Quilly.....there is no doubt that the older remingtons are of better quality than the newer ones. I have several of the older models that i love but i recently bought a new one from a friend at a deal and am in the process of selling it because i just don' t like the gun. I' m a big remington fan but i think personally that the quality has really gone down. I' m somewhat in the same situtation as you. I have found a Remington Classic chambered in 25.06 that a guy has had in his safe since they were produced in 1990 and it has never been fired. I spoke with him by phone yesterday and he said he would sell it to me The classic is a fine looking rifle, it looks a lot like the mountain rifle with the exception of the small 22" barrel on the mountain. I think it is by far remingtons best looking rifle. I think if it' s in good shape you can' t go wrong with any of the older model remingtons. I say go for it!!