Alright, here's my situation:

My Dad gave me his 1972 Remington Model 700 .308 right before I moved to Colorado a few months ago. I've taken the rifle to a gunsmith and it checks out in great condition. Being a 35 year old rifle, it will need a re-blueing job within the next couple of years. The stock is in good shape, but has several scratches and dings in it from years of dogging bears in the Appalachians of western NC. I'd really like to keep the stock in this condition as this is the way I know the rifle. I was thinking of getting a synthetic stock to drop it in for elk hunting. The other thing is that it just has a cheapo Bushnell scope and cheapo rings that both need to be replaced. I was looking into the Nikon Buckmaster, not sure which bases and rings. Just to get the scope, bases, and rings, I'm figuring around $300. A synthetic stock would probably be another $100 or so. So now we're talking around $400. The re-blueing will be $125 - $150. So let's just say the whole deal sits at $550. This is all to get this gun in tip-top shape to go elk hunting. I wasfiguring onusing the Federal Premium P308G round which is a high energy round with a 180gr Nosler Partition witharound 3000 ft.-lbs. energy at the muzzle.Some say the .308 is a marginal elk round, but with thisload, you're virtually mirroring standard factory loads of the.30-06. I just don't understand how the .30-06 is considered such a great elk round while someconsider the .308 marginal when there simply isn't a great deal of difference when it comes toavailable factory loads. I figure keep shots at 250 yards or less and I'll be just fine.

Right now at Bass Pro, they have a Howa rifle with a Nikko-Stirling Nighteater 3-10x42 scope in 300mag all for under $500 on the clearance rack - new. I don't know much about either. I know the Howa is made in Japan and also produces the Weatherby Vanguard actions, so I assume it's a decent gun. I know even less about the scope, except that it's European and that so far what I've been able to gather, it's comparable to a Leupold VX-I or Bushnell 3200 quality wise. Either way, a decent scope. I'm just thinking that it may be too good of a deal to pass up. Anybody have anything else to share about the rifle or the scope?

So, my question is... What would you do? Spruce up the sentimental rifle your Dad gave you and take it out? Or, go buy the new .300mag and keep your Dad's rifle in the same (good) condition it is in and re-scope it and re-blue it later?