I grabbed a couple decent guns off used or promo racks that were real gems. One was a Marlin XL7. Scored it for $350, but it was a pre-production gun(ran the serial) that came with a very nice wood stock. Really stands out. Another gem was $430 for a Remington 798 in 375H&H. Laminate stock, another some kind of promo/demo/used thing at the same gun shop. You find those for $800 used often now, and it shoots great. Used guns already have the wear on them, so you won't cry when you take it hunting. It has character, and lets you put money into where it counts. Find one that fits you first and foremost, then find the best deal you can. Spend as much as you can on glass, as this will play a huge role in whether the gun shoots or not. $400 is a good starting price for scopes, with spending up to $600 you will see a difference in clarity, sharpness, and internal strength. Cheap scopes shift under recoil, good ones will not. I have a pair of Simmons scopes that are a testament to what junk is. I have a pair of leupolds that have not required adjustment in 11+ years sitting on magnums. That's a good scope. One that requires sight in every year, that's a cheap one.
Here is what my 375 can do, mind you I did throw a cheap new model redfield on it, and it has held up great(exception to the cheap rule).