I really never expected to get one

[Wayne Smith]

after my father-in-law's was stolen. Being the cheap bastard I am I figured the 03 was out of sight.

US Remington Model 03-A3 #35531** - unfortunately in a white line roll over cheekpiece white line butplate, pistol-grip cap also white line, and a pistol grip that someone literally scratched on instead of checkering, stock. Black plastic nosepiece, also white line.

Barrel says RA then a flying bomb then 43 under that.

Fortunately someone simply dropped it into the stock after hogging out some wood. Trigger guard and bottom metal are military.

All for $300! So, what do you think?

I kno, but picts will be added tomorrow when I get the other computer up. I don't know how to add pics to an iPad.

[Dutchman]

I think you can afford to spend maybe $250 to find an 03A3 stock and make the world right again. I don't think you'll be hurt financially with that amount of $$ spent overall. IMO the best stock for a 03A3 to actually shoot is the Type C with pistol grip. The buttstock config is pretty close to the Garand in shape and feel. You might find a repro but I'm not sure about the price.

You can take that white line cr*p stock and cut it in two and toss it in the fireplace and enjoy the flames :).

Dutch

[TNsailorman]

I think CMP is selling military style stocks for the 1903 and 1903A3. I don't know who makes them for CMP, maybe Boyd's. Boyd's also has the C stocks for the 1903A3. Might want to check those 2 sources out. I agree that your rifle would be worth putting back in order. james

[Wayne Smith]

I really think I want to do that. What metal do I need? I know a butt plate. Is there any metal on the barrel?

Oh, the front sight insert has a C stamped on it. Does this signify something?

[30calflash]

I really think I want to do that. What metal do I need? I know a butt plate. Is there any metal on the barrel?

Oh, the front sight insert has a C stamped on it. Does this signify something?

The C stands for the front sight height. A-F IIRC. They were zeroed to the rear sight by installing the one that would coincide at the distance fired. I think the heights were in increments of .015"

Buttplate, swivels front and rear, stacking swivel, front and rear bands and a bayonet lug with attaching screws for all the above. Nice exploded pics on the Gunparts catalog. A3's had stamped parts but you see them with milled hardware at times. HTH.

[Wayne Smith]

From what I've seen since I've been researching the front sight should also have a hood?

[Dutchman]

From what I've seen since I've been researching the front sight should also have a hood?

Negatory. What you've seen is a front sight cover. It was not intended to be used when shooting. Protection during transport.

Dutch

[Wayne Smith]

Thanks. I have a list of parts to get. Gunparts.com is probably the best place. Used to be Numerich Arms, I may even have an old catalog!

[Gtek]

Gunparts is a throw of the dice IMHO. Springfield Sporters and Bill Ricca are also other very good sources. Gtek

[nhrifle]

Sounds like the 03A3 that I was shooting just today. I took it in trade for a Kentucky rifle I built. When I got it, Bubba had most definitely done his evil work to it. The stock had been hacked into sporter length, the barrel was chopped down to around 16-1/2", so on. I got a NOS Springfield Armory barrel in trade from a buddy for some cast boolits. I bought all new external metal and an upper handguard from Sarco (except the cross bolts, made those from some round stock I had lying around), a Boyd's C-stock, and an M1907 sling from Midway. Also bought the chamber reamer from Midway.

Long story short, I gave it a new life and returned its self respect, and it rewarded me by being one of the best cast boolit shooters I have. I load mine with the Lyman 311299 over IMR4350, and it will shoot reight along with most rifles out there.

[Wayne Smith]

As promised, some pics

[Wayne Smith]

A couple more pics. Military bottom metal, I think, please ignore the stock! I'm trying to. One thing, the barrel is fully free floated, by about 1/4"!

[30calflash]

Looks like you have the A3 triggerguard/mag assy. Sheetmetal was the standard for almost all of the hardware on these. The above has a lot going for it to be an as issued 03A3 again. You may be able to gunbroker the stock to pay for some of the things you need.

[TNsailorman]

Wayne, the only parts that I have left from all these years are a handguard band and the sling swivel for it. Unfortunately, I don't have the screw that goes with them. Shoot me your address by private message and I'll get these in the mail to you---no charge. james

[30CAL-TEXAN]

You might check SARCO they had some 03A3 stocks and other parts listed a while back.

[HighHook]

Looks like you did great on the price. Nice rifle. Let us know how it shoots.

[Multigunner]

Negatory. What you've seen is a front sight cover. It was not intended to be used when shooting. Protection during transport.

Dutch

Theres the USMC #10 sight cover that has a larger hood intended for use while shooting.
http://www.users.fast.net/~kragmeister/collection/m1903.htm

These may have been used on the early WW2 1903 as issued to the Marines rather than the 03A3.

PS
I had remembered seeing the larger hood on rifles used in a WW2 era war movie (possibly Guadacannal Diary) and remembered seeing these on Springfields in the same scenes as 1928 Thompsons with similar hooded front sights.