Besides savage there is tikka and cz to consider.The 7mm-08 and 308 are hard to beat for low recoil and great preformance in what your looking for.Have owned and used both and like them a lot.A remington 700adl would also fall in the savage price range.I just am biased towards the savage because of their button rifled barrels and excellant accuracy,as well as good value.

woods

It depends on what duties (game and type of hunting) you intend to use the " back up" for. I have always thought that a Win. Model 100 semi-auto in .308 (or .284) would be a great sort of " all around" big game combo. With a variable scope set low it would handle nicely for fast, close encounters. With the power turned up and a solid rest it could handle some reasonabley long shots. GOOD for Deer, Pronghorn, Sheep,Goat, Caribou and black bear. Fair for Moose and Elk. Not quite right for the big bears.

Robin