Remington 1903-A3

[Josh]

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

Challenge accepted

 

[quicksylver]

While you are waiting. ..here's something else to consider....match shooters replace the stamped trigger guard (save the originl)
With a milled one..because they belive the stamped one has too much flex....especially when torquing the receiver screws. ...nice part about that is you can buy an original milled one use it and then sell it for what you paid for it...
...

 

[Josh]

So they are buying a 1903 trigger guard and putting it on the 1903-A3's? Makes sense to me.

 

[quicksylver]

YUP....At the time I believe this Remington 03a3 was wearing a 10x scope...100 yds

This 03 has a Lyman 48 rear ,17a front.. used a .312 bullet because the throat is so worn.... also 100 yds

BTW ..these were drilled and tapped by some one else otherwise dead stock original.. yes original barrels

 

[quicksylver]

Bet you are really chomping at the bit now......

 

[Josh]

Well I will have it at 10 AM tomorrow, thanks for making me lick the window until Monday...

 

[Josh]

Got it, pictures in 10 min

 

[quicksylver]

Got it, pictures in 10 min

Ya...now I am liking the windows

 

[Josh]

Ok 1903-A3 gents, explain everything lol

 

[JWFilips]

If I'm not mistaken the RA with the flaming bomb would mean Royal Artillery Is that possible?

 

[Josh]

From everything I am seeing RA is an arsenal that made the barrel. It is a 5-43 and my receiver is 6-43. I don't think this was rearsenaled when it went in, it has the FJA stamp but I think it was proofed again and sent back out.

 

[fiver]

it's the dot in the bomb I don't remember.

 

[Josh]

I am losing faith in this barrel, it is trashed, and I mean trashed.

 

[JWFilips]

fiver,
punch mark; Arsenal rebuild?

 

[JWFilips]

Josh,
I have a J.P.Sauer Und Son 98 Mauser That I thought had a trashed barrel. I fire lapped it and it shoots very well today with an oversize bullet! It was a project however
Jim

 

[quicksylver]

If I'm not mistaken the RA with the flaming bomb would mean Royal Artillery It that possible?

Could be Jim !.....but actually stands for Remington Arms....

So here is the skinny....on your new prize and a prize it is....at least for someone like me....

You have two guns...yup !

You have a 1903A3 Remington..great, gun in great condition and it is an arsenal refurb...The Remington parts are the Bolt ( Possibly),the receiver and barrel, possibly the swivels and bands as well.

You have a Smith Corona stock and trigger guard, possibly SC butt plate , ( I would have to see more pictures)...

The stock is single proofed ...great...really...cartouches are fabulous

Me being me I would take advantage of having the mixed parts...and build two original guns...getting the right stock for the Remington is easy and you have plenty of choices, cost vary but run about 100.00 and up.. straight (original), semi pistol ( scant) and c-stock (target
I have a nice one you could have cheaply..)..

The SC stock is a gift....if you could find a SC semi sporterized ( they show up and can be had for about 350 to 400) and throw it in that stock you would have another $800.00 gun..or sell the stock and trigger guard on Flea Bay they will fight over it.

As for the barrel....I have seen worse ( as a matter of fact the 03a3 that shot that target I posted was worse by far..give it a good scrubbing and take another picture...it's a two groove...
As I said those NOS can be had for cheap...120-175

A story behind my 03a3, it was advertised as having a dark bore with pits....I took a chance and bought it any ways , for $350., when I got it home I looked down the barrel, laughed, ran a patch down the bore out came
powder residue and a spider...that explained the dark bore and pits.....after that came 6-8 theatments of foam bore scrubber..

She is a beauty and you got her cheap... now be patient with her and she will respond...

More pictures please Bolt, band markings...Dan

BTW.... a cast bullet in the muzzle tells nothing , try a FMJ bullet

 

[JWFilips]

Dan,
You know your stuff!

 

[quicksylver]

Dan,
You know your stuff!

Jim I do not know a lot but what I do know ..I know...

 

[Josh]

This is 100% a 4 groove barrel.

 

[JWFilips]

I remember when I started in cleaning that Mauser barrel: I pretty much used up a whole bottle of Sweets 2 full bags of patches & 6 new bronze bristle brushes.
I know I had to be taking out copper that was probably shot at our boys in WWII I do not think it was ever cleaned. Every patch that came out of it was bright blue
I didn't think I would ever get it all out. I even plugged the muzzle and filled the bore with sweets and let it sit a few hours. It came out like blueberry jelly!