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I'm a bolt-action rifle shooter and think it's an ideal rifle for a person who is getting started with shooting and maintaining a hunting rifle, not to mention expert hunters and shooters.
You have enough money to buy a really nice rifle and suggest you go to a good local dealer and try hefting and mounting all kinds of rifles to see how they fit your body. It's hard to see how rifles without scopes on them will handle with a scope, so look at used rifle that have them mounted and if you can't warm to the used models try to find a new one that is similar to the used one that fit you well and seemed nicest to handle.
After that, go to the gun show and see what else strikes your fancy, but don't buy anything! Either go back to the dealer, or try more dealers with good repute in the area. You can't handle too many guns before deciding on the one to buy.
Don't buy the most expensive gun you can afford unless you're absolutely convinced it's the one for you, in the caliber you will enjoy for a while. A rifle doesn't have to be the newest whiz-bang daddy on the block. The tried and true models may suit you very well.
Don't think that you're married to the rifle forever. Unlike wives, you can trade them and not get hurt too badly. I've had over a hundred guns, but never more than 30 or so at a time. It's more like a journey than a marriage.
Good luck and good shooting!
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