I have heard some good things about Millett scopes and will be checking them out for sure. You lost me there...........$500 for gun and scope??
Atlas, Yep, under $500 for gun and scope for <= 300 yards no problem. I know it seems crazy b/c everyone tries to sell you on expensive stuff, but for a good deer rifle completely effective to and a little beyond 300 yards, you are looking in the $300-$500 range easy. Right now at my shop I have a Remington 770 in 270Win for $303.95. Not meant as an advertisement, just a fact. That gun comes with a good Bushnell 4-9X32 scope that is fine for that range of shot without question. The gun will also shoot well within the MOA necessary to take game at those ranges. Will some guys argue you need more? Of course, but guys will also tell you that they all need to buy magnum condoms too. Truth is, 300 yards is not much for modern rifles when it comes to making consisent shots within the kill zone of a deer. Edit: I should mention that 300 yards is often beyond the effective range of the SHOOTER, but that has nothing to do with the gun.
Get the tikka. Bought one for my son a few years back. It was a tikka T3 Lite in .243. It is a great rifle for the money !! Tyler liked it too !! Would love to replace my 270 Rem 7400 with another tikka in that caliber but as much as I hunt with a rifle... it would be a waste of money for me that I can spend on other things. Tim
