Hoppdoc- I'd go with the Savage and good glass - probably a 3200 Elite Bushnel or maybe a 4200 Elite and get the rifle in a .260. This ctg. will provide all the power necessary for shooting bean fields for deer at resonable ranges and be more accurate and cheaper to shoot than the .270. The .270 runs in the 3,100fps rang weith 130gr., while the .260 does just over 3,000fps with 120's of about the same Sec.Den. Virtually the sme as far as the game is considered.
: Want better ballistics than the .270? just open up the .260 to a .260AckImp lengthened to 2.2"(60gr. capacity). The one I did ran 3,308fps with 120XLC's, same speed as top-end loads in my buddies 6.5x68 and my own .264WinMag.
: I've never liked the .270 - maybe becasue I never liked Jackie O. Hmm- sounds much like the other one I never liked.