I would recommend you look around and find a good used Remington or Ruger. I saw two days ago at just three shops I went too, several rifle/scope combo's that would have met your needs for less than $400.00.
Very few of the guns I've picked up used have been fired more than 200-300rds. Most less than 100rds. Consider that a well maintained .308 will maintain match accuracy for over 15,000rds, and you get a little perspective on the residual value of a quality firearm. Like Chevy's and Fords, they loose approx. 60% of their "new" value as soon as you sign the ATF-4473 form.
Heck, two weeks ago, I saw a Sako 75 in .308 with a Ziess scope on it for $900.00. I'd bet that it will shoot MOA or less with most any RemChester ammo you'd care to feed it.
A Remington 700-BDL in '06, .308, .270,or 7mm can be had for less than $500, with a decent scope.
Except perhaps for the 7mmMag, they will last several lifetimes. The 7mm too with judicious cleaning and loading.
RE: Ruger accuracy. I was of same general opinion as most on this forum regarding the accuracy of the Rugers. However, in '03 I helped a friends wife buy him a Ruger S.S. m77 "All weather" in .30/06, as a christmas present. (His choice, not mine). I mounted the scope, a "discount" variety 3x-9x. Imagine my suprise when I took it out and sighted it in and was getting 3/4" 3 shot groups, and 1.2" 5-shot groups (100yds) with 150gr Rem.Cor-lokts loaded over 52.0gr of RL-15, for chrono'd 2,950fps!. Just out of curosity, I fired a 5-shot group with some Sierra 150gr GameKing (flat base), and got a 7/8" five shot group! Not bad for an out of the box, untuned "sporter". And as for the bargain basement scope, after 18mos. of his "banging" it around, and running some 200rds through the gun w/o even cleaning it, the scope had "miracle of miracles" had held zero, and would still shoot near MOA groups!
So much for "conventional wisdom"!