OK, I'm a Bubbaising low life.

[Rick the Librarian]

To me a receiver, especially one almost certainly a drill rifle receiver, can be made into anything you want. An original military rifle, especially still with original parts, is another story.

[purple]

I think I found the right solution many yrs ago when I sportered an early Remington M1903 action. Everything about the rifle was pretty much toast, except the receiver and some of the action parts. The receiver below the stockline was pitted like the surface of the moon, but it was sound and slick and there was no pitting on any critical areas. I put on a new 03A3 barrel, chopped it to 22 inches, installed a new 03A3 bolt with the handle already bent, installed a Redfield Jr mount and a Burris 6x scope, a Buehler safety, and a commercial alloy trigger guard with a hinged floorplate, and fitted it to a sporter stock. The rifle has proven to be a reliable MOA shooter with 150, 165, and 180gr handloads and has gotten me some very nice Whitetails over the yrs. After 800 rds it is still shooting where it is pointed. It is a bit of an "Ugly Betty", but I did get a nice reliable and accurate hunting rifle without profaning history by altering a nice military rifle.

[Doug Rammel]

I sent an AIM remington receiver and a new remington barrel to Chuck. Had enough spare parts to put one together. Chuck worked his magic and I have a very nice shooter. It keeps me from shooting my originals.

[Col. Colt]

The obvious point is, it would be economically STUPID to modify a full military rifle in sound condition into a sporter today. Throwing money away. Your cheaper and better options are obvious:

First - Best Value is an already Sporterized rifle that has been drilled and tapped. As already noted, you get a lot for $2-500, usually much of what you need. You may find a really nice stock, bent bolt, etc as already mentioned.
I picked up a beautiful 1903 in a very nice Bishop stock, Redfield 70 Reciever sight, great original barrel, polished and blued with some wear to the finish - for $350! If the reciever ring had not been rounded at the front it
would have made a great 1903 USMC replica sniper. As it is, it's going to be my .30-06 hunting rifle, so it's military brother doesn't have to get wet of dinged.
Second - Next best option is a Drill Rifle reciever with no real damage to the reciever ring. No collector is ever going to be happy with it, anyway, once an arc has been struck on it. Maybe more expensive, but it saves an
unmolested reciever from being wasted.

Seems clear enough to me...... CC