U.S. MODEL 1903 & 1903A3 CALIBER .30-06

We expect these rifles to sell out quickly and not be available again through the CMP until 2009 or later.

Which one to get?

"Bores will be dark with little or no rifling."

I like the sights on the 1903A3 better, but I wonder if it would be a better deal to spend a little more on one from Gunbroker or at a gun show and get one with a better barrel.    

I've been looking for an 03, and I've been waiting to see what the CMP had to say about these and the prices. Unfortuneately I want a shooter, and quite honestly the "bores will be dark with little or no rifling" scares me off at the $500 price. I'll admit they're a little scarce, but I still would rather pay more for one with a good bore. Think I'll wait and see what the carbines look like. Greg

$500 for a rifle with a bad barrel is a bit high for me......I think I'll get another 52D and see if it's nicer than the one I got in 2003.

did all the vets forget about rifle maintance?  seems all the rifles coming from the vet organizations all junk.

I think some will clean up nicely....and some will have no rifling at all.

Luck of the draw.

I'm rolling the dice and sent in an order.

It does seem strange that at lot of their VFW rifles are listed as having poor bores because of blanks.  Without the wear and tear of a bullet I would think a couple swabs with a patch would keep the bores clean.  I think a lot of times these vets are older and cleaning the rifle is the last thing on their mind after burying one of their own.

It also seems like a lot of JROTC trainers come back with missing magazines and sights.  Where did they go?  Were these commonly lost items, or were they stored separately and perhaps already disposed of?  Hmm.

As to the price of the 1903s, I have to agree that $500 is a lot for a probable crappy, possibly unshootable bore.  Either you are stuck with a pricey wall-hanger or you'll have to dump another couple hundred bucks into it to replace the barrel.

I'm thinking I might crab a couple of those cheaper 22s and try my luck at finding sights and mags.  Is there a reliable source for these?

LL

If you buy the single shot .22's you can save money by not needing magazines!

I sent in an order for a 40x.  I'm debating on calling on tuesday and adding to the order before it gets entered.  (I think once it's on the computer you're stuck sending in another order form)  I'm thinking of the 52D myself....but then again I'd have to track down sights for everything at an additional 600 bucks or more!

I WILL be buying two 03A3s. Question remains...which ones? I say two becuase that's alot of money and I already own two 1903s. And I want to be able to buy the Carbine when they are for sale.
So which 03A3 would you buy? Why?

Quoted: It does seem strange that at lot of their VFW rifles are listed as having poor bores because of blanks.  Without the wear and tear of a bullet I would think a couple swabs with a patch would keep the bores clean.  I think a lot of times these vets are older and cleaning the rifle is the last thing on their mind after burying one of their own.

Shooting blanks with corrosive primers is likely where the bore damage came from...since they were "government rifles" the posts usually didn't maintain them, just pulled them out for parades and funerals then back into the closet until next time.

It also seems like a lot of JROTC trainers come back with missing magazines and sights.  Where did they go?  Were these commonly lost items, or were they stored separately and perhaps already disposed of?  Hmm.

The 2003 offerings (52Ds, 40Xs and 513Ts) were sold then the sights about a year later. I got a nice Redfield International with a Merit aperature for my 52D from that lot. Some got lost, others were probably kept by the activity turning in the rifles, others were incomplete or had parts missing.  

As to the price of the 1903s, I have to agree that $500 is a lot for a probable crappy, possibly unshootable bore.  Either you are stuck with a pricey wall-hanger or you'll have to dump another couple hundred bucks into it to replace the barrel.

I just sent an order for one of the chrome plated 03A3s......I'm not entirely sure why.

I'm thinking I might crab a couple of those cheaper 22s and try my luck at finding sights and mags.  Is there a reliable source for these? LL

Mags for Mossbergs (and replacement trigger guards, which commonly need replacing on thier rifles) are avail here. Repro mags for the Remingtons are availiable widely. Sights will require some looking, new ones have dried up at retail, you'd want to look at people specializing in old sights like Gary Fellers or you could try ebay.

As to the price of the 1903s, I have to agree that $500 is a lot for a probable crappy, possibly unshootable bore.  Either you are stuck with a pricey wall-hanger or you'll have to dump another couple hundred bucks into it to replace the barrel. I just sent an order for one of the chrome plated 03A3s......I'm not entirely sure why.

I'm not understanding why these were chrome plated.  Who did this?  Did the army condone this?  

I'd be interested in seeing some pics of yours when you get it.

Quoted: As to the price of the 1903s, I have to agree that $500 is a lot for a probable crappy, possibly unshootable bore.  Either you are stuck with a pricey wall-hanger or you'll have to dump another couple hundred bucks into it to replace the barrel. I just sent an order for one of the chrome plated 03A3s......I'm not entirely sure why. I'm not understanding why these were chrome plated.  Who did this?  Did the army condone this?   yes they did, want proof?  just tune in to the funeral of Pres. Ford I'd be interested in seeing some pics of yours when you get it.

Quoted: I'm not understanding why these were chrome plated.  Who did this?  Did the army condone this?   I'd be interested in seeing some pics of yours when you get it.

Probably were used as color guard/salute rifles by Active Duty/Reserve units as opposed to VFW/American Legion posts, as the numbers offered are a lot lower than non-plated rifles. I'll put up pics, I'm sure it will turn heads at the range.

M1903A3 is a good choice if you plan to convert it into an M1903A4 sniper rifle; otherwise get an M1903.

Also, be mindful of the serial numbers; you want to have a "high Serial Numbered" rifle (800,000 or higher on SA rifles; 286,506 on Rock Island Armory rifles) because the "low" serial numbers were forged a single heat treatment and tended to shattered, blasting the bolt rearwards into the shooters face.

After several incidents, the forging technique was changed and a "Double Heat Treatment" was done on all rifle receivers with a SN of 800,000 and higher on receivers made by Springfield Armory and 286,506 on receivers made by Rock Island Armory, majking these rifles safer to shoot.

My personal M1903A1 is a high SN (975,XXX) Springfield Armory receiver and I have used commercial ammunition (150gr. FMJBT loads) without a problem.

I suggest you go to www.m1903.com and read up on the information regarding receiver failures on the M1903 Springfield; very valuable information.

Quoted: Quoted: As to the price of the 1903s, I have to agree that $500 is a lot for a probable crappy, possibly unshootable bore.  Either you are stuck with a pricey wall-hanger or you'll have to dump another couple hundred bucks into it to replace the barrel. I just sent an order for one of the chrome plated 03A3s......I'm not entirely sure why. I'm not understanding why these were chrome plated.  Who did this?  Did the army condone this?   yes they did, want proof?  just tune in to the funeral of Pres. Ford I'd be interested in seeing some pics of yours when you get it.

Case in point:



USAF Honor Guard - Chromed M1 Garands with Birch Stocks

The US Navy and USAF silent drill tems use chromed M1903 Springfield Rifles, where as the USMC Silent Drill Team uses standard, non-chromed M1 Garands (heavier rifles BTW).

Anyone know of a webpage that deails rebarrelling an M1903A3.  I just happen to have a spare NIW barrel that I picked up a few years ago for no particular reason.  i figured the barrel + a chromed 1903A3 would make for a good restoration project.

Oh, and how do you remove chomre plating? (No, seriously...)

It has to be dipped in a tank of some caustic chemicals to be removed, I believe.

Why are you asking which one?



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