[wardaddy]

For deer hunting.....

Mid range price....under 1000 bucks

Bolt action Sako in .243, .270, .308, .30-06 or 7mm mag depending on deer hunting environment.

Remember to spend more on Optics either for light or distance or both.

Tops....Swarovski or Khales or Zeiss or Leica

Then ...Leupold, Schmidt and Bender, Pentax, and some newer East German and Russkie acclaimed brands, Nikon

Then Simmons, Burris, Bushnell, Redfield

I am not well versed in Nightforce but I know some love them ...Trijicon too.

I would not hesitate to spend 3 times on my optics what I spent on the rifle...in fact I have...lol

I personally believe that Swarovski or their sibling scopes Khales are arguably the finest scopes ever made to this point in human history (flamesuit on)

Good luck and happy eating!

[Travis McGee]

I wonder if they'll give me a free scope, after I worked a "Leo Swarovski" into my book?

[Squantos]

Kahles 6X on my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser I customized a few years ago. Real tack driver. Just enough of every thing to get er done in the lower 48.

I think I paid 80 bucks for the old M96 mauser. 200 on gunsmithing the action, bolt handle , shroud, M70 style safety, Canjar trigger ect ect , rebarreling it with a Shilen barrel. 250 on an H&S Phenolic/Carbon fiber stock, 450 on the used 6X Khales glass. Topped it off with Neoprene/Web Nylon Sling and a Uncle Mikes stock sock for 9 spare rounds of 148 gr Alaskan Ammo.

Gun itself was less than one tenth of the actual money spent ............but it was fun gettin there......:o)

Stay Safe !