Anyone else fond of the US model 1903? I have this Remington transitional rifle made in 1942 that was the last of the model 1903's produced as Remington and Smith-Corona were gearing up to make model 1903A3's to help supplant M1 rifles and M1 carbines in the war effort.

One thing I learned, the rifle has much different shooting characteristics with and without the 16 inch bayonet attached.

__________________
Live long and prosper

I have 2 o3a3 (Both manufacturers )and a cobbled together Remington 03 that I’m going to have Chuck in Denver re barrel

If you are enthusiastic about the '03s, I suggest you get a copy of "The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle" by Joe Poyer. It contains information about almost anything anyone would ever want to know about the '03 (and 03A3) and all of its accessories.

Picked up one of these a few weeks ago.... Now I need an '03 to go with it.

Bayo 1.jpg

DSCF4904.jpg

Very nice. I once bought a Remington 1903 but when I cleaned the cosmoline out of it, I found that the stock had been cut under the sling swivel band, so I returned it.

I do have a few Springfield manufactured 1903s and of course a Remington 1903A3. The bottom rifle in the photo is a .22 Cal M2.

Attached Images

Springfields 1903-800-90%.jpg (190.2 KB, 59 views)

__________________
Keep your powder dry.

I knew this was coming!!!

Yes, absolutely love my 03s. I have 2. Will have to post pictures later, but I have a strictly "as issued" 03, and an 03A3 that was built up into a Highpower rifle. Retro fitted all 03 milled parts and bottom metal, repro C stock, and Lyman target sights.

I have two, both springfields, an all original 1918, and a 1921. I have used the 1918 in competition, actually a fun time.

Not me unfortunately. I had an 03A3 that was pristine and even had the original DCM papers. Unfortunately it was a "scant" stock model and was brutal to shoot. I'm not stranger to recoil but the thing was just unpleasant. Sold it and my other 03A3 shortly after.

Had a very nice Remington 03A3, February 1943, per Joe Poyer's book (you are absolutely right.....if wanting to verify every component on an 03-A3....ya gotta have the book!).

Barrel date 1-43, straight stock, type 8, all the right R stamps in all the right places.

Sorry...……..sold it to fund some nice S&W wheel guns

Did enjoy it, but like the M1 Garand more!

Attached Images

	1903A3-1.jpg (207.8 KB, 35 views)
	1903A3-2.jpg (202.2 KB, 38 views)

__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I have both a Remington and Smith Corona M1903A3 examples. I have been keeping an eye out for a relatively similar priced WWII Remington M1903 to go with them...…..just haven't found one yet!

The best open sighted groups I have ever shot with a military "surplus" rifle (with original military sights) came with my Remington 03A3. This was with 180gr boattail handloads. Some of the other milsurp rifles I own and handload for include the M96 Swede, K31 Swiss, and M39 Finn...….just to name a few, so no small feat considering the company it keeps.

Dale

I did the same with my 03A3. Put milled hardware on it, a repro "C" stock, and a Lyman rear target sight. My cousin and I made a target front sight modeled after the Marine Corps sight shown in one of the 03A3 books. I also installed a nickle steel bolt and had a 2 groove barrel installed too, as the original barrel needed replacing.

At one time, I had two DCM 03A3s, both a bit unusual. One had a 4-groove barrel, and one had a Type C stock with a 6-groove barrel. Both were as-new. Unfortunately, I sold both many years ago. The only one I presently have is an early 1917 Springfield '03, but it's in fairly good condition and shoots well, except I have trouble seeing the sights. I did have to replace the original upper handguard as the one that it came with had a full longitudinal split that had been epoxied back together, but none too professionally. I was fortunate to find a near-exact (but not quite correct) handguard for $10. I had to do a little walnut staining on it to match the darkened shade of the stock.

The fact that mine was one of the so-called "low number" Springfields has not kept me from shooting it. I figured that if the Army didn't believe that there was any significant risk of its coming apart, why should I? The Army never pulled the low-number '03s out of service, and most of them soldiered on through WWI and well beyond.

OK, I posted earlier in the thread I'd add some pics. Apparently I don't have any of the straight as issued 03. But there would be no surprises, just a straight gripped 03, very nice condition, Springfield Armory mfg.

Here's my 03A3 "match rifle." Retrofitted milled 03 parts, reproduction "C" stock, Lyman sights. I shot NRA Highpower (reduced course) for about 20 years with it, using cast bullets.







I made this front sight out of a Lyman 17, a filed off 03 front sight base, and some Hi Force 44 solder


And here is one of my best efforts; 20 rounds prone rapid fire at 100 yds
(that would be 2 10 round strings)


This one MIGHT go in the casket with me.

Thanks for this post. Just did a review of an inventory list of firearms in an estate. Haven't seen the firearms in person. One listed was a Springfield 1903 Mark I. If it comes up for sale i will certainly bid on it if in auction. Don't own one. Might be out of my price range. Keep the information coming.

I currently have three of them. First is a 1942 Rem 1903. Top one in the second photo is a 1918 Springfield 1903 Mark 1 with the Peterson cut in the receiver and the bottom one is a 1943 Smith Corona 03-A3.

