Author Topic: Anybody "reMill" a 1903? (Read 516 times)

mikey7 · « **on:** July 06, 2005, 06:27:29 AM »

I just got a demilled M1903, and am looking into trying to bring it back to life, all indications are that it would make a fair shooter. the receiver is well past the dreaded 800,000 s/n. It would take at the least a new bolt, new barrel, and a trip to the gunsmith for barrel installation and headspacing. It's not an issue of being a 'collector' as it is a mixmaster of springfield and remington parts... any thoughts?

lefty o · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2005, 07:55:10 AM »

cheaper to buy a functional gun.

mikey7 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2005, 12:50:28 PM »

Even if the initial 'get in' cost is $000.00 as this one was? I rescued it as it was about to be tossed into the dumpster.

Shorty · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2005, 08:43:56 AM »

Mikey7,
I once picked up a Bubba'd 03-A3 for $20. A new stock & handguard and barrel bands (from Numrich) was all it needed. When I traded it, I was allowed much more than I had in it. It was assumed to be original, but I didn't feel that I was cheating as I tossed in an original ammo belt (full). :wink:
I'd go with your plan, if I were you.

CAV Trooper · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2005, 04:53:58 PM »

Quote from: mikey7

Even if the initial 'get in' cost is $000.00 as this one was? I rescued it as it was about to be tossed into the dumpster.

Maybe, maybe not. What you need to do is this:
First, track down all of the parts you'll need (barrel, bolt, stock, sights, trigger group, etc.) and add up the total cost for everything including shipping. (Keep in mind that finding all of these parts won't necessarily be easy.)

Next, find out what what a good gunsmith will charge to install the barrel, headspace the bolt and whatever else you need him to do. Add up those two figures and you have the total cost of your rebuild project.

Compare your total rebuild cost to the $400 that a complete 1903 costs from the CMP.

You may find that you'll be hard pressed to beat the CMP price by doing it yourself.

Good luck though and let us know how it turns out.

lefty o · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2005, 07:46:28 PM »

thats exactly where my thoughts were. your looking at a minimum of a couple hundred dollar gunsmithing bill, plus the price of parts. hang it on the wall and buy a shooter.

mikey7 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2005, 11:12:22 PM »

I'm going to see the local gunsmith today. He has a good barrel he took off an '03 he sporterized in .243 some time back. Fortunately, this one wasn't boogered up too bad. I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome of the smith's visit :wink:

CAV Trooper · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2005, 07:16:51 AM »

mikey,

Just for grins, I checked with Numrich to see what parts they had for a 1903. Turns out they have pretty much everything you'd need to build a rifle around your receiver.

Here are some prices:

New 30-06 Barrel - $200
Unissued Stock - $200
Complete Bolt (19 separate parts, you assemble) - $93.35

Then add in the fire control parts, the internal box magazine, the sights and several dozen other parts that are needed for a complete rifle. Include shipping and gunsmithing charges and I think you can see where this is going.

That's why lefty o and I recommended buying a complete rifle in the first place. LOTS more cost effective.

mikey7 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2005, 08:16:53 PM »

OK, maybe I wasn't clear. :drink4: this is a complete gun, the only parts that were damaged in the de-mill were the barrel and bolt. There was a plug driven into the breech of the barrel and the striker was removed from the bolt and the striker hole (in the bolt) was welded up. So far it's 2 for and 2 against trying to revive this weapon. My personal benchmark for If I should go ahead and pull the trigger :-D on this project is if it can be put back right for close to half the cost of a CMP 1903, which currently stands at $400. At this point it looks like that is a real possibility. Thing is, I'm new to the milsurp world, this is my 1st. I own 5 other commercial guns. IF the cost goes south and I can't repair this one, it'll hang on the wall and will probably still be my only milsurp, I just thought it would be a fitting tribute to the soldiers that carried this 1903 into harms way to bring it back and enjoy shooting it.

CAV Trooper · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2005, 05:22:24 AM »

Quote from: mikey7

OK, maybe I wasn't clear. :drink4: this is a complete gun, the only parts that were damaged in the de-mill were the barrel and bolt.

If that's all that's wrong with the rifle, then it DOES make sense to restore it. Your original post made it sound like all you had was a stripped receiver.

Before you do anything though, have your gunsmith make sure that the barrel wasn't welded to the receiver during the demil. Quite often, that plug you see in the breech is welded in and turns the barrel and receiver into one piece.

If that wasn't done, and the barrel can be removed, then replacing it and adding a new bolt shouldn't be a big deal. I'd certainly do it.

If it IS welded so the barrel won't come off, hang the rifle on the wall and get a shooter from the CMP.

lefty o · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2005, 12:46:03 PM »

unless your danged good buddies with your gunsmith, i still think your going to spend over $300 bucks, possibly hitting 400 to make this rifle a shooter.