1903-a3 what are your thoughts on this one?

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You wont like what I have to say but here goes
I would send that rifle back ASAP ,
CMP even recommends that the drill rifles they sold at one time are not to be fired
If it wasnt in the description of being a rebuilt drill rifle I would demand a refund and they pay shipping back.
IMO that is a $300.00 rifle
 
I would pull the action out of the stock and look at the bottom of the receiver. It it was only tack welded with a small weld to the barrel underneath, it's probably OK. I've built a couple guns on drill receivers so done, there simply wasnt much heat on them to do what they did. However, I've heard of some drill rifles that had the lower side of the receiver cut away (where the bolt's locking lug engages the lower receiver ring). If it was, and was rebuilt, I wouldnt shoot it. I'd look very closely since it was refinished. The work may be hard to see at a casual glance.

BTW, Springfield parts aren't numbered. They have makers marks, so the best your're going to get is matching maker parts, and a barrel that's in the correct time range if it's the right maker, but we know none of this really applies to this gun. Just mentioned it since someone brought up "numbers matching".
 
Orlando, I think you are right, about what I should do but not sure if I will try to send it back. BTW how do I take it down to check the receiver bottom? I took the action screws out but the bottom metal would not move. I guess I will have to look that up.
 
Why wouldnt you return it?
You were not told it was a drill rifle
You paid way to much for a drill rifle
You would have a real hard time getting half your money back out of it if you wanted to sell it unless the buyer didnt know anybetter

I would call Aim and calmly , nicely tell them that nowhere in the description did it say the receiver was from a drill rifle and you expect a full refund and return shipping.
Even if rifle is completely safe you were sold something worth alot less than what you paid.
Hope it all works out for you
 
You will have to take the front band screw out and move the cap (with the bayonet lug) and band forward, remove the middle band screw and band and upper handguard. The action should come free of the stock then. Try to avoid scratching the wood with the metal parts. The front band and cap won't fit over the front sight, so just let them sit forward of the stock, same for the rear band, but it may go past the other parts and front sight alright.

When reassembling it, loosely fit the screw until you know all the parts are fitting together properly, then carefully torque the forward screw first. The rear screw doesn't need as much torque. Neither have to be gorilla tight, just very firm for the front screw, a little less for the rear. Don't forget the magazine spring and follower when reassembling. There isn't any way to get them in without taking it back apart (but you wanted to practice some right?). Hope you have decent fitting screw drivers.

Orlando makes a good point. You can buy pretty good original condition 03-A3's for what this one cost. I built mine because I had about $300 or less in them. No hesitation to shoot them, just a different animal than buying one for similar money to what an original condition gun in decent shape would cost.
 
That "scant" pistol-grip stock, to my mind, would have to go. A straight-grip stock looks way better. When you figure on replacing the stock, $795 for a mismatched gun is no great bargain.

The '03A3 is superior to the M1903 in one respect -- the receiver-mounted rear sight. The M1903 is better in every other way.

Once, just for giggles, I put a Remington '03A3 barreled receiver into the Type "C" stock and furniture from a 1942 Remington M1903. I even added a NM milled and checkered buttplate. Now, that's what I would call a "Super Springfield"!
 
The '03A3 is superior to the M1903 in one respect -- the receiver-mounted rear sight. The M1903 is better in every other way.

Once, just for giggles, I put a Remington '03A3 barreled receiver into the Type "C" stock and furniture from a 1942 Remington M1903. I even added a NM milled and checkered buttplate. Now, that's what I would call a "Super Springfield"!
Click to expand...

That's close to how I built my drill rifle. All milled parts, checkered butt plate, grooved trigger, but in a straight grip stock.
 
I sent Aim a PM on another gun forum that they post on asking about these 1903's
I will let you know what they say
 
Remington M1903A3

All Remington parts, "R" marked. Arsenal rebuilt RA- mark on sanded straight stock with original 4 groove barrel.
I'd have to agree with the others as to it being over priced.
 
