Remington 03-A3 30-06

S

Scalloper

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Anyone have one? Man, I just took one in on a trade this morning. What a nice gun... For some reason I have never paid much attention to them and I am surprised as they are a very well made rifle even by todays standards. They seem to be well built and with very good steel. I have not fired it yet but I belive I will be carring this much more then my other deer rifels this fall. How do they normaly shoot? This one looks flawless and holds a Leopold 1-4 wich if fine in this area 80% of the time. What are they normaly worth? What other calibers have they been made in? I would guess many guys have redone them into about everything. Thanks
 
Originally Posted By: ScalloperAnyone have one? Man, I just took one in on a trade this morning. What a nice gun... For some reason I have never paid much attention to them and I am surprised as they are a very well made rifle even by todays standards. They seem to be well built and with very good steel. I have not fired it yet but I belive I will be carring this much more then my other deer rifels this fall. How do they normaly shoot? This one looks flawless and holds a Leopold 1-4 wich if fine in this area 80% of the time. What are they normaly worth? What other calibers have they been made in? I would guess many guys have redone them into about everything. Thanks

03a3 is normally 30-06, in good condition unaltered still military stock and open sights 600-10000 if sporterized value decreases put up some pics and include the serial#. Yes, they are a good rifle
 
I have one that my grandfather gave me. He bought it back in the early 60's and had it "sporterized" but never shot it. I took it to the range and shot it the day he gave it to me and shot pretty good with bulk military rounds.

It has sat in the corner of my safe for a couple years and I think I might try to kill an elk with it next year. I know my grandpa would be extatic if I did.




o3a31.jpg
 
I have a vintage, two groove issue 1903A3 and it shoots like this with irons at 100yds (4 shots):

1903a3001100yds.jpg


Remington1903A3.jpg
 
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Originally Posted By: Jack Roberts"03A3 is the rifle that kicked the commie Nagant's A$$."
Not exactly, since we were allies at the time.

Jack


Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?

Don't stop him, he's on a roll.


Chupa
 
My 1943 1903A3 shoots amazing!!




This is my hunting load; Hornady 150gr BTSP, 47.0gr of IMR4895 and Remington cases. Fired from a rest at 100 yards using open sights!
 

Originally Posted By: dogtiredI have a vintage, two groove issue 1903A3 and it shoots like this with irons at 100yds (4 shots):


Many folks do not realize just how accurate the 2 groove barrels can be.

Originally Posted By: Steve_in_PAThis is my hunting load; Hornady 150gr BTSP, 47.0gr of IMR4895 and Remington cases. Fired from a rest at 100 yards using open sights!


That load duplicates M2 Ball (standard issue ammo) ballistically; same load behind a 168 gr Sierra MK, you have an improved M72 Match and your groups will shrink a bit more.

Regards,
hm
 
my first rifle was and o3a3 .killed my first deer with a rifle useing that . i do remember the steel buttplate kicking the shoulder .pop did some horse trading sad but that rifle was included .;-)
 
My father bought 3 03-A3's through the NRA back in the 50's. He gave one to my brother, one to me and kept one for himself. Mine is a Remington mfg rifle. I took my first deer with it in 1963 and have used it successfully many times since. I still have the paper work that came with my rifle. Price was $10.00 plus shipping. I have many fond memories associated with this rifle and I wouldn't part with it for all the tea in China. You have a good rifle there Scalloper.
 
Originally Posted By: Jack Roberts"03A3 is the rifle that kicked the commie Nagant's A$$."
Not exactly, since we were allies at the time.

Jack


What does comparing a 5" gun(Nagant) to a 1" gun (03)have to do with being allies???


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Scalloper, I have several old 03s. I have bought ones with wornout barrels and what not and converted them to new calibers. 280, 25-06, but my favorite is the 35 Whelen. That 35 is big time elk medicine, but she do buck a bit.
 
Originally Posted By: WyYoteKillerScalloper, I have several old 03s. I have bought ones with wornout barrels and what not and converted them to new calibers. 280, 25-06, but my favorite is the 35 Whelen. That 35 is big time elk medicine, but she do buck a bit.

Awww, what would you want to do that for? The old '06 ain't got no warts.
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Have owned a number of original A3's and one 03. When I was shooting competition I decided to use one of my A3's to build a practice rifle, by cutting off chamber end of a shot out Mod. 70 target barrel and rethreading so as to duplicate the feel of the Mod. 70's and get a few thousand more rounds out of the worn out barrel.

Here is the resulting rifle:


First problem encountered was the slower lock time of the Springfield so put heavier FP spring, but that made bolt lift a lot heavier than the Win. so extended bolt handle by soldering a 1" ball bearing on end of handle:


IMG_3817.jpg
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which smoothed up action enough to get through the rapid fire strings, but the lock time is still enough slower than the Win. that all of my offhand shots were one ring (approx. 3 moa) outside my calls.

All in all, they are great rifles and will hold their own against much more modern target rifles in every aspect other than firing offhand in unsupported position.

Regards,
hm
 
Most of mine had been worked over prior to me getting them. Biggest problem I have is they are all look a likes and I pick one up and grab the wrong rounds. I just restocked them and bought new barrels.
 
Yep, original 03's are as scarce as hen's teeth and A3's are getting there fast.

I purchased my first A3's through the NRA in the '50's for about $10 apiece. The first one I got was new in cosmolene and the second one I bought was new, packaged in a sealed foil lined bag.

Picked up a high number 03 in 1983 but when I opened the box and found an unfired rifle that was two years older than I was (and I'm older than dirt), couldn't bear to put the first round through it so it still sits in the safe, unfired.

Have bought several at pawn shops more recently and figured I got a deal on last one for $200. The 03 is my next favorite military firearm to the Garand.

Regards,
hm
 
My first deer rifle was an A3-03. It was my grandfather's and I think he told me he paid $25.00 for it in the late 50's. I started using it in 1971 when I was 12. There have been no modifications to it. I didn't care for the recoil but the LOP was not too long. I read that the 1903 stock dimension was for a person 5'6" in height so I guess that is why the stock wasn't too long. I bought an ADL .270 in 1977 with graduation money and retired the 03. It has been shot once since 77. My son shot it when he was twelve and didn't care for the recoil compared to his 30-30. This thread has made me curious and I think I will research the origins of the rifle. Two uncles and a cousin had sporterized 03's and I thought they were nice rifles.

On a different note are there as many 1917's out there as 03's?
 


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