I've been a little misinterpreted on this. I'm not nor would I knock Howa rifles. They make a pretty dang good rifle for the prices they charge. Their entry level rifles are good. I personally don't like most of the synthetic stocks. They just feel cheap and flimsy to me. That is INCLUDING the stock on the Savage 111 TH. Now The Savage 111 FCNS in 270 or 7mm-08 would be right up your alley but it's out of your price range by about 150 bucks. The FCNS has the new accustock which is supported with aluminium bedding and skeletal system. Very well made stock and stable as a rock while being light and pretty much weather proof. Good rifle to have in horrible weather or the humid hunting down south like Florida and such. The good news is, if you end up getting the 111TH, you can always upgrade to the accustock later on down the line if you so wish. Or MANY other makers make some fine stocks for Savage barreled actions as well as Ruger and Howa.

As far as the Howa barreled action, as I said before, it's a fine action and lots of very good shooting rifles have been built off of them. I'm just not a fan of Japanese made rifles. The masters of Europe and here in the good old USA attract my attention.