I think that safety is a pretty proven and accepted feature, with a relatively minor disproval. (But who uses the safety on anything anyway?) I think the best winning formulas these days include at least two out of these three: cheap, cheap, accurate. Just about everyone builds something that fits that model.
The environment that you live in is significantly more challenging than where most people in the U.S. live, so you are likely to put more demands on a firearm than most folks.
A tale of 2 243s:
#1 is a Remington 700 SA CDL-SF bedded in a McM McM Hunter stock. It shoots MOA and cost around $1,600 as it sits.
#2 is a Marlin XS7. It shoots MOA and cost around $500 as it sits.
Which rifle is a better value for a novice or casual whitetail hunter?
