Savage Rifle/Scope Package

Looking for opinions, good or bad, on the rifle/scope package offered by Savage, specifically the 11/111 or 16/116. Mainly interested in what you guys think of the scope offered. It's a Nikon BDC 3x9-40. Thanks.

They are good packages. However there are a ton of different models for he 11/111 and 16/116. Lots of research is needed to narrow down your choices. I would choice your caliber and start from there. I also wouldn't look at any models without the accutrigger. Just my

was looking at 25-06 trophy hunter xp package for both.

I'd skip the package deal, and put a better scope on the rifle. The BDC gives a false sense of security for being able to reach significant distances. It has no help for holding windage, which will undoubtedly be present and will cause a miss. Elevation correction is usually very consistent for average hunting ranges, correcting for wind is always the biggest challenge.

I'm going to have to disagree a bit with fireman.

I assume this is basic hunting. The wife has the 243 model of the exact same package as described. Fireman is totally correct about his criticism of the scope but...
A. Having BDC is better than having nothing or plain duplex IMHO.
B. The BDC can be used as a basic reference point if one is willing to put in the time to fully understand the bullet they ultimately choose and where the point of impact is at varying distances for a single given magnification. Yes it's useless for windage and yes it's not as flexible to use as a mildot for example. Hi one can easily make it adaptable for a very specific setup.
C. The price of any comparable Savage will only best at best about $50-80. Which means that is really the cost of the scope. And there have been many who've sufficiently hunted shorter distances with a basic 3-9x40 Nikon Prostaff with a duplex reticle. It will let certain get u buy for a while.

I think it depends on your situation. I'm a firm believer in nothing is better than trigger time. Meaning usually peoe starting out are not willing to drop large sums of money on scope and rifle. With a limited budget I'd much rather have a "good enough" rifle scope combo and use he rest to buy a bunch of ammo and do the above of learning to use your specific setup.

The Trophy Hunter has a better scope than any of the other packaged scopes from Savage. For a close range hunting you will probably kill your quarry. The reticle or brand name on the scope has no bearing on if the scope will hold zero or not. If it said Nikon Monarch or Bushnell Elite that is a different conversation. In this situation savage tells the scope supplier " I need a scope that cost us 35$ each for 15000 units.

I am not a scope snob but I do believe that if you like accuracy and you like to shoot more than 3rds a year you will be better served with a higher quality product.

The scope on the 11/11 is the Nikon prostaff 3-9x40. Exact same prostaff you can buy seperately at an increase price.

I beg to differ, the Nikon scope that came on my Savage Model 11 trophy hunter XP is not a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 BDC scope. It is a Nikon 3-9x40 BDC scope but it doesn't have the fast focus that the prostaffs have. It's not labeled as a Prostaff either. You'll find thats it's listed separately on Nikons website as well. It's still better than most scopes that come on package gun type deals.

This is the answer.

I picked up the 11 Trophy Hunter XP in .308 just last summer. The scope is exactly as described above. I could see the mounting screws that held the reticle through the tube on my sample. The scope found its way to Craig's list and has been replaced with a Vortex DB 4-12.

The rifle itself is good value for the price (when bought on-sale for $499). I have not adjusted the accu-trigger, as I liked it as set from the factory. I've only shot a few boxes of factory hunting rounds, but it's a shooter.

Get it and shoot it.

You can not go wrong with this savage package. I have the savage 111 in a 270 and it shoots great. Better then other expensive guns a have and better then all my friends. As far as scopes mine come with a bushnell when I bought it and I put it on a 22 and replaced it with a nikon prostaff with 50 mm objective and love it for the price. As far as a gun definitely buy this one if you want a great shooter.......