Not sure if the Weatherby Vanguard has been mentioned, but for a $500 rifle you can't beat it.
I had one in a 240 WBY and it did 3/4 MOA easy.
Looking to add another in a 6.5-300 WBY for a lighter packing rifle for deer and elk that can get thrown around and I don't have to care to much about it.
I would also vote for a Tikka.
Not a factory rifle guy myself these days, but if I was to buy one, those are the only two I would even consider under $1K. Still leaves a lot of room for a really nice $1K piece of glass, and a lot of powder and bullets...