I have a big extended family and my nephew dragged my fathers old Ruger 30-06 through a lot the oak brush in NW Colorado and dropped it a couple if times. I replaced the old cloudy Weaver 6 with a Sightron 3-9 power S2 hat held up through the abuse. This rifle has sentimental value so it is retired from back up duty.
I picked up a Savage Axis in 243 for the back up / kid / new hunter rifle and put a Pentax lightseeker 4-14 it shoots lights out and has killed deer and coyotes quite well.
Looking for a cheap back up elk gun I picked up a 300 Weatherby Vanguard for $260 and the trigger was so bad I had to put a Timney in it. The darn thing shoots 1/2" groups with 180 grain TTSX loads near max so it now wears a Conquest 3x9x50 with Z600 reticle and is now 1st string.
So my new idea for this year for me and later for the grandsons and nephews etc. is a RUger American with a VX2 3-9x40 in 30-06.
