for years i've heard guys say that the best shooting gun had to be a bolt action. well the new AR's sure proved that wrong. but i still like the remington 700 models. i have a 700 in a .308 caliber on a composite stock that shoots great. it seems to shoot the federal 150 or 180 grains the best. about the only shells it did not like were remingtons. figure that one out. i think thebest guns fora good pricewould besavages or the remingtons. i believe they still can be had for around $400.00. you could spend much more for a rifle. but why i"ll never know.