1903A3

[Muley Gil]

My first exposure to this great old rifle was in 1972. As a Marine option midshipman, my drill rifle was a Remington 1903A3, with a 7-43 barrel stamp.

Years later, I bought my own '03A3, another 7-43 Remington. Mine had a 2 groove and was very accurate. I could shoot a 3/4" at 100 yards. I had a no-drill scope mount and a Tasco 3x-9x scope on it. Later, I sold it, but always intended to replace it someday. Meanwhile, prices kept going up and up.

I was on the SASS site a few weeks back and a poster mentioned he had a couple for sale. I wound up buying a Smith-Corona, again with a 7-43 barrel stamp. This one has a 4 groove barrel.

Can't wait to get out and shoot it!

I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them.

 

[Valmet]

Fine old rifles- glad you were able to get another one...and a Smith-Corona no less!

 

[tt66]

War Eagle !!

Can't wait to see pics.

Tim

 

[brucev]

Have had a number of 03-A3 rifles. Gun for gun, the 2-groove barrels were in every respect the full equal of the 4-groove barrels. Currently have two 03 and two 03-A3 and one 03-A4 replica. The 03's have four groove barrels. One Rem. 03-A3 has a four groove barrel. A Smith Corona has a 2-groove Rem. barrel. The 03-A4 replica has a 2-groove Rem. barrel. Without exception any one of these rifles will with good ammunition hold 10 shot groups of less than 2 inches at 100 yd. (longest range to which I have access). Back when a peanut field was available, I fired a lot of 200 yd. groups. Many times 10 shots could be kept under 3 inches and always under 4 inches. The replica routinely shoots right at MOA with good ammo. It is also a wonderful rifle for deer hunting! Sincerely. bruce.

 

[bgrafsr]

I too have a Smith Corona 03-A3. The 4 groove barrel was rep-laced with a 2 groove and it shoots very well. I replaced the stamped metal parts with the good milled steel parts, and also installed a nickle steel bolt. It has a Lyman target rear sight and a copy of the Marine Corps match target front sight. Finally I put the rifle in a "C" type stock.

 

[Johnnu2]

A brutally sporterized 03-A3 with a Leupold 1.5- 5 (I think) scope was my hunting rifle all my life. Gave it to my cousin's son and now it's his hunting rifle until (hopefull) he gives it to his son. It was SO accurate that several gun guys saw me sight it in over the years and asked to borrow it for hunting season. Original barrel...(don't remember the number of groves).

J.

 

[LVSteve]

I have a Remington 03A3 that is tweaked in some way because the rear sight must be well right to shoot straight. It has also suffered the indignity of having the last four of someone's SSN carved large in the stock. I have a Type C stock that I should put it in and maybe a no drill scope mount. It has a very slick bolt and seems accurate within the limits of iron sights and my eyes.

 

[Muley Gil]

Here's a couple of pics:

 

[kaaskop49]

I've read that accuracy shooting in WWII was done with military AP ammunition, that its heavier bullet was more accurate at range. Anyone on the Forum tried this ammo in an 03A3?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Greyman50]

Nice 03’s and descendants, down to 2 now, no room in safe.

 

[Greyman50]

1919 RIA

Heres the last real 03 left, RIA receiver mfg in 1919, 42 dated barrel, a WWII refit, wish it could talk.

 

[bgrafsr]

I've read that accuracy shooting in WWII was done with military AP ammunition, that its heavier bullet was more accurate at range. Anyone on the Forum tried this ammo in an 03A3?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I shot a lot of AP ammo and it was very accurate.

 

[gwpercle]

I paid the exorbitant price of $59.95 for mine ...when all the other WWII Military bolt action rifles were selling fo $19.95 to $39.95 . I paid the high price because I knew I could buy and reload 30-06 ammo .
The $19.95 Swiss 1911K Schmidt Rubin I first bought was chambered in 7.5 Swiss , no store in town carried it and the military ammo the Army - Navy surplus store sold was FMJ and berdan primed ... No hunting deer and No reloading ... I was ticked off and spent the big bucks on an American rifle chambered in an American caliber I could get ammo , brass and reloading dies for ... the year ...1965 !
I still have both rifles to boot .

