RE: Leupold for my first centerfire rifle
VX-III or newer VX-3 if you've got the coin though there's no flies on a good ol' VX-II 3-9x40. I'd have been thrilled with a VX-I for my first rifle.
You also might want to look at Pentax as they are ugly as hell and would match up well with an ugly azz Sav...grin