I find it much more rewarding to shoot something I've built, especially if it shoots well, than buying someone else's surplus. And I prefer to NOT spend a ton of coin on the latest HOTNESS, but instead make something costing a bit less work as well. To me, the challenge and the learning is a big part of the game.
So I bought a new 12FV on sale with rebate ($243 OTD), sold the barrel ($100), bought a new discounted barrel ($90) on the boards, a weaver 30 min rail ($45), new barrel nut and recoil lug ($75) and put it in a $200 stock. That's about $550 ready to shoot not counting scope. Later I added a target accutrigger ($20 after selling my varmint accutrigger) and have a 6mmBR that shoots better than I can out to 1000 yds.
So if you can wait to pick up deals on the boards and stores like Cabelas, you can build a really sweet shooting gun for a fraction of the cost of a used hand-me-down. Most importantly, you can say you put it together yourself.
YMMV.
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