My choice in 1981 was a Remington Model 700 with a 3x9x40 Tasco World Class scope with see through mounts. I've taken so many deer with that rifle/scope combo that I've lost count and it's what I'm still using today. Find a gun that you're comfortable with and spend as much on the scope as you can afford and you'll do fine. I've seen $800 rifles with $400 scopes and they didn't kill the deer any deader than my setup.