it, though, is that if he jumps something in the brush, he's going to want his irons. Again, I prefer an optic, but he, like you, prefers the irons. Now, if he has to shoot at something farther out, he doesn't need the stock weld for the scope. What I really don't like about see throughs, though, beyond I just prefer a low mounted scope, is there is excessive scope height above bore, screws up the ballistics chart. His scope has GOT to be 3" above the bore.
Oh, well, he takes deer with it, so it works for him. Who am I to complain?
Now, I'm fine with my little M7. I love the thing, so light and fast to the shoulder, yet sub MOA accurate. I have never had the chance to fire a second shot on a deer jumped while still hunting in heavy woods and I've done this with a semi-auto before. If you miss, he's gone. No follow up is likely. So, I just concentrate on NOT missing.