If you would consider a used gun you could probably keep your purchase under $400.00 and maybe even end up with a real keeper. It may have slight "character" from normal use, but that kind of wear rarely affects shootabilty. (is that a word?)
Looking over the offerings on Gunbroker.com and GunsAmerica I see the prices are higher than the "under $400.00" I mentioned, but if you scour the classifieds and gun outlets and look over the used racks and the consignment racks you may find something that will please you.

I agree with NCHawkeye about the trigger. I owned a 742 for a few years, and sold it because of the crappy trigger. That and its weight.Like carrying around a wooden fence post. It did jam on me once in a game situation.

Paul, if you want accuracy and reliability, (and, since you are getting a .243, I assume you do!) forget those Remington semi-autos and buy a good bolt action. All U.S. made bolt rifles are better, except for that 710 abortion Remington makes/made.

Ill 2nd that one!!! The good triggers are the reason I went to bolts. I love the feel of the Rem pumps and autoloaders but the trigger was always a turn off.

Well, I might as well throw my 2 cents in the pot. If you want the best bang for your buck, buy a Savage bolt action rifle in which ever Caliber you that you like. I am personally a Remington Bolt action fan, but the Savage rifles are just as accurate. However, they do have a sloppy bolt. I have owned a couple of Savage rifles and they shoot great and are very dependable. The Howa is nothing more than a Weatherby made in Japan. Weatherby has always been over-rated. As far as Browning is concerned any rifle that needs a BOSS system to make it shoot accurate, just really needs a good barrel. I do own a browning and it doesn't have a BOSS system and shoot's fine. Overall the Savage would be the gun I would consider as opposed to the others. You would get a good quality rifle for a cheaper price.

I have several browning a-bolts,some with boss,most without,and they all shoot better than I can hold them. They do in fact have good barrels. I'm wondering exactly how much 1sthand experience you have with boss.
I was scheptical myself till I tried the boss equipped rifles.

I am surprised no one recommended the Remington pump rifle. I agree with all the other posts about the problem's with the semi-I also would avoid the semi's.

I would on the other hand recommend the pump rifle they make. More than accurate enough for the shooting you wanted to do. IMO it is every bit as fast or faster than the semi. I have found that while pumping the action you tend to bring the rifle back onto target. The trigger's on the pump are a little to be desired.

It sounds like you are wanting a little faster action. The pump is a good way to go.

I would also recommend the AR platform, but that might be a little too pricey. I would stay away from the BAR's, but that is just my opinion. I have had bad luck with a few of them over the years. The worse one was a Belgium 243. Tom.

I was optimistic when I bought my BOSS equipped rifle,but it didn't last long.It took as many shots to fine tune the BOSS as it normally takes me to develop a handload for a rifle,the boss equipped rifle was no more accurate than my other rifles,the BOSS kept coming loose and changing the point of impact,the noise with the standard BOSS is so loud that you must wear ear plugs while hunting,and the BOSS equipped rifles produce less velocity than non BOSS equipped rifles due to a shorter barrel.

My experience with the BOSS didn't achieve any better bullet groups than a factory Remington did out of the box with factory ammo. I am just not a fan of the BOSS.I also prefer the fine lines and walnut stock of the Remington; however, that's only my opinion. I also don't care much for the AR platform, but then again I carry one here everyday. They are very dependable, but when I am hunting and enjoying life back home I surely don't want to carry anything that reminds me of my everyday work. So, You have probably figure out by now I am in Iraq. I hope ya'll have happy holidays and great hunting.

I bought a remington pump for my step father years ago and wasn't that impressed with it. I had a savage 110E in 30-06 at the time, and got him the remington in 30-06 as well. My Savage was more accurate and had less recoil. That pump was HORRIBLE on recoil! I know that wouldn't be an issue with the calibers I am looking at. It was a pretty gun though.

I am pretty much settled on getting a bolt gun now, I just am not sure which one I want. I went to cabela's today and looked around and they had some really nice savages on clearance. I saw some remingtons that were not bad either. They had a TON of those nasty 710's[:'(].

I think I need to liquidate some assets first, then I will go to my local gunstore and see what they can do for me. I am resisting the urge to go to gander mountain or the other large chain that gets edited out every time I type it. I'm looking pretty hard at the Howa right now, but some of those savages I saw at cabela's were pretty darn nice for the money. Nothing like the 110E I owned 20 some years ago.

All depends on what I can get for what I have. If anyone in the southern MI or the Ohio area is interested I am thinking of selling my A-5 stalker, my H&R slug gun and a savage 17HMR with a bull barrel. I might take pictures and post them in the classifieds section this weekend. I'm looking for people fairly local though because I don't want to go through the hassle of selling over the internet and shipping to someone. I would rather have someone come look at them, give me the cash and go home happy.

Feel free to keep the comments coming.

I would love to have an AR based set up but not sure if I could swing the money for a decent one.

Paul