Lager, Best to define where you want to go/accomplish. Not having owned that style Savage I am at a bit of loss, but a proper bedding job for the receiver section, Is the fore-end slightly Rounded on the bottom? flattening that out would promote better bag characteristics. There may be a trigger upgrade from 2nd party available. These can be accomplished by yourself. Bedding does take some expertise but is still doable at home with care. ( all got start somewhere). Biggest advantage that a 54 or kk or pick your poison from "match rifle" would be the triggers. A round receiver 54 available generally for $600-1200, KKUit about the same, -mileage being a factor though so rebarreling might be in order $ 4-600. A good smith doing a bedding Job up to apx $300. ( by the way a lot of those match rifles need bedding jobs as well. Oem they are not. Now as long as we are sliding down the slippery slope a nice BR specific stock wouldn't hurt $250-500.
The old statements: A home is a hole in the ground in which one pours money, Car is a portable hole, boat pouring in the water, gun - stuff the cash in one end spit it out the other, hey we all have our vises though, as long as we have fun doing it and sometimes learn a few things along the way. Been riding the slippery slope for some 40+ years