In your OP, you suggested that the new rifle doesn't have to be semi-auto. Have you given thought to the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle?
http://ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html
MSRP is $995.00, which means you'll find it for less than that. If they made a left-handed version of that rifle, I'd snap one up for myself. Your main problem would be your stipulation that the new rifle must accept your 10x mil dot scope. This rifle would require a long relief scout type of scope. But other than that, this seems like a pretty neat rifle to me.
In your OP, you suggested that the new rifle doesn't have to be semi-auto. Have you given thought to the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle?
http://ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html
MSRP is $995.00, which means you'll find it for less than that. If they made a left-handed version of that rifle, I'd snap one up for myself. Your main problem would be your stipulation that the new rifle must accept your 10x mil dot scope. This rifle would require a long relief scout type of scope. But other than that, this seems like a pretty neat rifle to me.
The Ruger Scout rifle will accept regular scopes other than the long eye relief. The rear sight is removable to allow a mount and ring to be placed there for the rear mount. Having said that just shot one with a 1x4x24 Trijicon with long eye relief mounted on it. Accuracy at 100 yards was amazing and held up very well and was still good out to 300 yards. I want one but have three .308s already so it will have to wait. The only downside to the rifle is the magazines, they are tough to load.
Ruger
