300 $ does not seems much money today, its 273 euro and I have seen people buying groceries for the weekend in the supermarket for this amount. would have been another summ in 1986, so much about inflation.
for north american hunting the .375 was the better idea in the long run if you don't do it for griz hunting every year and also there the .375 is more than adequate. in 2023 you maybe have grizzly back on your door what nobody imagine in 1986