Attached Images

	Rem 1903 c.jpg (72.0 KB, 33 views)
	03's b.jpg (47.0 KB, 40 views)

Yep.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My drill rifle was a Remington '03A3. I bought one similar in the early '80s. It shot wonderfully. It was either a 7-43 or a 9-43, can't remember now. It had the two groove barrel and would put 3 shots under 3/4" at 100 yards with a load I worked up using 150 grain .307" .30-30 bullets, of all things!

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I also have one of what collectors call the Model 1903 (Modified). These were made by Remington on older, mostly Rock Island tooling prior to the introduction of the '03-A3. Some early shortcuts in manufacturing are there, notably the lightening cuts on the rear sight base were omitted, the sight knobs were not "dished" and the stock finger grooves were no longer applied. Many used the same type of stamped rear stock band that was later used on the A3s. This one dates to 1942.

These are very collectible variations of the Model 1903 breed.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Love the 1903s. Had a few of them over the years and still have a pair. One 2 groove Smith Corona sporter that's my best cast bullet shooting rifle and an as issued Remington 03A3.. I lean more towards model 1917s though.

__________________
Go West young man..

My Dad purchased a 1903 Springfield for $39.95 in the mid sixties after seeing an ad in the local newspaper. Montgomery Ward had advertised "U.S. 1903 Springfield rifles, arsenal new in crates" and they were in the arsenal crates with ten rifles per crate.

It had a healthy coating of cosmoline but, cleaned up well. It has an interesting cartouche mark from Utah and Mr. Keith's initials.

Attached Images

	IMG_0274.jpg (63.4 KB, 36 views)
	IMG_0275.jpg (122.5 KB, 46 views)

That's certainly ol' Elmer's inspection stamp. I also have one stamped OGEK, but with no box around it. Turns out it's the stamp of Ed Klouser, who also worked at the Ogden arsenal.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Another '42 Remington;

Attached Images

DCF54266-CD2E-4E08-A9C5-A10FDC208443.jpg (144.7 KB, 19 views)

__________________
James L. "Jim" Rhiner

I’m fortunate enough to have a 1903A1 National Match. I’m a sucker for anything with a Lyman rear ladder sight.

__________________
Some Might Say.

I would love one, but they are pretty pricey here if they still work and compete with an M1 for safe space.

Huge fan here! I especially love the Model 1903. A 1913 Rock Island Arsenal, a 1918 Springfield, and a 1942 Smith Corona '03A3 live here as well as a 1932 Model 1922AII in .22 Long Rifle.

Used to have 14 different '03s representing all the makers and variants except for the original rod bayonet rifle. One of the rifles once owned from 1905 was a period conversion of a rod bayonet. Became enthused about Model 1903s after the Brophy 1903 book came out.

Here are three photographs

Rock Island - an unmolested example with original blue finish, single bolt stock, and with barrel dated 8-13. It is shot on occasion, low-number dithering by others be hanged.


Smith Corona '03A3 - A low serial number example for the block of numbers assigned to Smith Corona with a six-groove barrel marked SC and dated 12-42. Stock is scant grip replacement, but that's the way I bought the rifle. My first center fire rifle, purchased from a pawn shop in 1975. First two deer ever taken were shot with it. Used in high-power competition for about five years and the rifle allowed me to improve and gave a good account of itself.




Springfield Model 1922AII - Barrel dated 4-32. Features original blue finish. Traded "up" for this rifle for small bore competition from a Remington Model 513T I originally had.

Years ago we did have a Springfield, no longer with us. One of our neighbors IS a Marine, you never stop being one, who enlisted in January 1942 and served in the 1st Marine Division. Better half here has known them both for 20 years or so and consider them like another set of grandparents. The rifle he went through boot camp was a 1903 and we invited him and his wife to join us for some shooting and range time. With the '03 being what he trained on and he had a bit of nostalgia firing it it became a gift from us to him. For some reason to both Wendy and I it just seemed right and proper that it go to an old warrior. He and his wife still joins us when we got out for some shooting time, both enjoy it. His wife really likes K frames in both .22 LR and .38 Special, so another gift to them may be in the future.

__________________
KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

I like them, great rifles. I am down to two. A WW2 refurb And A 20's era target rifle.

I got one years ago from the CMP and still have it. It M1903 built in 1933 as I recall, from the serial number. It has a C stock and was rebarreled at some point with a High Standard barrel, marked "HS 1942" with a flaming bomb symbol. I believe that it was returned to the gov'mint from Greece, and it went on to the CMP. The barrel looked new when it arrived. No pitting at all. It is a great shooter. I use the aperture on the ladder rear sight and the yardage markings produce accurate results out to at least 500 yards.

At least to me, the superiority of the 03A3 over the 03 is that it has a peep rear sight, and a pretty good one at that. I would far rather go into combat with the 03A3, as I would be much more likely to hit the enemy using it. I have a very difficult time using the 03 rear sight.

I agree with you that the 03A3 sights are better. Although the official guidance is that the aperture sight developed for the 03A3 was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Ordinance Department and Remington Arms, I have previously read in one of my reference books that John C. Garand was the primary designer of that sight.

__________________
Live long and prosper

Pretty much the same rear sight was utilized on the M1 carbines of later manufacture, and the arsenal upgraded ones. Calibrated for the punier M1 Carbine cartridge, though.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I read that the 03A3 sights were like the more common M1 sights so they would have the same sights for training and familiarity purposes. Plus, they were far better sights.

I once destroyed an 03A3 rear sight trying to remove it. Very difficult to remove.