The list of rifles I would not pay for is shorter then the ones I would pay for.
I shoot mostly Savage. I have shot the new crop of low cost rifles from Ruger, Marlin, and Winchester. Tika and Weatherby vanguard's are also favorites of mine.
The short list of rifles I wouldn't pay for:
The latest crop of Remington 700 or 783. I've have experienced feed and accuracy issues with both.
Browning AB3. Its a good rifle but for the money you are not getting anything more than the Winchester XPR. Oh yeah a wood stock. In that case I would try the Mossburg Patriot.
Da HaYen
