sorry for asking it again but know one answerd my question yet. Im trying to find an old crappy gun for cheap money to just clean up and make it look good for a show peace. It would be a winter project.
post a "want to buy" add in the classifieds. I don't think you're going to have much luck if you're under the age of 18, though.
The cheapest military surplus rifle is the Mosin Nagant because the russians made so many of them. Your best bet would be to find one in very bad shape and get it for cheap.
What's your budget? Local shops sometimes contain the best treasures.... Go out of your way to a shop you haven't been to or one you haven't been to in a while...
The best place to start is with one previously owned by someone who bought an old crappy gun for cheap money to just clean up and make it look good for a show peace.
EDIT: You can always buy an air-sof AR and paint it to be a badass tactical combat rifle. Nobody will know the difference if it displayed where nobody can really see it that well.