If you buy a Remington and re-work it to make it the way it SHOULD be, you are now on the heels of a custom action, $$$-wise. If you buy a Savage, you can make it what you want, except for the triggers. If you are limited in funds, you have 2 REAL choices: 1.) buy a good used competition rifle. This will give you a GREAT foundation to work with; or 2.) Buy a Savage and you will have a VERY competitive rifle. However, at some point, if you continue in competition(s), you WILL buy a full-blown custom. That is why I would prefer to buy a really good used competition rifle. You will have to spend A LITTLE MORE than going the Savage route, however, once you have the foundation of a custom rifle, barrels is about all you need to change from there on out. In the L-O-N-G run, since you will eventually buy a full blown custom anyhow, I think it would actually be cheaper to start out with a good used custom. There are some really good deals out there if you look for them.