JohnD, as far as caliber goes, I think it might depend on if you reload or not. I do know that of all the differant calibers that I have reloaded, the .308 Win. is easy. By that I mean it is easier to get accurate loads with it ,or so it seems. At this time I do not own any SAVAGE rifles, but the ones I've owned in the past were all very accurate, and the ones I've zeroed over the years for other folk have always shot well. Right now at this time I guess you could say I'm pretty spoiled. I have an older model 700 REM. in .308 WIN. with the heavy barrel that outshoots anything I've ever owned before. All factory on it. All I've done is tuned the trigger a little bit, and had to add some foam with tape to the comb of the stock to get my eye at the right height to see my scope, for I have a target scope on it. And it will shoot about any combination of powder, bullet weight, primer, case , into sub moa at 125 yds. as long as I do my part right. This rifle is capable of far greater accuracy, than I can shoot. It is defenitly a keeper. I am going to try to come up with the funds to get a SAVAGE SCOUT in .308 later this summer to hunt with, as where I hunt is to rough to lug the REMINGTON around all day. I guess I'm biased to the .308 WIN. caliber. One load that I've used in it that is a good load is the SIERRA 125 gr. GAMEKING. I have harvested whitetail with that load, but it always has broken up, rather than penetrating through the body cavity, no matter what the angle. I have also used it on crows, and groundhogs, and it does stellar performance, also breaks up good when hitting the ground. I beleive that it would do better in the long run as far as bucking the wind, better than any .22 centerfire caliber. On the other hand a SAVAGE bolt gun in .243 WIN. would be hard to beat as a combo deer-varmit rig. Good luck, and good shooting. Ain't it hard to make up a fellows mind when he's after a new rifle?