Armory Sponsor
Posted: 4/3/2009 10:46:36 AM EDT
|
This might be the wrong forum, I apologize for my transgression.
I was thinking about getting a Springfield M1903 and I see CMP has some Remington, "S" Stock available. I want a shooter but I want to get one in really good shape. I doubt any from the CMP would be as good shape as I would like it. Would you recommend getting one from the CMP, and once received determine if I should get it refinished or would it be cheaper to to hunt for one at the fun shows or GB? I cannot go to their stores to pick one out personally. |
|
And........they're SOLD OUT of the shootable SA 1903s..............
http://www.thecmp.org/m1903.htm Aloha, Mark |
|
Quoted:
And........they're SOLD OUT of the shootable SA 1903s.............. http://www.thecmp.org/m1903.htm Aloha, Mark yes but they still have shootable remingtons 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
And........they're SOLD OUT of the shootable SA 1903s.............. http://www.thecmp.org/m1903.htm Aloha, Mark yes but they still have shootable remingtons Looking at that link, it would appear that Remington as well as Rock Island made original '03s. I knew Rock Island did, but was not aware that Remington did. I know Remington made the 03A3 and the 03A4, along with Smith-Corona, during WWII, but them making the original is news to me. Of those choices, I would take a Remington 03A3. I have one of those and I like it much better than the originals, mainly due to the sights. There is also the concern with the original that some of them weren't done properly when converted from 30-03 to 30-06. The A3 was made during WWII, so it's not as old, and was built from the beginning for the .30-06 round and they are also not as old. |
|
Quoted:
I don't intend to insult you so please don't take it wrong........... Anyway, you sound like a "picky person." Realize that the CMP is, "luck of the draw." So.........IMHO, CMP isn't for you. Aloha, Mark Yes, I am a picky person. I do want one that is very accurate and looks good too. I did buy a Garand from the CMP and they did exactly what I asked and they gave me the best one they could find in their current stock with great metal and I replaced the stock. It is a super shooter and with the new stock I am SUPER happy with it. I don't mind getting a Remington if it would shoot accurate, but you are quite right, it is a crap shoot since I cannot go to the store personally. I found one on the auction sites for $1500 that was in super shape. I am not sure I could trust the seller that it is indeed all original. And then for that price I would feel guilty about shooting it. Plus that is really a bit rich for my taste for a shooter. I would wait for a gun show but since I am not an expert I could be easily ripped off there, and many Garand buyers commonly are. I trust the CMP implicitly that they would send me something safe to shoot. If I were to post a 'Wanted to Buy' in the classifies, what would be a fair price for one from a private seller for one that shoots accurate and looks decent? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't intend to insult you so please don't take it wrong........... Anyway, you sound like a "picky person." Realize that the CMP is, "luck of the draw." So.........IMHO, CMP isn't for you. Aloha, Mark Yes, I am a picky person. I do want one that is very accurate and looks good too. I did buy a Garand from the CMP and they did exactly what I asked and they gave me the best one they could find in their current stock with great metal and I replaced the stock. It is a super shooter and with the new stock I am SUPER happy with it. I don't mind getting a Remington if it would shoot accurate, but you are quite right, it is a crap shoot since I cannot go to the store personally. I found one on the auction sites for $1500 that was in super shape. I am not sure I could trust the seller that it is indeed all original. And then for that price I would feel guilty about shooting it. Plus that is really a bit rich for my taste for a shooter. I would wait for a gun show but since I am not an expert I could be easily ripped off there, and many Garand buyers commonly are. I trust the CMP implicitly that they would send me something safe to shoot. If I were to post a 'Wanted to Buy' in the classifies, what would be a fair price for one from a private seller for one that shoots accurate and looks decent? Where in Florida are you? It might be worth the road trip to Anniston.
