You can get a pretty nice rifle for that money. It depends on what you want it to do for you. Do you want it to be really light? Really accurate? Or really pretty? In reality with your budget you should be able to get a good mix of all the above, but you could focus on one aspect or another. Also, you could spend half your budget on the scope(or more!). There are so many options that it is hard to say what is best for you. But with any of the high end factory models and excellent optics you could use up most of that budget. Being from Europe, you might want to try the Tikka T3. I have heard nothing but good about it, and a friend of mine bought one for his father last Christmas. It handles great!
Like I said though, if you want to get a custom rifle there are just so many options that it would be hard to recommend something in good conscience.
I hope I helped a little, Good Luck!

As for the high budget, that depends a lot on where you are. I suspect that if Doberman's buying his rifle in Scotland 5K wouldn't go nearly as far as it would here in Canada or certainly not the US.

As for calibre - any centrefire rifle will be adequate for your needs (fox and deer). I would say as low as a .223 (AKA: 5.6 mm) up to as heavy as you're allowed.

For those here who know specific models better, weather resistance and lightweight will been important factors given Scotland's terrain and weather. Off the top pf my head: Remington Model 710. It comes with a Bushnell scope (not a "top of the line" model, but not junk either) and in Canada retails for about $600-700. It's available in .270 (and also 30-06 but that's of no use to you).

That would be the low-cost option - but as no doubt others will quickly point out there may be a quality issue involved.

The money may not go as far, but it is still a good chunk of change and should have no problem finding something that fits his needs. That was one reason I suggested the guns from Sako, since they are of european manufacture. I would also guess that the high quality european optics are a little less expensive than they are here, but I could be wrong.

First of all thanks for your advice so far,

I have found out that I can buy a rifle from the US or Canada but have to have it sent to a fire arms dealer here in Scotland you are right about the price difference. Scotland is very expensive, Some rifles are the same price new in the US as they are secound hand here.
I think what I really need is a very accurate rifle. From what I have researched so far the 7mm seems to be a very versatile calibre and I think thats what I will go for and one that is quiet durabile if that is possible. As for the scope it would have to be able to take me out to about 600-700 metres. It's a tough decision as I cannot try before I buy a lot of the guns that are available and thats where your advice is invaluable.

Thanks again

Kindest Regards
John

Dobermann- can you buy the guns from Sako in Finland without going through a US distributor?

Wow! 700 meters? That is approaching half a mile! Maybe you all hunt a little differently over the pond, but that is an outstanding distance. For reference I have used a straight 6x out to 500 yards (457 meters) on deer.

Another thing you might want to check into is relative ammo costs for the two cartridges or what your reloading costs will be. I agree that the 7mm will give you more options, but if the 7mm ammo ends up costing more, it may not be worth it.

Good luck!

At those kinds of ranges your going to have to throw a good bullet with a BC minimum .460 at 3400fps or faster out of either one of those calibers for deer. 700 meters is a long ways. There's a rifle builder down in Arizona, USA that builds rifles for 600+ yds on those little desert blacktail, (change that to coues), they have down there, but these are custom guns and his caliber choice is 300 Weatherby with a 30" barrel.

As far as a scope goes it's definitly going to have to be a good target style with adjustable everything. Anything over 12x is almost impossible for me to hold without a good rest. I don't use anything over 9x for hunting and 18x for small targets in the field. Get a pair of pants with some very deep pockets and take a look at the Night Force scopes. With the paralax your going to get at those ranges your going to need the best you can get.

Check with Dakota Arms, Inc. @ HC55, Box 326, Sturgis, SD 57785. They build a bolt action with several custom features inclusive and it's available in 7mm Dakota, it looks like a 280 on steroids. It is designed from the 404 Jeffrey case and headspaces on the shoulder, which will give you better accuracy. They sell the guns, brass, dies, manual, etc...

With the Dakota rifle and accessories and the Night Force scope you will probably spend every bit of your budget.

A 7mm Remington Magnum would probably be the most sensible choice if you want a round that shoots fast, flat, and packs just about the same punch at long range as a 300 Winchester Magnum. If you don't feel you need that much cartridge, a 280 Remington, a 270 Winchester, perhaps even a 270 WSM, 7mm-08, etc etc, all would work just fine.

PS: I am an extremely proud owner of two rifles chambered for the 7mm Remington Magnum, and the cost for ammo isn't radically different from that for standard calibers. If you handload, this round can be powered down, loaded to general factory load status, and it can be loaded about even with the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, although the Remington Big 7 does eat a lot of powder in the process.

Fox and deer? What about a .243 Winchester

Fox and deer, whoa! NOOOO you don't need high intensity cartridges for game like this. You'd be best served if you went with a 22-250, 243, or 6mm. A 270 or 7mm would just blow a fox away, complete waste of energy. Deer aren't so big either, so the best choice would be a smaller round.