The Savage 110 Apex Hunter XP in .22-250 Remington is a bolt-action hunting rifle sold as a package, with a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 scope already mounted. The barrel measures 20 inches, the metal is matte black and the stock is black synthetic. It is listed with used inventory but the supplier describes it as new, SKU NGZ6335.

Illinois restricts firearm deer season to shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders, qualifying handguns and single-shot centerfire rifles of .30 caliber or larger, so a bolt-action .22-250 is not a deer rifle in this state. Where it earns its place here is on the range and in the off-season, where the 3-9x scope and the short 20-inch barrel make it an easy rifle to carry and shoot. Treat it as the general-purpose centerfire in an Illinois gun safe rather than the one you pull out for the November 20 opener, and take it along on hunts in states that allow it.

Key features

• .22-250 Remington bolt action, 20-inch barrel
• Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 scope mounted
• Matte black finish, black synthetic stock
• Supplier lists it as new, SKU NGZ6335

The rifle and scope ship together to your chosen Illinois FFL dealer, where you present your FOID card and wait out the 72-hour hold before taking it home.