|
|
Quoted:
Yes, I am a picky person. I do want one that is very accurate and looks good too. I did buy a Garand from the CMP and they did exactly what I asked and they gave me the best one they could find in their current stock with great metal and I replaced the stock. It is a super shooter and with the new stock I am SUPER happy with it. I don't mind getting a Remington if it would shoot accurate, but you are quite right, it is a crap shoot since I cannot go to the store personally. I found one on the auction sites for $1500 that was in super shape. I am not sure I could trust the seller that it is indeed all original. And then for that price I would feel guilty about shooting it. Plus that is really a bit rich for my taste for a shooter. I would wait for a gun show but since I am not an expert I could be easily ripped off there, and many Garand buyers commonly are. I trust the CMP implicitly that they would send me something safe to shoot. If I were to post a 'Wanted to Buy' in the classifies, what would be a fair price for one from a private seller for one that shoots accurate and looks decent? If I were you I would buy one from the CMP. If you don't like the condition when you get it you can decide to restore or replace parts. You can have the metal reparkerized, etc. Heck, you could even have it rebarreled. Heck, if it were a total dog, you could resell it and get another. All together, the chance of paying $1500 for an '03 that even a "picky person" would be happy with are slim. Restoring it becomes part of the project. It can be the most fun part, for some. Anyway, that's what I'd do. |
|
I would recommend an 03A3 as well, for the following reasons:
-They seem to be, on average, in better shape. -They have the receiver aperture sight. -Although the bolts/actions are nickel steel like midrange 03's, they are surface carburized and have smooth actions. Mine is a mail order. RIA rebuild with mostly Remington parts. Muzzle wear is just over "1" on the guage. It shoots better than my SG M1. Before cleaning. It had a good amount of cosmoline on it. 
Be aware that the 03s and 03A3s from the CMP are a grab bag. They run a wider range within the grading criteria than other CMP offerings. It could be anything from sub- Rack Grade to Service Grade or above. |
|
Quoted:
Where in Florida are you? It might be worth the road trip to Anniston. Bit far away from Georgia, I'm near Orlando. I just realized that the largest gun show in the state is two weeks away in Lakeland. So I'll go there and see what is available before I order one from CMP. And yes, I agree, I'm going to look for a M1903A3. My next question is, what should I look for when I am looking these things over? I ordered a set of 30.06 go/no guages so I should be covered there. Any good things to look for to make sure I am buying a safe accurate shooter? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Where in Florida are you? It might be worth the road trip to Anniston. Bit far away from Georgia, I'm near Orlando. I just realized that the largest gun show in the state is two weeks away in Lakeland. So I'll go there and see what is available before I order one from CMP. And yes, I agree, I'm going to look for a M1903A3. My next question is, what should I look for when I am looking these things over? I ordered a set of 30.06 go/no guages so I should be covered there. Any good things to look for to make sure I am buying a safe accurate shooter? Orlanda ain't that far. I am telling you it's worth the trip. However, if you can't go, you can rest assured that anything you get from CMP is going to be a safe shooter and a Service Grade is going to be an accurate shooter. CMP will not let anything go without checking the headspace and they use muzzle and throat erosion gauges to determine the grade of the rifle. If it won't pass headspace, it would probably be sold as a drill rifle. If you buy one at a gun show, you are probably gonna pay more than it would cost you to go to Anniston and hand pick the rifle. If you do buy one at a gun show, yeah, check the headspace, but see if you can get a muzzle erosion gauge and a throat erosion gauge. Personally, I would never buy from a gun show crook a Garand, an M1 carbine, an 03 or 03A3, or any other US surplus rifle that I can get from CMP. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Isn't the CMP in Anniston, AL? That a 16 hour round trip for me minimum. Still worth it. Not only do you get to handpick your rifle, you get to drool all over a room full of Garands and M1 Carbines.
The worth of the trip is heavily dependent on what is in stock when he shows up. Last time I went to the North Store, there was not a single 03 or 03A3 I would consider buying. Any decent FG M1 rifle was gone within 15 minutes of opening. Carbines were the only deal going. |
Armory Sponsor