M1903 Fans?

Puller · Mar 10, 2020

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.

bummer · Mar 11, 2020

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

DWalt · Mar 11, 2020

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.

JH1951 · Mar 11, 2020

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

Scharfschuetzer · Mar 11, 2020

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.

Patrick L · Mar 11, 2020

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.

hammer 1 · Mar 11, 2020

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

AManWearingAHat · Mar 11, 2020

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.

cmansguns · Mar 11, 2020

Had a very nice one

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!

tenntex32 · Mar 11, 2020

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

bgrafsr · Mar 11, 2020

Patrick L said:
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 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.

DWalt · Mar 11, 2020

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.

Patrick L · Mar 11, 2020

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.

VaTom · Mar 11, 2020

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.

22lrfan · Mar 11, 2020

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.

Trooper224 · Mar 12, 2020

Yep.

xring33 · Mar 12, 2020

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Muley Gil · Mar 12, 2020

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!

PALADIN85020 · Mar 12, 2020

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

1-1917 · Mar 12, 2020

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.

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