When I lived in the midwest I bought a WW1 “Spanish” 7mm Mauser carbine AND 500rds of WW1 era fmj ammo for about $70.
I took most of the forestock wood off, shaved down the rest, stained it black and had a gunsmith replace the clunky block & toggle sights with peep sights for about $30. Result was the Ugly Stick. Ugliest rifle you ever saw, but a tack driver and a critter gitter, and just about indestructible...plus with most of the wood removed a light carry on long forays. Had it for a decade and then gave it to a friend’s kid as his first deer rifle when I moved offshore.
BTW out of that 500rds? Only two misfires in the lot, but I also discarded about eight or ten that had visible cracking around the neck. Good deal.
my spanish mauser was converted to chamber 7.62x51, but the spanish used a low power round. I have carfully fired high pressure rounds, but the rifling isn’t very effective at high pressure. I get keyholes. After learning what I could, I retired it.
My two Krags still work fine. My most accurate rifle is the P-17 American Enfield. I can touch bullet holes all day with that.