In the US there are countless sporterized Mausers and other military rifles in gun shops and online. Most of them amateur jobs from the 1950s and 60s, and available at low prices. They are affordable, guilt-free donor rifles. The drawback is the project is rarely "cost effective" if resale price is the criteria. I bought a $350 sporterized Brno Persian-contract 98, a high quality action, with an early Timney trigger and Lyman sight. Rebarreled it for around $350 I think. Lucked into a beat up old $20 stock that closely resembled an Oberndorf Type B but mediocre grain. I removed the dents and stained it dark. Discovered a checkered pre-64 Model 70 buttplate in an old house I bought. Assembled and from across the room you'd think it was a pre-WWI Oberndorf or maybe old Rigby. But then, from across the same room you'd think I was an aristocrat. It's a wide room.

The finished rifle is exactly what I wanted but financially not worth the $800 - $900 I probably have in it. But so what? My car dropped $10,000 in value when I drove it off the lot and the wine I bought and drank yesterday I now can't get a penny for.