That 7x57 seems a real bargain to me. It is hard to get a piece of would like that for the price. As fodder for a project rifle it has endless potential, from just some rasping and honing to full blown custom. I want one.

As for the bedding it is possible to almost match the wood with epoxy bedding. It is tricky when you mix in the sawdust it turns out the color of wet wood so you have to mix in lighter colored saw dust with some from the stock wood itself. Do several tests on scrap as the dry color is different again. May take several tries before you find the right mix of saw dust and pigment but when you do most people will have to be looking closely to notice it.

"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli