For $700, you can buy a new rifle that will be worth an easy $550 a week later, or you can buy a classic rifle that will be worth $50 more than you paid for it a day later if you know what you are doing. The older guns will be built to a high standard, be classics, and will never depreciate. They will shoot as well or better than anything else you can buy.
Great Stuff: Pre 64 Model 70's. Any FN Commercial Mauser. Husquavarna Mausers (Swedish), Sakos (Finnish).
Very Good stuff: Remington 700's, Post 64 Winchester Model 70's, Interarms Mausers.
Variable stuff: Custom rifles built on Mauser and Springfield actions. Many are lovely. Many are amateurish. If you know what you are looking at you can find great stuff. The fact that you are asking here for advice "probably" means you will not know what to look for. But do not overlook these... a gut feeling can tell you a lot.
Not desirable: Anything with a glossy epoxy stock, white line spacers, or sharp monte-carlo type stocks. These were fashion fads in the 60's and 70's that are now a bit of a joke among those who appreciate good rifles. Styling driven by Weatherby... "modern" as viewed in the early space-age now is really dated.
For $700 I could come home with something REALLY nice from any large gunshow. It would most definately not be a Browning A Bolt.
Willie
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