AP 30-06 will shoot through a concrete filled 8 inch diameter steel pipe and oak trees that you can't get your arms around and 8 x 8 x 16" concrete building blocks are pulverized ...don't ask me how I know this

Little Advice ... Don't Sell This One ...!!!
Gary

 

[chief38]

Here's a couple of pics:

Now you can "type out" some nice groups on paper - LOL!!

NICE - enjoy!! I always liked the '03.Don't own one but shot several.

 

[PALADIN85020]

My first bolt action centerfire rifle was a surplus 1903A3 Remington that I ordered for around $15 through the DCM program in the early 1960s when I was in the Army.

Unfortunately, I sporterized it to be a better hunting rifle - an action I regret now. I glass bedded it and even with the GI sights, it became a minute-of-angle rifle. It was a 4-groove Remington.

In later years as I became more knowledgeable, I realized the error of my ways and sought to get some nice as-issued examples for my U.S. military rifle collection. Here are the results, all 4-groovers:

This is a Remington example.


Here is a Smith-Corona rifle. Note the pins substituting for stock bolts.


This is a nice 1903A4 sniper rifle, based, as were all of them, on the '03A3 rifle.


These were fine rifles and gave a good account of themselves during WWII.

John

 

[Golddollar]

My first bolt action centerfire rifle was a surplus 1903A3 Remington that I ordered for around $15 through the DCM program in the early 1960s when I was in the Army.

Unfortunately, I sporterized it to be a better hunting rifle - an action I regret now. I glass bedded it and even with the GI sights, it became a minute-of-angle rifle. It was a 4-groove Remington.

In later years as I became more knowledgeable, I realized the error of my ways and sought to get some nice as-issued examples for my U.S. military rifle collection.

Back in my misspent youth I did the same thing with a Springfield that my late father bought from DCM and gave to me for the project.

I had the same revelation that you did, and back in the late 1970s I had the chance to buy a Remington and a Smith-Corona from the same friend. This was a great chance and bless him, Pop said he would back me if I didn't have enough money to buy them both. Luckily the price was right and I was able to spring for both of them.

The Remington rifle could shoot 2 1/4" three-shot groups at 100 yards. With my handloads the group came down to 1 1/2".

Unfortunately I sold the Smith-Corona, probably because I was out of work. It had an eccentric chamber so I could only shoot factory loads or full-length resized reloads in it.

I went to a few matches at the Izaak Walton range with the Remington. Most of the other shooters were using M-1s. They were amazed that I could keep up with rapid fire. I had learned how to work the bolt without taking the gun down.

Nothing like shooting one of the classics.

 

[ladder13]

There’s a Smith Corona and a Remington in there somewhere.

 

[Golddollar]

How did you get a picture of my safe?

 

[Murdock]

Two of mine, both Remingtons.

The sporter was converted by a German 'smith, so probably done for a GI stationed in Germany on the 1950s, as the German proof on the replacement barrel suggests. Wonderfully accurate. I had to have it because of the wood.

The bottom rifle is a 2-groove, and accurate enough to have won a few local military rifle matches.

 

[cmansguns]

Sellers remorse

My Remington 03-A3 had a bbl date of 1/43, was a wonderful shooter, and a great safe buddy to my M1 Garand.

Alas............I had my eye on a Smith & Wesson, Model 29-2, in wooden case, in 98% condition and me with too little if any, expendable, discretionary income in those days.

The 03-A3 sold within 2 days of listing it locally and I was then fully funded (with enough left over for 2 boxes of factory 44 Mag ammo after getting the 29-2)

Sellers remorse? Bet your bippy....would love to find another 03-A3 just so the Garand has a buddy in the safe, and if I could find a 200 yd range, I'd love to shoot them both again...been a very long time.

$48.88 in 1962...add $1.36 for a leather sling...alas...days gone by, but fondly remembered!