i'd go with the ruger american but its a magazine gun so not sure about the top loading requirement. i'd put the vx 1-4x20 scope on it but if you're shooting longer ranges then i'd go with a bushnell elite 3200 3-9x40 so as not to have a bunch of money in the glass just in case. i'd also go with the 308 vs a 223 but thats for deer. if this was a yote gun or some such then the 223 would be it.
