Just bought my first hunting rifle. Savage 11 Hunter xp in a .308. This is my first bolt gun and hunting rifle. It doesn't have the accutrigger and came with a bushnell 3x9 scope. Cheap but should work for now. Not looking to make it a long range bench shooter, just something to drag around in the woods and hunt with. I am thinking about getting a trigger job and new stockthough. Any suggestions from you guys who know more about bolt/hunting rifles? also what should I look for in a scope? Or will this be adequate for <200m shots for deer and whatnot? Any suggestions/schooling me is appreciated.

www.stockadegunstocks.com will make a big improvement, and less expensive than a Manners or McMillan.

Rifle Basix makes a good trigger.

Look at Vortex for new glass. With many scopes, the more you spend the better they get.

There ain't a true hunter on here that will tell you that $1k and above setup will kill anything at 250 yards any better than a bargain basement model with a decent scope.

I'd take a Leupold VX2 2-7x33 and be done with it.

x2 on the Vortex and Leupold. I've had great luck with anything in their $200-$300 price range (if you look around, you can find some for $150-$175). Rifle Basix and Timney have excellent triggers. Check out www.stockysstocks.com. Good prices and a huge selection on tons of stocks. With that being said, what you have will get the job done. Up until last year, my best bud hunted with an old Remington 721 with a $50 Bushnell scope and took everything he aimed at.

Go look at Stocky's website and pull up the Bell & Carlson Medallion for around $229. It is the same exact stock that Winchester is using on their $1000 Extreme Weather M70's.

At about $200 retail I have used several Burris Full Field II 3x9x40's with zero issues on little 257Rbt's, couple 270's & 300 Mag's and have had one residing on a 9.3x63 Mauser for the last 5 years, that is one small step less powerful than a 375H&H....and came off one of the 300 Mags at one time or another.

I like what I am seeing and hearing about 2 brands I've never used yet, Minox & Vortex. both have a wide range of product product in the $200- $400 price range. In Minox I'd stay in the ZA 5 series, and in Vortex there is a thread here on THF right now talking about excellent satifaction levels on the Diamondback series...and both of those models fall in that under $400 price range. You can find these at SWFA, a THF sponser, or CameraLandofNy also a sponser I believe.
Ron

Congrats on the new rifle and scope. Take the gun to the range and see how it/you do. If it shots well, don't mess with it.

Agree 100%. I spent the entire afternoon yesterday here on my range shooting and chronographing for 3 rifles--a .338 WM, a .300 WM, and a 7mm RM. The overcast, threatening skies were perfect for the chrono. And besides, it sure beat the heck out of sitting on the couch watching the NFL....

The factory stock is fine to start with.

Rifle basix trigger
Bed rifle
Talley lightweight low
Leupold FXII or M8 6x42 or 6x36

Shoot, shoot shoot!

Then go forth and fill an ark!

Thanks for all the responses guys. Greatly appreciated. Ill try to check out all the suggestions yall threw out there. I have looked at the diamondbacks and was liking what I saw. have to go out to the field tomorrow through sunday so I won't get a chance to go sling any lead down range... On this rifle atleast lol.

Do the trigger 1st, the glass 2nd, and then re-evaluate the stock situation. You may not need a new stock once you've upgraded the trigger and the glass.

If I were you, I would just leave it alone and shoot it.
Phil

+1 what Syncerus said. Not terrible expensive and will improve the shootability of the rifle to make it a long term keeper.

That is a fine gun, take it hunting, shoot it, enjoy it...

As funds allow I would:
Install a new trigger- I like Timney.
Put a $200.00 to $300.00 scope on it.
Get a new stock. With a new trigger and scope there is a very good chance you won't need a new stock.

My vote is go shoot it and see what the stock trigger feels like to you. You might like it and can save the money for better glass one day. Like a redfield revenge or a nice nikon. SWFA has a nice sale on the nikons right now as well.

Ha ok. So stock trigger is super stiff but doable. However I cannot for the life of me get this thing to group to zero. Was at range trying to sight in couple inches high at 100m. Several different brands of ammo. Would not hold good group. Going to ditch the cheap bushnell it came with and get new optic and rings and try again this weekend. Think I will go pick up vortex diamondback tomorrow after work.hopefully this fixes problem.

Did you bed the rifle?

A heavy trigger causes all kinds of issues, have that worked on.

I haven't done anything to it yet. Bone stock

So went out and picked up a leupold vx2 3x9x40 last night. Super clear and lightweight. Hopefully get to go sight it in tomorrow.

That's a good choice, I have a Ruger 77 that wouldn't group, I changed scopes and it now will shoot 1 in groups.

Good lil rig. Do your own trigger job, those are simple to adjust.

Made it out to range today. Pretty disappointed. Leupold was really clear and nice optic. However, even after new scope, bases, and rings.... This Savage will not group well. Still had between 4-7 inch spread sometimes more. Even had some other people try shooting it to see if ive just lost it ha. Same thing. Was expecting out of box moa... Greatly mistaken

I would make sure you get 50-60 rounds through it then try different brands of ammo. Mine would not group good till the barrel was broke in. That's also why I now reload my own now. Good luck.

Have put about 100 rounds through it now. Lol still cant get it zeroed. Think I will just sell it and start fresh with something else. Have a bad taste for Savage now

Just did the diy trigger job, going to try again and hit the range tomorrow. Also just ordered a timney trigger.