Remington 1903-A3

Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
Well fudge... I went down to the gunsmith to drop off my Remington 870 barrel to have him cut it for choke tubes, behold on the shelf sits a Remington 1903-A3 with no price tag, so I get to fondling it and ask if it is a project rifle. Bob tells me that it isn't, he is selling it from his collection for $400... yes boys and girls $400... guess who now owns an 03-A3? Yup me...

Now to think I went there for $70 worth of service and walk out $470 further in the poor house...
 
JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Man! That is a good find! Those are scarce in NEPA ! I have been searching
Picture? We need pictures!
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
He also has a nice Kraig and a cool K98 that was converted to 12 ga (dont ask me I have no clue)

I have to pick it up tomorrow, he was headed out to shoot trap and didn't have time for the 4473. The bore is kinda dark and does show some pitting, I am hoping it will shoot with cast but it may need a new barrel, the question is 8mm-06 rebore from JES or a new old stock 30-06 barrel.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
JES does GREAT work ! !

I've seen 5 of his rebores, they are all nail drivers.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
Yeah I think JES would be my first choice honestly, a 338-06 shooting Ben style (plain base) would be cheap and easy. I would have to find a NOS barrel if I went that route to put it back original would be in order.

If this rifle will hold 4 MOA it will stay original.
 
Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
Greetings
I would not be surprised that your "dark bore" shoots fine. Dark or shinny it is whether the rifling and grooves are smooth. Have had a couple dark bores in my life with Krags and Winchesters. They all shot respectable with a proper sized cast bullet. One 73 in 32-20 shoots minute of ground hog out to 40 yards with interrupted ugly rusty rifling with the 115 cast sized to .315.
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
If it's stock don't fuss with it ...if not have a ball....that's half it's value...now ..screw with it and that will be $100.00 more than it will be worth......

BtW ...there are cheap...nos Remington barrels out there.....should shoot OK the way the barrel is ....

Sorry to be hard core...just hate to see those Bubbaed no mater how good the job....

A good ....Remington 03a3 can fetch $800.00
Smith Coronas ...$1,000.00

Last Saturday..I picked up an as issued SC..single proofed ..all correct..for a little more.. $450...a $1000.00-$1,200.00 rifle..

The other one made up from parts retailed for $ 275.00

Dan 03. 03a3 lover
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Nice find!

I've a 2-43 dated, four-groove that had been sporterized, but I put back to it's original configuration. It particularly likes the RCBS 30-180-SP and Unique, but it's anxiously awaiting testing of the NOE 311195 FN, that was a recent purchase from Minute of Berm.

Krags are quite spiffy and unique, and their fun factor is no less than that of the '03-A3. If the one you saw isn't outrageously priced it's guaranteed to be a thrill to own.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
I prefer to keep my milsurps as issued, but if it won't shoot it will be fixed to shoot. I own rifles, not wall hangers, if it is worth 800 bucks ask it sits but it won't shoot you can have it for $800 shipped and I will buy me another rifle. If you won't pay $800 for it then that is an arbitrary number to me and it doesn't matter.

Sorry to be so hardcore but that's how I feel, that being said, 4 MOA is pretty easy to obtain.
 
smokeywolf

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
Hope you can show us some pics of the old girl, once you can get her in your hot little hands.
The 03 is my 16 year-old's favorite. Although, he has yet to shoot the Krag.
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I'm with you, Josh. I buy what is affordable and in a condition that is appealing and shoot it as often as possible.

Oh, and I love to hear the stories they tell.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
I promise to post up a good bit of pics once I pick it up, I am really excited to shoot it and fondle it and clean it and cast for it and repeat the process... :D
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
try the 311041 on top of 18grs of 2400 and a LR primer before you go messing about with it.
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
fiver said:
try the 311041 on top of 18grs of 2400 and a LR primer before you go messing about with it.
Click to expand...

With good eyes and original sights...I bet it will hold 2 MOA with the 315 and 18 grs 2400 Or the 311332 with 12.7 grs of Red Dot....dark bore or not...

.311 is its usual preference on bullet size....

Give it time ,they all prefer different loads...

BTW...one way to improve its accuracy with out damaging it is to temporarily replace the front sight with a Lyman 17 A...easily done by taping out the front sight retaining pin from left to right then using a wood block tap the front sight off ...slip.the Lyman on and tap it in place with the wooden block ..no need to reinstall the pin...

Now you have a potential MOA rifle..
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
I plan on using all the tricks to get this 03A3 to shoot, I have always wanted an unmolested Springfield. Bob called me at 0900 to tell me he wouldn't be open until noon today, so I may have to wait until tomorrow to pick up the rifle as I have to go to work sometime between 11am and 4pm... dammit...
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
99 percent of the time what it takes to make those shoot is NOT all the tricks people think they need....bedding etc..etc....

