I was about to buy a Savage 99 as my first centerfire rifle, but my gun savvy buddy showed me a 1953 Winchester Model 70 FWT in .308 and convinced me that it had more of a future than the Savage 99. That was one of the best $80 I ever spent. That rifle shot 3 shot groups of 3/8 inch and 5 shot groups of 5/8 inch and still does. It is my go-to rifle for all but the smallest or largest game.

I hunted it so hard that both the wood and metal had to be refreshed and it still looks and shoots good.