Remington 1903-A3 Springrfield

[surveyor47]

I managed to acquire a Remington 1903-A3 Springfield that a lady found in a closet after her husband died. The gun is 90% on all exterior surfaces except the muzzle, which is rough. My very firstact was to scrub the barrel with Shooters Choice for over an hour, removing an unbelievable amount of garbage.  I then lubed it wtih Break Free.  The first 1/4" of the barrel is rust pitted.  The balance of the barrel looks new.  No surface rust anywhere except that first 1/4" inside the barrel at the muzzle.  Stock is in excellent condition.  The trigger is crisp.  Overall it appears to be an excellent rifle. If there is nothing else wrong with it, I hope that recrowning the barrel fixes the problem. 

I plan on having a local gunsmith do a quick once over.  The guy really knows his AR15s, M1s and other semi auto military rifles and is a local authority.  He is in such demand with the modern guns, that I doubt that he will want to spend much time with an old one.

I bought this rifle as a shooter, to be restored to original military condition.  I think that the 03-A3 is one of the neatest rifles ever made.  I have been told that I have a rare gem in this rifle, a much sought collectors item.  I would like to find a gunsmith who deals with these rifles.  My intent is to upgrade it as necessary to make it "like new".  Does anyone know of a gunsmith who really knows these guns? 

[MGMorden]

Any upgrades that you do to the rifle with lower it's collector's value.  Unlike classic cars, rifles generally can't be restored to increase their value.

As such if you just plan to shoot it and nothing more, than I'd say to go ahead with your plan.  If you plan on keeping it as a collectible, then I'd do my best to clean it up and halt any further degradation in it's condition, but don't actually change it or have it modified in any way.

Mike

[surveyor47]

My gunsmith thinks that the pitting at the end of the barrel is erosion, with lots of jacket fouling.  He sold me a bottle of BoreTech Eliminator and told me to apply it with a patch and let it sit for a few hours.  Over a 4 hour period I wet patched and nylon brushed the barrel several times, removing a lot more fouling.  The pitted spot at the end of the barrel is still there after all that.  I oiled the barrel down real good and plan on another 4 hour session, since I was still getting lots of fouling out even after 4 hours.   

I am really torn on this.  This gun was built in 1944 and has all the correct markings. It was arsenal rebuilt after the war.  I am going to try shooting it and see how well it shoots.  If it shoots any sort of reasonable group, I will leave it alone.  If not, I will probable set it aside as a collectors item and put it up for sale.  I am told that this is a very rare model in fairly exceptional condition, I would say 90%.  The alternative would be to purchase a new 1903 barrel and have it installed. 

[woodchukhntr]

I purchased a Finnish M27 and a Mosin-Nagant 91/59 that had really poor looking bores.  After much work with Sweets 7.62, Shooters Choice, several brushes and a lot of patches, the bores looked great!

[AtlLaw]

MGM is exactly right!  You shouldn't do anything to that rifle!     I love '03's and have two Remingtons, and '03 and a '03A3.  Actually I've also got an A1, but that's what my 338/06 is built on.  And no, I didn't!  I bought the action already butch... uh, "sporterized!     In your case, if that rifle is 90% except for some pitting in the end of the barrel, you ain't got a problem!  Leave it alone!   

I remember when K-Mart had racks of 03A3's for sale for $49.95!    Ah, those were the days!   

A few things you say interest me academically.

This gun was built in 1944 and has all the correct markings. It was arsenal rebuilt after the war.

What makes you think it was rebuilt after the war?

I am going to try shooting it and see how well it shoots.  If it shoots any sort of reasonable group, I will leave it alone.

Don't expect a sub-MOA rifle.  I believe 4 MOA at 100 yds. was all the military required.  They normally do shoot better though.  I've shot HP (Match Rifle since you can't shoot them in Service Rifle anymore) with mine.

If not, I will probable set it aside as a collectors item and put it up for sale.

And "leave it alone."  Right?

I am told that this is a very rare model in fairly exceptional condition

   In what respect?  I think '43 and '44 were the major production years.  I believe Remington acquired the tooling from RIA in '41, began production of '03's in early '42 as I remember, and the rifle morphed thru what some people call the '03M into the 03A3.  Don't quote me on the dates as my memory comes and goes nowadays and I don't feel like taking the time to look up the exact dates.      Anyway, I can't think of a variant that would make it a "very rare model."  Maybe an A3 marked A4... kinda doubt it though; who knows... 

The alternative would be to purchase a new 1903 barrel and have it installed.

I doubt if you would gain anything! by doing this.

Just my 2 cents. FWIW   

[db22]

Surveyor: You have a gem! My very first center-fire rifle was a 1942 Remington '03-A3. Two-groove barrel, scant stock (a sort of semi-pistol grip design), and the great Garand-type rear sight.  Have no idea if it was all original; had to sell it during hard times. It sure would shoot! Handloads made with DCM bullets, good coaching, and the use of a GI sling, allowed me to gain skill and confidence. Decades later, I'm still grateful for the lessons learned from those riflemen who taught me. And for that wonderful American rifle (with thanks to Herr Mauser for some of the design inspiration . . .)

Can you post some pictures of your rifle?