Im my area you could get a Ruger 77MKII 30-06 syntic stanless (Ruger has a 40.00 mail in rebait tell 30 nov 2002) and a Leupold VARX-I 3X9X40 (Life time warrenty) for right in the 700 area. It would be a good long lasting gun in a caliber that will take just about anything in north america with a wide range of bullet choices and loads. The 30-06 is very accurate to 300 and longer with pratice. I have a ruger 77 (tang safty) in 30-06 Ive had for yrs did little matinace on with a simmons scope and a muzzle break that I have less than 600 in and it shoots under 1" at 100 and has taken deer cleanly past 400.

3DNWV