Hopefully I can clarify things a bit.
For a new hunting rifle, if you have a Cabllas close, they have some great options and a very good price. Not in 7.62 x 43 (?) but......
Cabella has store only Savage in the 10T and the 12V.
If you want to hunt with it I would go with the 6 or 6.5 Creed, but it has 223 (talk about cheap ammo) as well as 308, I don't think you want the 22-250.
Less filed worth but a good option is the 12FV
Again 6.5 creed, 204 Ruger (not sure on that one) 223 and 308.
Both have Varmint barrels (heavy, stand up to longer shooting session)
Long term you can upgrade stocks and even barrels.
I have seen the 12FV as low as $269 with a $100 Savage rebate and $50 off Cabless.
10T is more expensive but down as low as $450 I believe.
Again I like Savage a lot as it has a floating bolt head so to get a good setup does not require an expensive blued print, the nut allows easy barrel changes (I do my own but a smith won't charge a lot). Huge numbers of barrel ready to go all you do is screw in to a head space gauge, set the nut and done.
Boyds has low cost stocks from standard contour to a thrum hole I like a lot. Drop in no bedding (a bit of relief at the rear tang )
In other words its a lifetime gun you can shoot as is and change to anything you want with lots of parts chocie3s to do so for the nest 80 years.
I like the 6.5 as it is probably the most versatile easy to shoot cartridge out there, I would not shoot a bear (grizzzly) but they do shoot moose in Scandinavia with that caliber.
Short term they work good as is. Its a terrific target round as well as hunting.
If I did not like 30 caliber so much I would have one and may get one yet.
Your Savage 110 takes no second seat to any gun made today.
I have built 3 Savages traget rifles off the 110 (2) and 10 actions.
If you want in the future, you could build that 110 into a great target rifle.
I would recommend Shilen, Criterion or Lothar Walther barrels in Varmint or Bull barrel.
As it has a nut set for head space, you can take the old barrel off and keep it perfectly intact. I used to hunt with a raised scope gun, I liked having the irons for instant backup. Not fun in the dark or thick woods to run into a bear and not be able to see it.
Boyds makes some great Laminated stocks with very nice finishes (and 1 inch pads!)
Doesn't mean you can''t keep the old stock and return your dads gun to original.
And trust me, I know how you feel. We had to replace the barrel on my dad's 1903 Sporter. He died with that gun so there was a lot of emotion attached to it (and he and my brother build the sporter stock for it, amazingly the stock survived the boat overturn and submergence )
The chamber was gone (corrosion) and it was a wall hanger or a new barrel. We figured a new barrel and the heart and soul was still there and meant to be used.
I have to shoot it with a slip on pad, its light and a great hunting rifle (I can't hunt anymore) - so I adjust a bit.
