I have owned several of the Model 700's over the years, beginning the mid 80's, and a single shot pistol in 7mmBR. They really were neat pieces for mass produced, "budget" type firearms. The 40X series is not materially different from the 700's, other than in my instance I could get the special "drop belly" stock and the clip slot in the rear receiver ring.
Got into the highpower game, and loved my Garand, and M14. Then started shooting AR15, and decided that wasn't for me. So I bought a 40XBKS, the "cross the course" rifle. I was able to make master with that rifle, but it always irked me that for as much money as I spent for that thing, the mill marks under the rear receiver ring around the sear were atrocious. As a tool it was "king" for me. But every time I cleaned that rifle and saw those gouges in there, I would shake my head. IIRC, the trigger was supposed to be "all that and a side of borracho beans." -I ended up replacing with a Jewell, which really WAS all that and a bag of chips.
If you buy a 40X, make sure you look it all over completely before plunking down your cash.
