A bench rifle used to shoot mostly 200 yards and occasionally 600 yards? Well for 200 yards a 30BR or a 6PPC is superior to all others, now throw in 600 yards and that changes everything. A 22 cal is out, You just cant get a high enough BC bullet unless you are going to try a 220 swift and the 90 grain Bergers. A great all around chambering would be a 6BR, great accuracy for close stuff and still holds it's own out to 600 yards and even a 1000 is you want to stretch it out a bit. Savage makes decent actions and there is nothing wrong with one, but I would opt for a remington myself. If money is a concern and your set on a Savage just buy one ready to go chambered in a 6BR 8 twist and shoot either 105 or 108 bergers.