Don't know about this year, but I think our local gun shop could sell a first gen. Vanguard last year for $399.

If you are in DFW Cabelas has this one on sale. It appears it may be limited to 243 cal. only. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Weatherby-Vanguard-Bolt-Action-Rifles/706374.uts

R700 ADL from Academy.

Tons of aftermarket support, VERY accurate guns when done right,

I have bought a ton of them just for the actions to use on custom builds but every now and then I would shoot them before pulling them down.

I don't think you'll find a Weatherby S2 for sub 400 which I why I was saying to bump up the bottom by another $100. Buds gunshop online has a bunch of different S2's on their website for $480.

+1 I've been very impressed with Savage rifles with the Accutrigger. They are reasonably priced but can hold their own with much more expensive rifles.

My Rem 700 ADL is good too, but I had to spend $200 for a decent trigger putting it way out of your $400 range.

I must be odd ball out. I can't stand accu-trigger.

I pick the Remmy ADL, because you can customize it as you go. You can make an ADL shoot.

And down the road if you want a custom, you have an action.

Second pick would be vangaurd gen I. But you have limited options on customizing.

Third would be savage axis , but I'd go straight from store to gunsmith and have him work on the trigger.

I'd like to see what retail price will end up on the browning ab3.

ADL is the only one I would shoot

I've shot the savage axis, remmy 710's and the 770's, the mossburgs and they are sub par IMO.

My advice to a beginning or new hunter, buy something quality. The ADL or the SPS is a quality firearm

Everyone always touts the accuracy of these econo rifles and I agree some are accurate, but go handle a ruger American then a M77 and tell me which is the better rifle

Ive had a bunch of 77's over the years. Not one of them could/can shoot like the RAR 243 I bought last year.

I love walnut and blued steel as much as anyone, but for a rookie hunter, (who may or may not become a rifle loony), or for a beater/truck gun, the RAR is a great buy, IMO.

I agree about the MK II's. to get them to shoot you had to send to the smith.

but I have a ruger hawkeye and they will shoot better than any MK I or MKII

can u get a hawkeye for <$400?

If I remember right this Poll will close midnite tonite, so get your licks in while you can on this "Under $400" poll. So far there has been a couple minor surprises, but I did not do as good a job as I would have liked in narrowing the selections and excluding some discontinued products still hanging around that skew the Price Window.

Next, I;m gonna do 'nuther Poll about "What defines the Perception of Quality in a Deer Rifle the most", based on the concept that PERCEPTION IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, IS THE OWNER/BUYER'S REALITY".

This next poll will happen mebbe in a couple days or early next week for a couple days. I am struggling a little on how to frame some of the questions I'd like to see the answers to that are a window into why some things of IMO equal price-per-value sell better than others.

Ya'll chip in and PM me with ideas you'd like to see addressed along those lines and I'll try and incorporate them.
Ron