To the OP---
If you want to get into LH bolt rifles, and doing some of the work yourself, you might consider Savage as the place to start. Their barrel nut system allows you to set the headspace yourself with a headspace guage and basic tools, which you cannot do on a Remington or Winchester. Their triggers are better than they used to be and there are a number of specialty parts suppliers.
The Rem 700 is like the Chevy 350cu inch engine-an endless supply of aftermarket parts are available for itand a zillion "hotrods" have been built off it. Hard to go wrong with it, although by the time you get one fully tricked out, you are in the same price range as a Remclone custom action.
The Win 70 is not a great choice for a custom build right now because they have become so expensive (a good price for a standard boltface LH 70 is $1000.) If for some reason the price drops, then they might become feasible again. I think they are a great hunting action, but not worth a grand for a donor.
But if they make a Tikka in the cartridge you are interested in, they are hard to beat as a turnkey option. You just won't get to learn much home gunsmithing on them because there is not much to do.
