Best Scope for the Savage 110 in 2026

Start with the model. A Trail Hunter, Ultralight or Hunter 110 is a rifle you will carry for hours, and a 30mm, 25-ounce scope turns it into a front-heavy one. A 3-9x40 or 3-12x42 with a 1-inch tube keeps the rifle lively and the cost sensible. A Precision or Tactical 110 is built to be shot from a bench, a bipod or over a pack, so the weight penalty of a 4-16x44 or 5-25x50 scope matters far less. Decide which kind of rifle yours is before you look at a single scope.

For hunting, second focal plane (SFP) is the simple choice. The reticle stays the same apparent size as you change power, so it stays bold at low magnification in dark timber. Any holdover marks are only correct at one power, normally the maximum. That is fine if you hold center on deer inside 300 yards. A first focal plane (FFP) scope scales the reticle with the image, so a mil or MOA grid works at every setting. It is worth having on a Precision 110 that you hold over or dial at different distances, at the cost of a finer reticle when you are zoomed out. Choose FFP for target-style use and SFP for a stand or still-hunting rifle.

Keep the budget in proportion. A 110 is a value-for-money rifle that shoots well, so a scope in the $250 to $600 range makes sense for most buyers. Below about $150 you start to risk soft edges and turrets that do not track. Above $800 you are paying for glass and mechanics that pay off mostly if you shoot past 400 yards. If you bought a package rifle with a scope already mounted, shoot it for a season first. Replace it when you have a specific problem, such as a dim image at dusk, a reticle that disappears against dark timber, or turrets that do not return to zero.

Magnification should match the cartridge and the country. A .243 or .308 on an open field benefits from 9x to 12x for a careful shot. In hardwoods and thick cover, a 3-9x is plenty and a low power setting helps you find a moving deer. If you shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor Precision and enjoy steel at 500 yards, a 4-16x44 or 5-25x50 with parallax adjustment is a natural choice. A quarter-MOA click moves the point of impact about 0.26 inch at 100 yards, and a 0.1 mil click moves it 0.36 inch. Pick MOA or MRAD and keep the turrets and the reticle in the same units.

Recoil and eye relief deserve more attention on the magnum chamberings. A .300 Winchester Magnum or .338 Lapua Magnum 110 kicks hard enough to bring a scope into your brow if it is mounted too far back. Look for 3.7 to 4 inches of eye relief or more, mount the scope as far forward as still gives you a full sight picture, and check the position with your eyes closed as you shoulder the rifle: when you open them you should see the whole image with no black ring. A muzzle brake changes blast and recoil but does not change which scope you need.

Tube size is a choice, not an upgrade. A 30mm tube carries more internal elevation travel than a 1-inch tube and is useful if you dial far out or use a rail with built-in slope. It also adds weight and cost. For hunting inside 400 yards a 1-inch tube has plenty of adjustment. A 20 MOA base tilts the scope down, adding about 21 inches of elevation at 100 yards (20 MOA times 1.047 inches), which keeps your turrets near mid-travel on a long-range 110. Do not buy one unless you will shoot far enough to need it.

Mounting is where careful buyers save themselves trouble. The 110 is sold in several models, in short and long action versions, and some variants are sold with a rail already fitted, so check what is on your rifle before you buy anything. Buy bases or a rail listed for your exact Savage 110 model and action length, and read the listing for the model name rather than assuming a part from another rifle will fit. Then use rings of the right height for your objective bell so the scope clears the barrel and the bolt handle with the bolt fully cycled. Torque the screws to the maker's setting and level the reticle with a plumb line against a fixed vertical edge.

Test the scope when it arrives, not on opening day. Look at a distant edge in daylight, run the power ring through its range and check that the reticle is sharp when you focus the eyepiece. Zero at 100 yards, then run a box test: dial a set number of clicks up, right, down and left, return to zero and confirm the group comes back. Confirm your hold or dial at 200 and 300 yards with the ammunition you will hunt with. A good scope removes equipment as a source of error. It does not make a long shot ethical, so shoot only at distances you have practiced from field positions.