I have a Mod 8 Remington in 30 Remington (better looking twin to the 30-30 Win) that was purchased new by my Great Grandfather. He used it as a saddle gun (I still have the scabbard too) until he died. My grandfather kept it until he died and I got it. I killed my first deer with it and a few more after that. My youngest son killed his first deer with it. There is some blue left on the metal and the stock will soak up a finger dip of boiled linseed oil every year. I have an extra barrel for it just in case the original one wears out (I can't imagine when that might be).
So, the moral of the story. Save your money, buy quality, buy once. Expense does not necessarily equate directly to quality, but mostly does. Do your research and find out what is for sale. Are you buying a name or a quality rifle.
If I were a young man again, there are some things I would likely do differently than I did them the first time. One of those things involves buying firearms. Many of the firearms I have are hand-me-downs. They were purchased at a time when American firearms manufacturers made firearms differently than they do today. They were made to last in use under much harsher conditions than most firearms see today. It shows when a rifle can be carried through five generations and it still works with the precision and reliability that it did when new.
IF I were doing it all over again, I would certainly watch my money more closely and in doing so would have more of it to spend on important stuff rather than pre-piss and cigarette smoke. If I just had that back I could go on a shopping spree at James Purdey and sons. I would buy pre 64 Model 70s for my bolt guns, pre 64 Model 94s and one or two Model 95s. I would buy Parker shotguns and Colt pistols (and Smith and Wessons). If I could only buy one a year or one every two years that would be what I would do. Now, a Stevens 311 is just as good as a Parker, ….. until you carry the Parker, with the proper cast, and barrel length. Then you're done for. Now I'm not likely to be dragging a Parker down into the brackish duck marsh when I could just as well take the Stevens to do the job, but, I would if it were the only shotgun I had. That's the difference.
I don't know how much that Model 8 cost new. But it was state of the art, it worked every time and it was damn near adopted by the US Military as a battle weapon. Police forces did use it and as I have read, supposedly Frank Hammer used one to shoot Bonnie AND Clyde. Mine stood the test of use and the test of time. I would take it hunting tomorrow and have full confidence in it.
So, My advice, is, Save your money until you are absolutely sure you are getting the best quality for your bucks, then research it one more month. When you buy, take care of the firearm and it will, as Mr. Popeye and Mr. Horselips have indicated, out last your grandkids. And, they will have a story to tell about the rifle.
Alan