Why not just buy somebody else’s ruined “sporter” instead of destroying another historic collectible? These abominations are all over the place. Mint condition, all-matching Mauser K98k rifles that were selling for $35 50 years ago are bringing $2,000+ today, because so many people (known as “Bubbas” in the colecting world) chopped them up to make deer rifles back when. If you want a deer rifle, why not buy a new one? It will be a better rifle than you can build, despite what some gunsmith tells you, and a lot cheaper, too.
I’ll give you credit for one thing: At least Mosin-Nagant rifles are junk to start with.
Part of the point was to do it myself, not to get one already done. Also, I chose a Mosin simply because, while it is collectible, it isn't so valuable that modifying it would ruin a piece of history. At that, from what I've seen, due to the amount of original Mosins out there, you can increase the value a lot by converting it. (not that I plan to sell). It was more of the challenge of doing it versus just buying something.
.oh, and I have a half dozen hunting rifles so the point also wasn’t to get one for that purpose. I usually use a Kimber Montana 30-06.
Tell that to all the dead Germans.