springfield

[GRIMJIM]

I ran into an 03a3 in our local gander mountain. The reciever was nice, possibly a new barrel as the rifling was mirror like. Cut, recrowned and added a new front sight and scope mount. The stock had broken at the hand and someone wrapped it in wire and smeared jb weld all over the patch. All for the low low price of $700.00.

I thought, you got to be kidding me. Granted a restocking would make for a pretty nice rifle but 700 bucks?

I love milsurp rifles but shy away from the American stuff because of the price.

[Mikey]

Grimjim:  for what you described I agree that it is way over priced.  A couple of years ago my wife and I visited her folks in Montana and, of course, I cruised some of the local pawn and gun shops and oh man, it was like being back in the 60s.  These shops had more great 'stuff' than I had seen in years but, each shop had at least a couple of Springfields that I fondled and looked over for serial numbers (for facotry rebuilds) and oberall general condition.  Most of these rifles had seen the Bubba-tizer before - barrels cropped shorter, stocks modified, scoped, etc., but they were all right around $300; paying twice that for a worked over mil-surp is pretty rough and much more than I would pay.  jmtcw.

[prairiedog555]

I love the 'O3.  I see on internet sales sights some that are well done sporterized with new trigger, new stock, drilled for scope.
If you are looking for a shooter, they can be had for 350 to $600 or so.  They are way better than most new Rems ect.  Bolts slide like glass.
Great value.

[bikerbeans]

10-4 on the 1903 sporty.  I have '03 my dad bought in a Kmart in the mid 1960s.  He cutoff the stock at the band so when I got it in the mid 90s it had lost the military charm so I had it professionally sporterized.  Shoots great.  Original guns was $29.95 plus tax if I remember right and it cost me $200 to have it sporterized, not counting the optics.  I think it will outlast the new cheapy bolt guns.

BB