Yeah. Picked my 84 Ruger M77 308 from a rack in a pawn shop in 2005. I was just getting into firearms at the time, so didn't know much. I knew that Ruger was pretty popular, and 308 was a good (inexpensive) round. There were two identical Rugers on the rack. Both of them brand spanking new. Lost in the warehouse for 2 decades. If I knew then how well mine shoots, I would have picked up both of them. For what it's worth, my gun has a heavy 24" barrel.
Really, the Rugers may not be the best platform if you intend to modify the rifle. They are tricky to properly bed, stocks can be difficult to find, and they had a bad rep for using sub par barrels on some of their rifles. I would look for a good Remington or Savage. I love to tinker, so a weathered stock, worn finish, or cosmetic issues are no big deal. The important thing is that the mechanics are all in proper working order and the barrel, action, tigger, and safety mechanism function as intended.
On a Savage or Remington, you can just about replace anything on the rifle with easily sourced parts. I wouldn't be afraid of a savage with a shot out barrel if the price was right.