Santa Fe 03-A3?

[Straightshooter2]

Anybody familiar with 03-A3s marked Santa Fe on the receiver? From what I gather, these are rebuilt in some way and some research I've done has people saying DO NOT shoot these. I'm familiar low serial number 03s and with welded Garrands but not with these.

Thanks

CW

 

[Dave from Pa]

Sand Cast receivers that l beleve were cast in Mexico.Quality control was spotty, like the Federal Ordinance and National Ordinance receivers they lack a stripper clip guide l believe.Many say they are unsafe to shoot and people price them for the sum of the parts.Curious thing its difficult to find info about failure of these receivers.If it was me l would look for a GI 03a3.FWIW the CMP will not permit their use in the vintage matches at Camp Perry.

 

[straightshooter1]

We saw these in the 60s and 70s. There was always the claim that they may be unsafe to fire, but I have never seen any documentation, news article, gun rag piece, nothin' that discusses any rifle that failed.

I have heard that, after GCA '68, the receivers were made to allow rifles to be assembled from parts in the US because military weapons weren't coming into the US.

But, I'd almost swear, almost, that they were around before that, earlier in the 60s.

But, since my memory is failing badly (where the heck are my keys?), I can't be sure.

Bob

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Look up "Santa Fe M1903A3" on Google, that will lead to a discussion on
Military Surplus Collectors Forums and a link to an article on another website.

 

[brucev]

Anybody familiar with 03-A3s marked Santa Fe on the receiver? From what I gather, these are rebuilt in some way and some research I've done has people saying DO NOT shoot these. I'm familiar low serial number 03s and with welded Garrands but not with these.

Thanks

CW

Have a reputable gunsmith check the headspace on the rifle. If it is correct, then I'd take it and head for the range.

In 1980 I bought a Nat. Ord. 03-A3. From what I've read, it was the same as the Sante Fe 03-A3's. I shot that NO for the next four years using everything I could find. I shot all kinds of domestic factory .30-06 in this rifle. I also military surplus ball from any source I could find. I also shot hot handloads through this rifle using 130 gr. flat based HP's, G.I. brass and Reloader 7 powder. The powder charge was outrageous given that it was loaded in G.I. brass. Even in domestic factory brass, it should have been reduced 10% for a starting load.

I poured ammunition through that rifle like there was no tomorrow. By the time I was about to graduate from seminary that rifle needed a new barrel. So... I had a new G.I. barrel installed and headspaced. That rifle went right back to shooting nice round 10 shot groups of about 1.5 inches. It was not a "real" G.I. 03-A3. But, it never gave me a single problem regardless of some of the stuff I ran through it.

If I could today find a NO or SF 03-A3 with a good barrel at a reasonable price, I'd buy it. I'd drill and tap it and turn it into a faux 03-A4. Why? Simple. I'm at that point in life where I am having problems shooting iron sights. A faux 03-A3 set-up would allow me to continue to shoot my most favored type rifle in spite of no longer being able to easily see the front sight clearly.

 

[2152hq]

Santa Fe 03A3 actions were around before GCA68, I don't remember if National Ordnance were or not.
Both aftermarket of course, & filled a need at the time.

I think they were investment cast receivers. National Ord. had Elmonte Cal. markings on them.
Santa Fe,,I don't know, but I take it they were made in the USA as they were still sold after GCA'68. That would have ended the importation of them at least till '86.

They were both very common when there were no military surplus imports from 68 to 86.
The National Ordnance usually had a better overall fit and finish than the SantaFe branded ones.
The 'word' was that they were soft,,or brittle,,or poorly headspaced and fitted up. They'd crack,,or blow up,,or the lugs would set back..
I never saw one that failed. The ones that I did check headspace on passed just fine. I had no idea of how many rounds those rifles had fired of course.
The 03A3 wasn't the tightest fitted rifle even put out there, and these aftermarket versions were no different in their operational feel.
The ones I saw were all US Military Surplus parts except for the aftermarket receiver.
Milspec parts were so cheap, it didn't make any sense to make any of those. It was just the receivers that were needed to build rifles for resale,,or sell the receivers themselves.