Bought a Savage M10, need a scope and bullet suggestions.

[Nameless_Hobo]

It's a typical .308 Savage with a 20 inch heavy barrel. What type of scope would you suggest? It'll mostly serve as a deer hunting rifle, but I will do some target shooting (1-400 yards at most) for my own enjoyment, so I don't have to have a uber-magnification target scope.
I will spend the money for a good scope.

I will handload for it, so I'd like some bullet opinions, weight, make, etc.

 

[browningguy]

Congrats on the new purchase. Some people shoot a 3-9x scope well at those ranges, personally I use a 4.5.14 for precision shooting out to 300-500 yards (6.5-20 for further out). Depending on your price range, the Burris FFII in 4.5-14 is a good mid-priced scope, currently it comes in a package with either a small GPS unit or a spotting scope. Farther up the cost chain is the Leupold and Zeiss Conquest, either of which are good. I've got the Burris model on a .300 WIn now and it works quite well, although the glass is not of the quality in the Zeiss.

http://www.natchezss.com currently has the Weaver Grand Slam in 4.5-14 for $330, and the 6.5-20 is on sale for $280. These are outstanding scopes for the money. I'd put my 6.5-20 up against anything under $1k. The only problem with it is the fine target recticle, the target dot and lines are so small they are too small for hunting, easy to lose them in a cluttered background.

They also have the Browning 5-15x on closeout for $199, this is the same scope as the Bushnell Elite 3200, just the Browning name on it. They are similar in glass quality to a Burris FFII and well worth the money.

 

[dmftoy1]

Congrats on a great rifle. I've got a 10FLP and absolutely LOVE it.

I'd recommend either Burris Fullfield II 3-9x or a Leupold VX-III if the budget will support it. A 3-9 does well by me for hunting out to the ranges you're talking but a 4.5-14 would be wonderful for punching paper.

I've had really good luck with Sierra matchkings and Hornady BTHP's in the 168gr range and I'm playing with Hornady 178gr A-MAX right now. These bullets are for paper punching though so you probably want to get some better advice for hunting bullets. (I think heavier bullets will tend to shoot better on your Savage though)

I had REALLY good luck with H335 (close to 1/2 inch groups off of a bench . .and I'm not a good shot). When I decided to play with the A-MAX bullets I switched to Varget because every one seemed to love it. I could easily get under an inch at 100 yards but I'm typically in the range of .75. I think most of my problem is that the A-MAX are much more sensitive to COL and need to be seated closer to the lands for the really good groups whereas from what I understand about the 168 grain bullets the shape isn't as sensitive to bullet seating depth.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

 

[MCgunner]

2x10 Weaver KV. 2x is perfect for MOST woods hunting. You want lower than 3x, ideally, for still hunting where you walk through the woods very slowly and game will be at close range and perhaps moving.

Mine never sees more than 3x even on the stand. I get out west, I might up it to 6. 10 is range use. One huge mistake inexperienced hunters make is getting TOO much power in the glass. You don't need no stinkin' 14x and you DO need less than 4x and I prefer less than 3x for still hunting. The KV covers it quite well and it's a very rugged scope.

3x9 is kinda the standard, but my KV gives me an extra notch either side of that. I like it a lot. A good 3x9 like the Leupold will work, though, and for hunting only I can do GREAT with a 2x7. One thing, best to get a 40mm objective or better for light capacity in low light. My 3x9x44 Weatherby Supreme is brilliant in low light. I've hunted hogs at night with that one and in full moon light you can easily see the cross hairs, like having a night scope. That Weatherby scope has fantastic optics, but I don't know if it's offered any longer.