RE: gettin into varmint huntin
I must disagree. The 22 Magnum is much more effective on varmints than the 17 Magnum. I believe the 22 magnum has 50% more energy at 100 yards over the 17 Magnum. The 17 was a great marketing ploy, but it does not stack up.
If money is an issue, or you just want an inexpensive truck gun-then Savage makes a great 22 Magnum. And the Accu-Trigger is tough to beat on an inexpensive gun. A scopeof 12X is more than adequate on this type rig. 9X to 10X is actually more than enough for 22 Magnum distances. 3X9 makes a great choice. You can probably get the most quality for the least amount of money in a 3X9. Tom.