Kirk,
Yeah, I bought my first Remington 700 in 1974, a brand-new ADL .270, for $179 at a hardware store in Wolf Point. Which at the time was just about half a month's take-home pay for the job I had at the time. It turned out to be one of the most accurate big-game rifles I've ever owned, including a bunch of customs.
NOT trying to one up ya.
I bought my first 700 BDL 270 in Fayetteville Ar in 1976 for $149.00, At the same time Wally World's price was $179.
Jerry
