UPDATE - I called my friend yesterday to say the checks in the mail. He called me later to say he went to get the rifle (he paid the owner, I paid my friend) and he wanted me to know the whole package, rifle, scope, hard case, etc is absolutely like new. Even has all the original tags and owners information with it. So, I'm a happy guy. It's a rifle I wasn't exactly looking for, don't exactly need and really didn't budget for, BUT I'm sure it'll fit right in with the others in the gun safe. Besides we now have a yearly timber wolf season here in Minnesota, so a 243 is perfect for that.
Thanks guys, maybe I'll post some pictures when my buddy brings it the 1,500 miles to me in June.