Mike, I just researched a bolt rifle purchase recently myself - value is what I usually go for (single income, military lifestyle, kids...etc). Right now, some of the cost to performance values are found with Savage, Howa 1500, and Remington SPS. The Howa 1500 has a hogue stock (nice), good factory trigger, and is made-well in Japan. The Savage models are affordable, people like their accu-trigger, new production models will include the accu-stock, and many tout their accuracy. The Remington 700s are tried and true (my personal favorite), but their lower-end SPS has a stock some have regarded as flimsy (no personal experience). I own two 700s - 7Mag and .270 in BDL and CDL (wood stocks). They are great shooters. If I didn't need a left hand bolt, my recent purchase would have been the HOWA vice the .270 700 CDL...if Howa had a left-handed .243...I'd be all over it. Also, check out the CZ rifles. Just bought my daughter a CZ .22 youth bolt and the quality to price ratio is impressive. These are Czech Republic made, and made well too.