I was in your shoes not so long ago, went with the Howa 1500 but with the GRS laminate stock. I have to admit I am extremely pleased with it. Basically it's the set up you see in the shooting magazines like Sporting Gun on the full page Howa adverts. Friends of mine who know more about all this than I have been very positive about it which is dandy. But for me it looks good, get a full set up for under £1500 and it shoots great. Five round grouping at 100yrds is all nicely within a 2inch group. (Using 70grain Norma if that makes any difference to anything) I am told in time I will want to upgrade the scope (currently Nikko Sterling 3-12 50) but for the time being for what I use it for and when I use it the scope is perfectly fine. But my field testing thus far is foxes under lamp up to 70yrds and deer up to 175yrds. All shot on target no problems. Right enough of me babbling on, I am a novice so there are far more experienced guys out there who will probably point you in a better direction than I can.