[Kestrel]

I found a 1903-A3 in really good condition. The shop wants $750 for it (I don't know if this is reasonable or not).

Are these reasonable guns for an urban defense type of rifle?

Thanks,
Steve

[Mike Irwin]

That's high for a 1903-A3.

Quite frankly, I think you'd be better served by spending 1/2 of that money and getting a Marlin 30-30 or .357 Mag. and investing the rest in ammo if you're dead set on a self-defense rifle.

[Correia]

The 03a3 was a fine rifle in its day, and still makes a good rifle. However $750 is quite a bit of money.

If you are dead set on a heavy duty military bolt action rifle, you can get a Mauser for 1/7th of that price. Or an M44 Nagant for under $100, or an Enfield for under $200. All of those make good beaters. A mint Springfield is probably better left to the serious collector.

As for a self defense rifle? Different strokes for different folks. Not my first choice.

[Powderman]

Moreover, if you want a good '03, just go straight to the source:

www.odcmp.com

Good shooting!

[Al Thompson]

That's interesting. I saw one at the show for that price this weekend - you from Columbia?

I agree with Mike. The .30-06 is too much for an urban rifle. The Marlin or an AR is a better choice.

My personal choice is a shotgun. Don't need the over penetration froom a rifle.

[4v50 Gary]

I paid that much for an undocumented 03 that was sporterized (purportedly by Springfield Armory). Got the original DCM papers that stated it was second rate (or whatever they called a non-perfect gun). The "second rate" was that the front sight was loose. Anyway, what gives credibility to it being sporterized at the armory was that the purchaser was assigned there and it was delivered to him there. Old Boy network at work.

Why did I shuck the bucks? It came with the Lyman 48 rear aperture sights as well as a Lyman Alaskan scope that was mounted on a Griffin & Howe detachable base (probably off a M1-C). The scope and Griffin & Howe base was the big enticement. The owner told me that her dad never fired it.

But, returning to the question, I think what Mike says makes a lot of sense. An 03A3 is a fine rifle, but I'd take something more portable (I'm a sissy, light) and gobbles up cheaper ammo (operative word is cheap) so I can afford to practice and become proficient (fear the man with but one gun and knows how to use it).

[Sir Galahad]

Served this country well for 50 years.

[Art Eatman]

The price seems high. I'd check the literature, such as Fjestad's Blue Book, or the Gun Trader's Guide.

The CMP website oughta have some info, as well. Lotta guys there are quite knowledgeable about the '03 as well as the Garands...

As far as defense goes, it's a bolt-action .30-'06. Lotta power; lotta penetration. And beaucoup decibels, if fired indoors! :) If you do expect to ever use such a critter for self-defense, I'd recommend either the 110-grain varmint load or the Remington "Accelerator" with its .223 bullet. Less likely to go through as many walls. ("Less" does not mean "none".)

Art

[cracked butt]

$750 for an 03A3 is way high unless its all original (very unlikely). A copy of the rifle in decent condition shouldn't run you more than $450-500.

I bought one over the winter for about $350 that had a badly pitted barrel and a cracked stock (I might have payed a little too much for it but I knew what I was getting). It shot pretty good despite both of those problems. I replaced the barrel with a new 2-groove barrel I paid $85 for on Ebay and had a friend swap barrels for the price of a 12 pack of beer. I was going to replace the stock also, but the rifle is now an absolute tackdriver so I'll leave it alone:cool:

If you have $750 to spend and want a historical rifle that can be used for 'urban defense' consider an M1 carbine. Short, fairly light, amoo isn't overpowered for short ranges, accurate enough for moderate ranges, and is a heck of alot of fun to shoot.

[ChairborneRanger]

Short of it being a collector gun, $750 is way too high. For that type of money you could get (as has already been pointed out) a USGI M1 Carbine----better yet, spend a few more $$$'s and get an AR15 A2 in .223/5.56----a modern, "world class" rifle, with lots of different types of ammo available---including lots of cheap, plinker-type ammo.