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Posted: 9/6/2010 8:37:26 PM EDT
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Picked up a beat up 1903 not to long ago, a 1943 Remington. The barrel was completely frosted and the stock was in poor condition. I picked up a new barrel and stock from CMP. I sent the rifle to MSA (Military Small Arms) for the once over, barrel replacement and reparkerizing the rifle. I applied BLO to the stock over a 3 month period until I got it to were I wanted it.
Took it out today to shoot some steel plates at the 100 yard line and it was right on with the battle sights and the peep sight. The peep being more precise of the two. I highly recomend MSA for any of your 1903-Garand needs. Here are some pics of the 1903, I got the sling and rack loops backwards and I know the canvas sling is not original but it is all I have right now. 
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Thanks guys! It shoots awesome, I was surprised at the sights lining up perfectly even after the barrel change. I guess I overlooked the front sight shroud, need one, any suggestions?? there isn't a real need for one, unless you want one, if you do, try to find a Marine front site hood, bigger and easier to use when you shoot (you leave it on) |
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The canvas sling is correct with a Remington M1903. They were not issued with leather slings. They were issued with canvas M1923 slings, which would be most correct, but the canvas M1 is a good substitute as the M1923 slings are difficult to find and rather annoying.
-Mark |
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That looks really great.
I know there are a lot of purists out there who will argue you ruined the gun etc. It's your gun, and it's meant to be shot. 
Good Job. I've been wanting to unbubba my 03-A3 and put a CMP stock and park the metal I don't have the dough though. ETA - How much was the park job? |
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The parkerizing was done by Military Small Arms, along with all the other work aside from the wood finish. That I did myself. The original barrel was pretty bad, really frosted up & pitted some what in the chamber. It definitely needed to go. It did not have Remington proof marks on it so it must have been rebarreled at on point in time.
The rifle is a 1943 Remington so the stamped trigger guard should be correct, if I'm not mistaken, Remington simplified production using stamped parts after WWII began. |
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The parkerizing was done by Military Small Arms, along with all the other work aside from the wood finish. That I did myself. The original barrel was pretty bad, really frosted up & pitted some what in the chamber. It definitely needed to go. It did not have Remington proof marks on it so it must have been rebarreled at on point in time. The rifle is a 1943 Remington so the stamped trigger guard should be correct, if I'm not mistaken, Remington simplified production using stamped parts after WWII began. Only a handful of Remington '03s were produced during 1943. The vast majority of Remington's '43 production were 03-A3s. I can almost guarantee you that your rifle was made in 1942. Usage of stamped trigger guards on Remington '03s, IIRC, started around 3.22 million. If yours is below that, the milled TG is more appropriate. -Mark |
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The parkerizing was done by Military Small Arms, along with all the other work aside from the wood finish. That I did myself. The original barrel was pretty bad, really frosted up & pitted some what in the chamber. It definitely needed to go. It did not have Remington proof marks on it so it must have been rebarreled at on point in time. The rifle is a 1943 Remington so the stamped trigger guard should be correct, if I'm not mistaken, Remington simplified production using stamped parts after WWII began. Only a handful of Remington '03s were produced during 1943. The vast majority of Remington's '43 production were 03-A3s. I can almost guarantee you that your rifle was made in 1942. Usage of stamped trigger guards on Remington '03s, IIRC, started around 3.22 million. If yours is below that, the milled TG is more appropriate. -Mark My 1903 is # 3.191, is there a definite cut off at 3.2 mill?? Nevermind, just looked it up again and I was wrong. It is a 1941 production rifle. Need to make some corrections. |
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My 1903 is # 3.191, is there a definite cut off at 3.2 mill?? Nevermind, just looked it up again and I was wrong. It is a 1941 production rifle. Need to make some corrections. According to VI Shooter's tables (they are accurate), your rifle is a 1942. Most Remington '03s are. Your rifle is in the mid-range of Remington '03s - not early, not late, and as such will exhibit the "usual" features of these rifles. It should have a straight stock with a wide spaced, unboxed RLB cartouche along with the ordnance wheel. It should have all milled parts. Most parts should exhibit a greenish-grey parkerizing - Remington '03s had few blued parts. Remington milled trigger guards have a large serifed "R" stamp on the side - I can take a picture of mine if you would like. Bear in mind that both of those parts will be very difficult to find if you go looking, but they do pop up on eBay. -Mark |
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