RE: Rifle choice
One piece of advice I can' t stress enough, forget about the Remington 710. It is junk. For the same price range you can get a Savage which will be reliable, accurate and well made. Ruger 77 Mk II is also a good choice. Alot of your choice will probably be based on price. Personal taste and the fit of the rifle will come into play as well. Try to handle as many brands as you can and see which one fits the best.