But rather they simply need to be shimed at the rear receiver bearing point around the rear receiver screw bushing....

03's and 03A3's are designed to have 2-5 # of pressure need to lift the barrel off the stock tip....

They are set up that way from the arsenal.

However through time and use ..that area under the receiver rear bearing gets cruched...if you look you will see an indent...

As the wood crushes through time the downward pressure on the barrel at the stock tip is lost....with it goes accuracy...

Shimming the rear receiver restores the pressure on the barrel ....and the accuracy
Returns...

As a matter of fact it works so well you are not allowed to do it in some military matches..

Also some guys loosen the rear receiver screws between matches to help mitigate that cruching...

My favorite method of shimming is to take a solid brass cup hook beat it flat... cut off the screw part and install it around the bushing.

The other half of the accuracy story is to make sure there is clearance between the barrel and bayonet lug/band....

Doing only the above I have gotten 4 rounds touching...1 out @ 100 yds....as have many others.....

As I said these shoot ..2 stage triggers and stock configuration... the only thing that holds them back is the front sight....

I sold Two 17a's...to a friend with two stock 03a3'..he installed them and immediately cut his groups to a thrid...he ended up shooting the centers out of playing cards @100 yds with jacketed reloads....
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
hmm that might be better than the card stock i shimmed under mine at the front band.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
quicksylver said:
99 percent of the time what it takes to make those shoot is NOT all the tricks people think they need....bedding etc..etc....

But rather they simply need to be shimed at the rear receiver bearing point around the rear receiver screw bushing....

03's and 03A3's are designed to have 2-5 # of pressure need to lift the barrel off the stock tip....

They are set up that way from the arsenal.

However through time and use ..that area under the receiver rear bearing gets cruched...if you look you will see an indent...

As the wood crushes through time the downward pressure on the barrel at the stock tip is lost....with it goes accuracy...

Shimming the rear receiver restores the pressure on the barrel ....and the accuracy
Returns...

As a matter of fact it works so well you are not allowed to do it in some military matches..

Also some guys loosen the rear receiver screws between matches to help mitigate that cruching...

My favorite method of shimming is to take a solid brass cup hook beat it flat... cut off the screw part and install it around the bushing.

The other half of the accuracy story is to make sure there is clearance between the barrel and bayonet lug/band....

Doing only the above I have gotten 4 rounds touching...1 out @ 100 yds....as have many others.....

As I said these shoot ..2 stage triggers and stock configuration... the only thing that holds them back is the front sight....

I sold Two 17a's...to a friend with two stock 03a3'..he installed them and immediately cut his groups to a thrid...he ended up shooting the centers out of playing cards @100 yds with jacketed reloads....
Click to expand...
Some really good info here, thank you for that, now please understand this one thing. I will NOT start cutting on this rifle/stock unless ALL and I mean ALL of the tricks won't work. I really really want an UNMOLESTED 1903-A3, please re-read this sentence.

I will do anything that is not permanent to this rifle to get it to work, this includes a new front sight, shimming the receiver, possibly a light lapping of the bore (if accuracy can not be obtained ANY other way) All of this being said, if this rifle will only hold 4 MOA at 100 yds I will be happy. Really, I will be content. I want this rifle to compliment my K98k, and the green parkerizing is really neat, I thought it was duracoated but it turns out that is an reaction to cosmoline.

You seem to be very knowledgeable with the 1903's and I take advice willingly, trust me I bet you will be tired of hearing from me by the time I am done!
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Josh said:
Some really good info here, thank you for that, now please understand this one thing. I will NOT start cutting on this rifle/stock unless ALL and I mean ALL of the tricks won't work. I really really want an UNMOLESTED 1903-A3, please re-read this sentence.

I will do anything that is not permanent to this rifle to get it to work, this includes a new front sight, shimming the receiver, possibly a light lapping of the bore (if accuracy can not be obtained ANY other way) All of this being said, if this rifle will only hold 4 MOA at 100 yds I will be happy. Really, I will be content. I want this rifle to compliment my K98k, and the green parkerizing is really neat, I thought it was duracoated but it turns out that is an reaction to cosmoline.

You seem to be very knowledgeable with the 1903's and I take advice willingly, trust me I bet you will be tired of hearing from me by the time I am done!
Click to expand...

It will never happen ...the getting tired part...helping some one with their guns is like owning it yourself....also fun watching it come together..

Dan
 
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