451 Detonics
Member
If you don't want to go with the options you listed in the OP I would say start watching gunbroker closely. Last year I picked up a semi bubba'ed 98 Mauser on the cheap. Two good thing had been done to it however, properly drilled and tapped and the barrel cut to 22 inches and re-crowned correctly. It had ridiculously high rings on it and a cheap plastic stock. I ended up with $140 in it shipped.
Today it wears a Boyd thumbhole stock, has the bolt handle turned down for lower rings, and I use either a Gibbs 3 round detachable magazine or a 20 round mag. Total in the project without the Glass was well under $400. If you stick with the internal mag you would save a good bit. This rifle shoots 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with surplus. Next summer I will start working up handloads for it.
Today it wears a Boyd thumbhole stock, has the bolt handle turned down for lower rings, and I use either a Gibbs 3 round detachable magazine or a 20 round mag. Total in the project without the Glass was well under $400. If you stick with the internal mag you would save a good bit. This rifle shoots 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with surplus. Next summer I will start working up handloads for it.