[YammyMonkey]

I bought a Browning A-Bolt Medallion and a Leupold VariXIII 3.5-9 for just over $1K and it was a left handed rifle so it was about $80 more than the right handed version. Couldn't be happier.

 

[YammyMonkey]

Since it was brought up, I also was told that browning triggers were horrible, but after looking at some new samples I was convinced to buy an A-Bolt and the trigger is not only adjustable, it's also very very smooth and crisp. I heard the bad trigger bit from at least 3 shops/people before I got to try one out. All that I tried were very crisp.

There are probably better buys out there than the browning if you're looking for strictly performance, but I prefer my guns to have some soul as well as performance and I just don't get that soul from plastic and stainless or dull wood and cheap bluing.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a synthetic/stainless gun if I were looking for something to take a beating, but it wouldn't make my never to sell list like my brownings and my Kimber.