safariman hit the major points, though I don't think the lock time is long enough to matter on a hunting rifle.
Think of it as an American mauser which is all it is. You don't hear anyone balk at customizing mausers!?!?!?
I love Springfield 03-A3s, personally and have 2. One is a sporterized Smith-Corona that has never been D&T'd but wears a williams peep & shoots 200 gr Speers into tighter groups than I ever though I could achieve with a peep sight. It also has some gorgeous wood.
The other is a Remington with a Sako take-off barrel chambered to 6mm-250 with a nice old fajen stock. It was put together by a benchrest 'smith in Tenn and shoots extremely well. I purchased it here from a gunsmith who'd taken it as payment for work and it was rough. I had it parkerized and refinished the stock when the first group on paper was this:
She won't win beauty contests like your custom likely will, but I LOVE her and I think its proof that these rifles can be built accurate!