Not sure which model you have, I thought the 25-06' s had a 26" barrel (1B) ...I have experience with 2 of them a 280 rem(1B)(26" barrel) and a 1S 45/70(24" barrel) ...the 45/70 has the better trigger and wood but both are super shooters from the factory even though the 280 has a close to 5lb trigger which should be worked on but have not got around to it... Seems like someone else here had bought a 25-06 #1 a few months back and it shot extremely well. 500 dollars is right in line for that gun and the new ones sell in the high sixes and it is tough to find one used in good condition at a gun show for much less than six hundred. Triggers can be worked on and there are a number of gunsmiths that will do it...Rest assured with the scope mount systems...RUger probably makes the strongest ring system in the world... If you have a very early model it is as close to custom as you can get and the more recent models in the last 7 or so years have excellent barrels. You' ll probably hear a lot of BS about Ruger this and that from some disgruntled individuals here but pay them no heed. If the gun doesn' t shoot well don' t screw with it send it back to Ruger and explain it in a letter...they have a real Customer Service Department with Humans that answer the phone(truly amazing).