I've been wanting a Springfield 1903 for a while, and the best deal I can find is getting one from the CMP.  What are the requirements you have to meet to be eligible to purchase one from them?  I can't find anything about it on their website.

www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/eligibility_requirements.htm

Wow... how did I miss that?

What is the name of the CMP club that allows you to purchase a lifetime membership?  I believe they are out of North Carolina?


Thanks,
Bigfeet

Quoted: What is the name of the CMP club that allows you to purchase a lifetime membership?  I believe they are out of North Carolina? Thanks, Bigfeet

There are no CMP clubs anywhere.  There are, however, gun clubs and state rifle associations that are affiliated with the CMP.

The CMP website has a search feature that allows you to find them in your state.

Also, membership in the Garand Collectors Association fulfills the requirement to belong to a CMP affiliated organization.

IMO, the '03 is not the masterpiece many think it is.  However, the A3 verson fixes its worst trait, the rear sight.  An '03 A3 should serve you nicely if it's not overly worn.

The Lack of the complete story and Hollywood are the reasons people love it.  Its competition, the US version of the British Pattern 1914 known as the "US Rifle, Model of 1917" is a superior rifle.  Some people call this rifle the "US Enfield", but Enfield had little to do with it, as 100% of all British Pattern 1914 production was done in the US by contractors.  This is the same reason it didn't get selected as the US standard rifle post WWI.  The Government owned the arsenals producing the '03.  The '17 was a contracted item at a time when labor disputes commonly interfered with production.  The primary reason the '03 beat it was complete control of production.

Bias note:  In my short collecting career, I've met (and read) dudes who would put a piece of crap under glass, if it was shit by anyone working in the Springfield arsenal.

Quoted: Quoted: What is the name of the CMP club that allows you to purchase a lifetime membership?  I believe they are out of North Carolina? Thanks, Bigfeet There are no CMP clubs anywhere.  There are, however, gun clubs and state rifle associations that are affiliated with the CMP. The CMP website has a search feature that allows you to find them in your state. Also, membership in the Garand Collectors Association fulfills the requirement to belong to a CMP affiliated organization.

SWO_Daddy,
That is what I was looking for.


Thanks, Bigfeet

Quoted: IMO, the '03 is not the masterpiece many think it is.  However, the A3 verson fixes its worst trait, the rear sight.  An '03 A3 should serve you nicely if it's not overly worn. The Lack of the complete story and Hollywood are the reasons people love it.  Its competition, the US version of the British Pattern 1914 known as the "US Rifle, Model of 1917" is a superior rifle.  Some people call this rifle the "US Enfield", but Enfield had little to do with it, as 100% of all British Pattern 1914 production was done in the US by contractors.  This is the same reason it didn't get selected as the US standard rifle post WWI.  The Government owned the arsenals producing the '03.  The '17 was a contracted item at a time when labor disputes commonly interfered with production.  The primary reason the '03 beat it was complete control of production. Bias note:  In my short collecting career, I've met (and read) dudes who would put a piece of crap under glass, if it was shit by anyone working in the Springfield arsenal.

I appreciate the input, but I'm not actually looking for one because I think it's a masterpiece of a rifle, or to put under glass.  I'm actually looking for it for the historical significance of it.  It's a rifle that was used in WWI, WWII, and other wars as well (Korea?).  I'd also like to have a good bolt action rifle of some hisorical signiicance, and like you said, Hollywood helped make them seem pretty cool.  There's no way it'll end up under glass or a safe queen, I plan to shoot it.  

I'm also probably going to get a Mosin-Nagant just because they are so cheap right now.  Around $60-$70 at the local gun shows if I remember correctly.