RE: Best Overall Rifle
Ah-oh, you got feature creep. If you are serious about getting a gun that you will keep for many years, get the one that you want, this may not be the one that you can afford right now, so save a couple of months. If you don’t, you will always be looking. Hunting season is mostly over for this year and you have a couple of months before you have to start hitting the bench anyways. You should be able to get the browning for under $700 (check out gunbroker.com). I would first pick your caliber, then look at the rifles. You mentioned that you wanted wood, so get a wood stock. Another gun to look at is the Remington Mountain LSS. I would never buy a rem (ford vs. chevy thing), but I like this rifle. Tikka laminated is sure pretty too!
Lastly don’t skimp on the glass. I would look at the Leupold VXIII as a minimum. Nikon is a another but I have not experience. Zeiss to me is the way to go.
Best of luck