RE: my first rifle
 

Doe Dumper said it well. I have a Savage 111 in .270 also. Love the gun. The only difficulty is that I also have one in 7mm mag that usually gets the nod as I leave for hunting. Six of my rifles are Savages and I am very happy with each. I don't have a 116 but I'm sure that the Savagebrand will not do you wrong. I believe you will be very happy with your purchase for years. The only upgrade I have doneto my Savages is I now have them scoped with Nikon scopes.

RE: my first rifle
 

Hey board,

Thanks for all of your great advice/input. I am pleased w/ the Savage 116 rifle. I do think a better scope is in the cards for next summer's job. Hey, if any of you guys duck hunt. I've posted a couple of questions over in the waterfowl forum. Just FYI. You guys have been very helpful. I did buy another shotgun for the misses for dove season. It's a Remington 870 20 ga. pump. I loved shooting it the other day. I'm having it custom fitted to her and having a limbsaver grind-to-fit pad put on it for her. (What I thought to be a factory recoil pad on it was nothing but hard plastic..so I hope the fit and pad do the trick) I think I may have a hunting partner!

Thanks again,

Mignolafan