$99 A3 sporter

[wreckhog]

Tried looking for advice in a milsurps forum, no reply, maybe you guys can edjumicate me.

Serial 39333**
Has an odd compensator
Bishop buttplate on stock
Bolt is chromed or polished and marked S30
Bolt has been beat on to function in a non relieved stock, it looks like there was some stock repair in that area.
Bore is perfect.

Should I replace the bolt to shoot it? I want something that will work with the stock. I M2 ball to feed it, but will to reload if headspace is an issue.

Is the old Redfield mount for the 1903A3 the recommended one? I 100% want to scope it.

[Harry Snippe]

Why not first have a smith with 03 experiance look at your rifle , check the head space for one and see if the reciever has the proper hardness before spending any more money.
Then price out having the bolt handle changed to suit you , and drill and tap the reciever .
My experiance , a 100 dollar gun quickly became a 400 dollar gun ready for the scope to be added .

[wreckhog]

Receiver is drilled & tapped (see 2nd pic). Drilled and tapped for what I am not sure about. There are only 2 holes.

The bolts are supposed to be fairly easy to swap and I see bolt bodies on GB, ssporters, etc for $10-20. The hard part is picking a bolt and possibly cutting the stock.

I read a used primer/new brass trick for measuring headspace that does not seem dangerous.

The serial number range is well over the 800K low serial number cutoff. Not sure how a smith would check receiver hardness.

[Frank46]

Sportsmans guide used to have complete 03A3 bolts for about $40.00. Buy a complete bolt and go from there. From the heat discoloration on your bolt body probably used either propane or oxy- actelene torch and I would definitely be concerned about possibly messing up the heat treatment. Strip the old bolt for parts and trash the old one. Have a gunsmith check headspace with the new bolt.
Darn, bubba really messed that bolt up. The rest of your rifle looks ok though. Frank

[torpedoman]

03a3 for 100 bucks is a buy without a bolt.

[Gun Runner]

As Frank46 said sportsmans guide has them. they have the stright stock one and also the bent one for use with a scope.

Gun Runner

[AtlLaw]

Serial 39333**

Remington made in 1942.  Serial number range is not an issue as all A3's were nickel steel.  The bottom metal doesn't look like A3 stuff though.  Can you post a better picture of just the bottom metal?  Just for my own curiosity...    You already got a great deal, If Bubba replaced the stamped bottom metal with Springfield or RI stuff it just got a whole lot better!   

Bolt has been beat on

Unless it's the picture, it looks as if Bubba may have put a torch to the bolt to help in the bending... without a heat sink!     Oops!  I see that Frank has already pointed that out.   

Should I replace the bolt to shoot it?

As others have said, new A3 bolts are readily available.  If it were me, which it ain't darn the luck   , I'd trash the old bolt and get a new one.  As was also said, the reciever alone is worth what you paid for the whole thing!      And do have the headspace checked or do it yourself.   

[wreckhog]

Some more pics. The buttplate says Bishop.

[wreckhog]

My bottom metal looks like this guy's (though his gun is much nicer). What is 01 bottom metal?

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2115379

[AtlLaw]

What is 01 bottom metal?

Beats me.  Probably a typo.  I'm sure he meant 03.  I could take a picture of the bottoms of my '03 and A3 side by side and you could easily tell the difference.  A3's were terrible looking stamped stuff.  You have 03 bottom metal which is a definate plus!   

I don't think there is much doubt that the stock is a Bishop.  I understand they sold bunches of them when everybody was "sporterizing" '03's, 03A3's, Mausers, etc.

Look pal, you didn't do good, you done GREAT!     Get a new bolt body, have the bolt handle bent or replaced, inlet the stock for the bolt handle, check the headspace and SHOOT THAT RIFLE!!     Or, I'll give you $150 for it, shipped of course!   

Last Bubba'd Springfield I bought was an A1 that is now my beautiful and beloved 338-06!     I think I'll go down to the man cave and fondle it a little right now!   

[wreckhog]

Thanks for all the help.

There are a lot of bolts out there.

514520  Bolt, Stripped  $12.35  

731100  Bolt, Stripped, Parade/Drill, Chrome Plated  $19.75  

525470  U.S. MILITARY SPRINGFIELD 1903A3, SPRINGFIELD 1903A1, SPRINGFIELD 1903 Bent Bolt Stripped $24.35

514570  Bolt, Complete  $59.95  

525500 Bolt, Bent, Complete, Blue  $71.50



Springfield 03/03A3 Safety Bolt
Price: $5.95
99,999,990 In Stock.
Item Number: SPF292

Springfield Bolt Late Complete
Price: $42.00
unlimited In Stock.
Item Number: SPF004

Springfield Bolt Late Stripped
Price: $20.00
99,999,994 In Stock.
Item Number: SPF005

Springfield Bolt Smooth Late Stripped
Price: $65.00
unlimited In Stock.
Item Number: SPF007
 

[mannyrock]

  Hey,

     Many years ago my son got an 03-A3, that had a bad bolt.  He bought a complete new  bolt from Numrich Arms for about $38.00, and a had a gunsmith fit it for about $60.

     He never had any problems with it.  It is definitely the way to go here on your rifle.

    Don't fight the obvious.   Don't try to re-invent the wheel.  Don't risk a huge safety issue over a $100 or so.   Buy a new bolt and have it installed.  Throw the old one away.  You will still have a great rifle at a great price.

    Don't worry about what your bottom metal is.  Who cares if it is stamped or milled.  It fits and works.  This is a shooter, not a collector.
   
Best, Manny