ORIGINAL: chr103yod
You cant go wrong with a Rem 700. For a little less money Savage makes really accurate rifles. They may not be as pretty but they shoot great. I have both a 7 mag and a 30-06. Bullets for the 7 mag run almost a dollar a piece. You can pick up cheap 30-06 bullets for $10-$12 a box. The ballistics between the two guns aren't THAT much different. You can also get anywhere from 45 gr acelerator rounds to 220 gr bullets for the 30-06. It's big enough to drop and elk and you can still buy small enough bullets for antelope. I could never see buying a Zeiss or Leica scope for any of my guns. The thought of putting a $1000 scope on my $500 rifle just doesn't make sense to me. I think I would buy a middle of the road Leupold, Burris or Nikon and spend $300-$400. When I look through a $1500 scope and a $300 scope I just don't see $1200 worth of difference.
My suggestion was not a 1000 scope but rather a zeiss conquest 3x9x40 - sells for $400(or less), in your range
. I know not everyone feels a scope is worth the coin but I personally believe don't sell yourself short on glass and mounts just asimportantas the rifle itself. I personally will not bring myself to buy 1000 USD priced scope but I buy the best I can for every rifle I own and top it with quality rings/bases.