Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Thoughts for a 300 Savage

So I'm having Mike Bellm cut me a 300 Savage AI for my G2 and I'm starting to look at glass. I'm thinking 2-7x-ish in a Leo, Zeiss, or Vortex. Might consider a straight 6X. I have $300 in cabelas points (sorry Doug) and would like to keep it south of $400 over all. Not looking to shoot more than 250 yards at deer and or antelope. Throw me some ideas.

I'm not sure what you mean G2? Is that an action type or what? What are you trying to achieve, velocity between 300 Savage and .308 Win.? Why not go with 308 Win. and load down for the velocity you want?

Good luck with your project

A G2 is the new model beefed up TC Contender. Supposedly the AI version of cartridges have reduced back thrust, so they work OK in a Contender without stretching the frame. As for a scope, the 2-7 range would be very nice on a compact rifle like the G2 contender.

For that range/cartridge I'd look at an FX2 4x. They're tough as nails last forever & are UBBER versatile.

Yup! Good on a 308 and many others too.

This or a Weaver Classic K4, tough and simple...hard to beat on a hunting rifle.

I have a VX3 2.5-8 on my Rem 700 BDL Deluxe .300 Sav and love the combo. As an eastern deer rifle it's hard to beat. At 2.5x great FOV and can go up to 8x when I'm sitting over a field.

Weird! I want to see a pic of the brass next to regular .300 sav brass. I can't imagine that there's much shoulder to work with.

size-wise, I don't think you're gonna be able to beat a 2-7x or 6x36 leupold, or 2-7x redfield revolution if you're going slightly cheaper.

n8, Bellm has some picks on his site of the standard 300 Sav verse the 300 Sav AI. Bellms TCs

I haven't quite mastered pics yet.

A fixed 4x seems a bit minimal, especially sines I have a 1.75-6X Leo VX-3 on my 45-70. A fixed 6X is a possibility, but Cabelas doesn't seem to want to carry anything fixed any more.

How big of difference is there between the VX-2 &VX-3? 10-15 minutes at dusk and dawn? What about clarity?

What would a 300SavageAI have to offer over a std. 308 other than weird?

No velocity advantage. But there is a set of folks who prefer reloading Ackley Improved cartridges.

If you read Bellm's web site, you'll see that this conversion is one he designed for shooters who want .300 Savage performance in a Contender but don't reload. The .300 AI doesn't shoot any harder than .300, but puts less stress on the gun. Think it as a .30-30 AI that you don't have to handload to get the performance, and you'll be pretty close.

A .308 is too much power for a Contender, even a G2. No problem in an Encore, but the OP wants to shoot a G2.

I can't help with a scope. My .300 wears a VXIII 1.5-5x, but I hunt in places where 200 yd shots are long ones.

Hogeye is absolutely right. The 300 AI isn't close to a 308, but is far greater than a 30-30. The TC Contender/G2 has a lower pressure limit so the 308 is too powerful. Talking with Bellm and looking at other 300 AI test data, I think I should get close to 2750 fps in a a 20" carbine shooting Hornady Leverevolution 300 Sav 150 SST factory ammo out of the AI tube. The AI chamber supposed to give a little better performance over factory ammo, the Hornady 300 Sav is listed at 2750 for a 24 inch barrel.

SuperCub, I just like weird, too. I have three 7mm's, none of which are a Rem Mag. My 338 is not a Win but a Fed. And I love the 41 Mag.

Hogeye, how do you like the 1.5-5x? I have a 1.75-6x on a 45-70, I may switch the teh 45-70 to the 1.5-5x and put the 1.75-6x on the 300. What reticle to you have? Like it?

Nothing wrong with weird .... I have a 257Roberts, 358Win, 375CT, a 250Savage in the works. All could very well be replaced with a 30/06.

The performance of your Contender sounds a lot like my 307 Winchester. I have shot my rifle quite a bit at 200-yards but for use on West Texas deer I generaly walk or drive closer�
I prefer the low power scopes and I have used the modern Weaver V-3 quite a bit on lever action rifle and some bolt guns.
The older Weaver V4 ws a fine scope in its day but it is dark by todays standards.
The little K-2 Weaver is a fine little scope and I have little trouble with the 2 � power scope for use on deer inside 200-yards.

Weaver K2


Weaver V4


I have a Burris Short Mag scope on the 307 Winchester rifle now. This straight 4X scope is not the lightest scope on the market but it gives good performance in low light due to the heavy duplex and good performance when shooting directly into the sun - which is a good enough reason to keep the scope on this little rifle.
Burris straight 4X Short Mag


Give some consideration to the weight and bulk of your scope as the G2 is a light and compact little rifle. You will find you are able to shoot well on antelope size game with what is now considered to be rather low power. You can often walk up on them or flag them in.
When it comes to our West texas deer you will see as many close up as far away.
Although a few deer each year come in and surrender.

SuperCub, you have my attention. I'm not sure I know what a 375CT is? Can you enlighten me?

Necked up 338WM or necked down 458

375 Chatfield-Taylor. I use 338WM brass. Easy to load for and will fit into a std M98 which was the original idea.