About a year ago, I picked up a very cosmetically rough Ruger Model 77 in .300 Win mag. Bluing worn, stock scratched and finish worn off in spots, but had a Leupol Vari-X II 3x9 and a nice bore. With sales tax it was less than $375.00 out the door.
The scope was boggered-up and would not adjust for zero, so sent it back to Leupold and in a weeks time it was back, completeley replaced the adjustment mechanisim and a new front lens glass.
I sanded the stock and refinished it with polyurethane and cleaned up the barreled action and painted it with flat black industrial metal paint (like is used on big equipment).
After figuring in the cost to mail the scope to Leupold, and the polyurethane, (I already had the paint), when I sold it I got enough out if it to go to Cabela's and get a NIB Remington 700 in .300 Win mag and still had a little over $10.00 left after sales tax on the Remington.