Yes you got a good deal on the ADL. No they didn't ever sell for $550 but they were about $400 new last year. The reason the ADL's are so cheap right now is that Remington discontinued them and replaced it with the SPS as their price point model 700.

AS far as the scope goes. You bought a 3-9X50 scope but the sales guy said a 2.5-10X50 wouldn't fit??????????? You shouldn't have even needed higher rings for the other scope as they are both Simmons 50mm scopes. The sales person just didn't want to fool with it.

Heck, we mount Zeiss 6-24X72 Zeiss Diavari's on Remington 700's as well as other guns. If we can get those to fit on top of guns I know he could have set you up with the scope you wanted.

For bullet selection I would definetly use a controled expansion premium bullet weighing 180 grains on big hogs. Especially on that may weigh 1100 pounds. Look at thefailsafes, Barnes X, trophy bonded bear claw, accubond, interbond, Nosler partition, Swift A-frame and Scirocco.