Another 03A3 possibility

[Bret4207]

Found what amounts to most of a Remington 03A3 minus the wood and metal from the first barrel band foward. Price is making it a possibilty. Stock is a fine example of why some guys shouldn't own a saw and a set of chisels. Since what I'm after is an "as issued" 03A3, where would I find info on the appropriate stock and hardware? Barrel is maked 1-44 and it's a 2 groove. I don't have access to Brophys book. I prefer the straight grip stock and don't know if that's correct. The current stock may once have been a straight grip. Hard to tell. Any websites around that could help?

[JSH]

I ran across the same thing you speak of a couple of years back, 1903 though. I looked high and low and was going to put it back to normal for a shooter. the prices I ran across fpr pieces and parts was crazy to say the least. I got into mine exceptonally "right". I got 4X the buying price for the barreled action 2 years later and found one better than I had to boot for another $100. It took me a couple of years but the chase was half the fun. If it can be bought "right" you could more than likely part it out and come out ahead.
Jeff

[Buckshot]

............Springfield Sporters:

HANDGUARD RING A3 2.00
BAND, LOWER A3 $ 5.00
FRONT SIGHT BASE A3-NEW 7.00
FRONT SIGHT KEY 2.00
FRONT SIGHT PIN 1.00
SLING SWIVEL A3 3.00
STACKING SWIVEL A3 2.00

GPC:


Item No. 524220 Upper Band Retail Price: $8.15
Item No. 524230 Lower Band Retail Price: $10.45
Item No. 524660 Upper Band Screw Retail Price: $2.05
Item No. 524950 Stacking Swivel Band Retail Price: $6.95
1903A3 Handguard Item No. 853140 Retail Price: $27.25
Item No. 524180 Handguard Clip, NI Retail Price: $1.25
Item No. 524240 Lower Band Spring, NI Retail Price: $1.95

Northridge Int'l

Springfield Straight Stock-T10-Issue
Issued Condition Type 10 M1903A3 Springfield Straight Stocks (No finger grooves). These have been lightly sanded and the markings may not be visible or are very faint. Used, excellent condition. $124.95 03-510

Seems as if unmolested 1903A3's are going from (in good decent condition, possibly sanded stocks) anywhere from $500 on up. I looked around at a few places.

..................Buckshot

[Bass Ackward]

Off topic a little, but about a year ago it was written up in my NRA Hunter mag that Springfield Armory was going to be manufacturing new 03A3s. I have been watching their site periodically, but nothing as of yet. Maybe they were just feeling out the demand?

I kind of think that is going to work for them as a product and you won't have to worry about defacing history. If they run it like their other programs, you should be able to get match quality barrels on them if you so desire. And the part availability issue would obviously develop a ceiling as well.

[Bret4207]

Thanks guys. Is there anywhere other than Brophys book that would tell me what stocks were used on the 03A3?

[db2]

Hey, Tpr. Bret check out

http://vishooter.home.att.net/

Lots of good info there. My 03A3 from cmp came with a straight stock. The only thing you need to worry about are the hand guards. 03A3's are different than the 03s, however the butt stocks are interchangeable.

good luck
db2

[db2]

I think I messed up on the stock interchangeability. There are differences in a 03 and 03A3.

http://www.jouster.com/

Here is a fourm that can help.

db2

[Bob S]

Any stock made after about August, 1942 will interchange. The 03A3 (as well as the later Remington 03's) has a squared off recoil lug; Springfields, Rock Islands, and very early Remington '03's have a scalloped recoil lug, and the mortice on the stock is scalloped to match. The squared recoil lug will not fit in this mortice without some work with a chisel. The 03A3 aslo has the barrel guard ring, and the stock is inletted to receive it. Stocks made after about August 1942 have all of the cuts for the 03A3, and also retain the inletting for the M1905 sight of the '03, so they will fit any '03 or 03A3.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[Bret4207]

Lost it! Seems the first guy that had dibs on it scrounged up the $$. Probably some drug dealer that'll "sporterize" the old girl. Woe is me- no 03A3!, no Krag!, can't even afford a McClellan saddle! Anyone want to trade a pristine '03 or Krag for my $39.00 Turkish Mauser and 400 rounds of corrosive Turk ammo? I'll pay the shipping. Call BR549. Operators are standing by!

[Frank46]

Tpr.Bret, not to make you feel bad but I found a sporterized 03A3 in a fajen stock.
Since I had a spare 4 groove bbl I bought it for the magnificant sum of $85 bucks. Course $200 bucks later she had a new bbl on her, layman 57 steel rear sight, redfield band type ramp sight and a new coat of blue. This was over 15 years ago.
Oh yeah, I beat my buddy to the punch as he showed up at the gun shop later in the day and was told it has already been sold. My buddy asked me about the springfield and then asked if I was the one who bought it. Well since we worked together I had to fess up. Frank

[JackOfAllTrades]

Nope.. I wouldn't get rid'a my 'Sporterized' O3A3 for anything. It was grand dads. And word has it, he brought it back with him. The stock was cut before I got it, just forward of the barrel band that keeps the two pieces of wood married. I free floated the barrel and glass bedded the action. It's got a Rem bolt and Rem 4 groove barrel with an old B-Square scope mount supporting a VXII Leupold. The trigger is a Timney. I still have the rear peap and the front sight is still on. While not a tack driver, my hand loads are almost moa. It's taken Bear, Deer and Elk in its civilian years.

OK, you guys seem to like the originality, but I'm wanting one thing done to mine. I'd like to modify it to use a clip fed magazine from the bottom. Is this possible?

(I know, I could post this in the questions/gunsmithing forum...)

-Steve