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Offline kix

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Remington 03-a3
« on: February 09, 2009, 02:43:51 PM »
   Hello all and I have a dilemma. I have been given a Rem. 03-a3 and am hard pressed to make a decision. I might add the rifle currently resides in Colorado awaiting shipment so I have some time. Here is my dilemma: I like to hunt with my mil-surps but my 50plus eyes just won't allow it with iron sights so I am thinking of the drill/tap/bent bolt route. The rifle is hardly what I would call 'pristine' as it is missing the top handguards and something else wrong that I can't recall since seeing it in Nov. during elk season. Nothing altered, just missing. And here is my other thought: I don't really consider the A3 in the same 'collectible' status as say the Garand, war-time Carbine or the pre-war Mausers due to it's stamped parts.  Am I wrong? I recently sold an 'Obie' Swede Mauser (made in 1900,all-matching) because I could not chop it into another sporter so I do understand that some rifles should be left as-is. I would like to know what other GB members think. And yes, It's my rifle to do with what I want but I respect other opinions. I'll be gone a week and will catch up to you then.  Kix
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Offline mrbigtexan

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2009, 03:15:12 PM »
sporterize it or make a target/bench gun out of it. thats what i would do.
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Offline TribReady

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2009, 04:22:55 PM »
Clean it up, buy some handguards cheap online, and keep in it's military configuration.

03's only appreciate in value, and it would be cheaper to build a custom sporter off of a new action.

JMO of course   ;)
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Offline EVOC ONE

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2009, 11:27:14 PM »
Quote from: TribReady on February 09, 2009, 04:22:55 PM
Clean it up, buy some handguards cheap online, and keep in it's military configuration.

03's only appreciate in value, and it would be cheaper to build a custom sporter off of a new action.

JMO of course   ;)

I'll second this. 
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Offline Czech_too

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2009, 12:46:57 AM »
Quote from: TribReady on February 09, 2009, 04:22:55 PM
Clean it up, buy some handguards cheap online, and keep in it's military configuration.

03's only appreciate in value, and it would be cheaper to build a custom sporter off of a new action.

JMO of course   ;)
I have to agree.
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Offline cbxboy

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2009, 09:06:25 AM »
As a Milsurp guy FIRST then current production guns I have to say in MY opinion to leave it as an 03A3 and buy a current production rifle to hunt with.

I am sure there are many of us out there that would pay you the current value of your "non collectible" 03 and you could buy a 30.06 hunting rifle with a scope.  I put non collectible in there as early in my collecting I passed up gorgeous 03 for about $220 and it just sold for FAR greater than that....my hunting 30.06 is same value as 5 years ago.

If you had a 1970 dodge car (one htat is not charger, challenger etc) that is decent but missing hubcaps and a new paint job would you chop it up and make a driver or sell to a collector and buy a newer car?  I'm not getting my mind right today.....so......
I agree with the 3 posts above me.  Restore and keep.  Pleae don't drill and ad a scope.  BUT as its yours and not mine please do what makes you happy.
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Offline db22

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2009, 01:42:20 PM »
Sir: You hit a soft spot with me!  My very first centerfire rifle was a 1942 Remington M1903A3.  If only that rifle were still mine!!  Yes sir, I agree with TribReady; find some replacement parts, clean it up, re-Parkerize it if you like.  Since it has little collector value, it is certainly worth considering restoring it to pristine issue condition.  Then sling it, load a stripper clip of ball ammo, and go for the x-ring.  You'd be surprised what your eyes can do with that aperture rear sight!
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Offline kix

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2009, 02:51:37 PM »
  Hello and thanks for your replies. I will try to restore it to it's original configuration. Lord knows I have enough hunting rifles. Even though the A3 doesn't have the status of say a Rock Island 03 (which a friend sold recently,could have strangled him) it still fills a niche in wartime Americana. As a sidebar: Recently I was watching the 1969 movie the "Wild Bunch" and even though the setting was very early 1900's many of the "good" guys were carrying 03-A3's. Just a little blooper I noticed.  Kix
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Offline Czech_too

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2009, 11:17:35 PM »
Numrich is out of stock on the handguards, both new & used, right now.  There is another outfit, http://www.oquirrharms.com/ which does have some new ones in stock.  Cost is $23, Numrich used is $19.  I'm waiting on delivery, my first, from these people so I can't give a 'real' recommendation yet.  Possibly someone else has dealt with them??
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Offline mannyrock

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2009, 06:18:56 PM »

  Good O3-A3s are going for $700 to $800 now.  And you want to cut one up because it's missing the handguards??  No.  Please don't.

