The best thing about being a student on a budget is overanalyzing everything on your first semi-custom rifle. My ideas for the interarms MKX are now turning to a midweight, all-weather 30-06. I've already scrounged up a new firing pin, dakota safety, and kepplinger trigger. Besides Blue-printing the action, I'd like to get it lightened a bit (ala g33/40 cuts), a new bolt handle, and some custom talley 8-40 screw on bases (similar to the m70 bases Mr. Kobe made a few threads back).
I was going to justswitch mauser barrels and be done with it, but I've decided if im going to do something, i better do it right the first time, so i'm going to order a CM Krieger at 22" and 10" twist. I really like the sharp radius on barrel shank (similar to lon pauls .350 rigby). Could a smith recontour a #2 sporter to a similar shape? I want about .6 diameter at the muzzle. Planning on using recknagel banded rear sight base, banded sling stud, and banded front sight w/ the folding hood, does anybody have any experience with these? A swift/blackburn or wiebe bottom metal will be used, and i plan on bedding the entire rifle in a McMillan Edge stock (painted brown w/ a red pad ) and cerakote all the metal including the talley QR rings matte black. Then top it off with a leupold vx-3 2.5-8x36.
I really like the history and craftsmanship that sporting rifles of the past and present provide, and i've tried really hard to mesh some of the old and some of the new to hopefully create something that funtions better than both. I really appreciate any feedback or suggestions, hearing from experieced hunters/builders kind of solidifies some of the ideas in my head. I'm still trying to price things out, so if anyone could send me a pm with a quote of any of the above i'd be really grateful. Thanks for having me on AR, i've learned alot and hope to learn more!

Nice budget for a student.

Craigster: I blame it on all the classy rifles post on AR, 24hcf, and NitroExpress . It has taken about 2 years to get to this point, and will likely take another 3-4 to finish up. This project has been a continuous source of fun, and spreading out the costs over a couple years doesn't hurt quite as bad. If its not this project, it'd be something else.

A little late on this reply - sorry.
I had a similar thought some years ago. In order to shave a few oz from the project a gunsmith (now he seems to be a knife component supplier) reduce the Mark X ring to small ring diameter.
Mine is a .270 that's relatively light, has a nice piece of wood and shoots well. Yours sounds like an interesting project, and the theorizing and planning is a good part of the fun.

I am not sure but I doubt that the barrel can have its profile changed successfully.

I have fond memories of all the dreaming about hunting I did back in school!