Low budget, how does $125 sound?
Was at an auction, guy held up this Fabrique Nationale 7x57 Mauser made for Venazulian Police, bolt had been professionally bent, action drilled and tapped. I honed the trigger, worked up loads with 140 Nosler Partition, ballistic tip, accubond, 150g Nosler of the same. The carbine shoots 1" at 100, 2" at 200, and 2.75" at 300, kills like the Hammer of Thor!
Was lucky that the barrel was pristine and was chambered with a short throat, plenty of room in the mag box for the bullets to touch the lands and still use mag box.
Rifle has not been bedded or barrel freefloated...load development was done with the 3x9 Pentax, and there was some wind! I have killed deer, crows, and hogs with it, no coyotes yet.
$125 for an FN Mauser?!?!? WITH the handle work already properly done? In 7x57? Geez, how come I'm never at those auctions?
Seriously, nice score!