   You can get a first rate used bolt action hunting rifle for $225 or so by going to any big gunshow and looking around.  You can get a brand new bolt action Savage/Stevens 200, in long or short caliber, for just $285 or so!

Mannyrock



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Offline SHOOTIST TOO

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2009, 06:56:09 AM »
I shoot Hi-power with mine and a 03-A3 is the one to have because of the sights. Mine is real nice with new GI barrel. The wood is real dented and ugly. Yesterday I was told by a military restorer at the local gun show, that Sarco Inc. sales the best drop in stocks for $ 110.00. He reparkerizes for $ 160.00
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Offline kix

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2009, 10:55:56 AM »
  No No Mannyrock. I wasn't going to 'cut it up' simply because of a missing handguard,just thinking of being able to mount a scope and probably a Timney. But I wasn't going to change anything else and that included the stock.However,thanks your concern. I Will restore it! As soon as a friend receives his C&R license the rifle will be coming to Texas. And for someone needing a good inexpensive rifle the Stevens 200 IS an excellent recomendation. Two friends have them (7mag. and .308) and while I don't consider them attractive they will shoot with the best,especially that .308. But I am getting off subject. Rest assured the A3 will remain as-is.  Kix
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Offline surveyor47

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2009, 06:54:25 AM »
I suggest that you contact James River Armory www.jamesriverarmory.com

They recently rebuilt my sons 03A3.  New GI barrel, closer in serial number to date of manufacture than the barrel on the rifle.  Bead blasted and parkerized all parts.  Corrected "incorrect" pieces.  Cost $400.  The rifle now shoots 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards with military ammo and iron sights. The trigger is sweet.  I highly recommend their work and wish I had more money to buy more from them. 
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Offline kiddekop

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2009, 07:24:13 AM »
My GS had a case of smith corona barrels at the time of his death so I told his son that these were rare and worth quite a bit of money according to an 03 rehab specialist. Many of the smith corona barrels were made by High Standard of handgun fame. www.miltecharms.com  03a3 $1495
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Offline Frank46

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2009, 06:03:58 PM »
Kix, my first springfield was a smith corona i bought back about 1970. Yep that qualifies me as an old fart. For some stupid reason which I cannot remember I sold it. Years later a buddy I worked with clued me in on a $89 springfield. Needless to say I bought it. Bubba had his way with the old girl. He drawfiled the bbl to remove the steady rest section that a lot of barrels had, lousy job. Then stuck it into a fajen stock. Another crummy job. The bbl was heavily pitted and corroded. At a local gun show was lucky to find a remington bbl to go with the remington action. Cost about $200 to get the bbl installed,
drilled and tapped for a steel lyman 57 target knobbed rear sight and a beautiful redfield ramp front and polished and blued.
This one isn't going anywhere. Back then springfields were going for about $125 in almost pristine condition. Today you are money ahead to restore it and get a savage or stevens in whatever caliber you wish. Have fun with the springfield as they can only get better with age. Frank
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Offline iiranger

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Compromise!!! Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #15 on: July 25, 2009, 09:59:16 AM »
Yes, keep the old war horse "as is" and find some parts that are missing, but at the same time there are those "scout mounts" available that permit you to put a scope into the rear sight after removing the bulk of the rear sight.. Nicer on the Springfields with the rear sight so far back. (Or was it the o3A3 had the sight on the barrel??? Getting old...)  And you can always take them off, put the sights back and have an original war horse... B&K? S&K? Don't recall the exact details but they did a bunch of them. Mausers. Etc. Hardly something for competition but for us old pharts with old eyes... God sent. Luck.
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Offline TNyoteboy

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2009, 07:55:10 PM »
1903A3 has the rear sight on the rear receiver bridge, 1903 is on the barrel. S&K makes a scope base that mounts around the front receiver ring and on the rear sight dovetail on a 1903A3. You have to cut a slot in your stock under the front receiver ring where a band wraps around to the give the front of the mount something to attach to. Other than that it's a simple attachment. I had to call S&K to find out how it was mounted, but didn't want to start cutting out the glass bedding that was on my rifle to do it. Can't vouch for how secure it is.
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Offline Avyctes

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Re: Remington 03-a3
« Reply #17 on: August 17, 2009, 06:47:39 AM »
Kix, very happy to hear you're able to save this piece of history for future generations. 

As I tell guys here in Bland, Va (hunting capital of the world I think sometimes) who are always keen on converting a military rifle into a hunting rifle by hacking it up and scoping it: "You can go everyday and buy a brand new rifle specifically designed to hunt with, but they ain't making no more of these".

That peep sight on the A3 will help with your eye sight problem.
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