Best money I've ever spent on a rifle would be either the marlin model 60 I bought off the consignment rack at the sporting goods store in Missoula I worked for $100 that was almost brand new. Bought it a few years ago and I've shot 1000s of rounds through it. Left it with the factory open sites and can shoot smarties candy out of the air with it and can also split playing cards in half.
About 5 or 6 years ago, I worked at a different sporting goods store in Great Falls and someone had come in and sold us a marlin 336 with the factory camo stock and I bought it for $135. I've only killed a couple deer with it but its one of the most fun rifles I have to shoot. I put a skinner front blade and skinner express peep on it.