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http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...kQTbCN&sig=AHIEtbTG-PraPYToFkaUmMajyoMzT7RU3w

Smith and Corona started with serial #3,608,000 in 1943 and ended with serial# 4,992,000 for a total number of rifles of 234,000, Remember! serial numbers were issued in blocks.

47492 # number on the rifle in the ad would indicate the receivers have nothing to do with S&C but do indicate the serial numbers on the rifle has to do more confusion confusion between serial numbers and the total numbers of rifles made by C&R.

Think of National Ordnance and Santa Fa then consioder a cast receiver.


F. Guffey
 
I think the Serno in the last pic is shopped to obscure the last couple of digits and it is a real SC receiver. If you look at the 3rd picture from the left you can make out a 7 digit serno in that picture.
Seems like an awful lot of money for a drill rifle though.
Doug
 
mshootnit
I just got a PM from Bryan at AIM.
He said if you are not happy to call them Monday and they will take care of you.
He will probably tell you that Gibbs has reactivated so many drill rifles, bla, bla ,bla. Bottom line is they did not disclose that in the description and in my opinion that is very deceiving
Its up to you but if it were me that dog would go back.
Good luck
 
47492 by any excuse you want to make up can not be traced to a S&C receiver if there were 3 blocks of serial numbers, and no, when I look at the last picture of the receiver from the right side, I see no effort to represent the receiver as a S&C receiver with a correct receiver, one more time, question all the answers, ask the distributor where the receivers came from and or how old are? And ask if the receivers are cast.

F. Guffey
 
I ordered one of the Remington 03's about 7 or 8 months ago. later on when cleaning the rifle I found out the receiver was welded up at the bolt release ( I hope i named that section of the receiver right). This was well after the 30 day warranty so i didn't bother calling them up. First off I knew I was paying to much for it but i really wanted it I just wish i knew I was buying something that was welded up. Needless to say it's just going to sit in the very back of my closest out of sight and i hope soon, out of mind.
 
I know what a drill rifle is, if it were not for 03 type drill rifle bolt handles I would have to purchase bolt handles.

In the last post I said 'again', this time I will try to type slower, the serial number on the rifle listed in the add is not a serial number found on a S&C receiver no matter how many numbers are hidden, covered or obscured.again, slower, ask if the receivers are new/cast receivers then ask if drill rifles had a different serial number than one of the 3 lots used by S&C, there is only one answer! "NO" Drill rifles were de-milled as in welding in various places, some were cut with a torch through the chamber with a metal rod welded inside the chamber.

F. Guffey

Then there is the P14 303 rifle, perfectly good rifles with a hole drilled though the chamber in front of the receiver ring, if it was not for the British turning P14s into DP rifles with the art work (red with white stripe) I would be desperate for receivers to build.

F. Guffey
 
or ask if the serial number was welded and then stamped with a new number, to the OP, in the de-mill process some bolts were welded on the left side of the receiver (to the receiver), and that leaves the bolt handle being one of the few good parts that can be used,

F. Guffey
 
Maybe the wrong terms are being used here. Maybe isnt a drill rifle but a ceremonial rifle were the barrel was welded to the receiver etc and used to fire blanks
 
Ah, Fguffey, I believe that the people at AIM have used Photoshop or the like to obscure the last digits on the s/n. And, that who ever did this did too good a job at it, too (will guess that no one explained that this should be a case where things are obviously obscured).

Now, whether the photos give enough evidence of this being a reactivated DEWAT (whether for drill, Ceremonies, or the like), I cannot judge. But, that use is germane to the quality of what is being sold, and therefore the price, too.

The ubiquitous nature of photo software will probably change the way photos are published in their many ways. I know I'm been tempted more than once to add a label stating what digital changes I've included (like: "This photo has been cropped and resized, but no other changes.")
 
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...mMajyoMzT7RU3w

Typing slower, a serial number starting with 47492 as in 4749200 etc., etc. does not exist in any of the three three blocks of serial numbers issued to S&C I furnished a like in first response, I have included the same link with this post, typing even slower, MSHOOTNIT, check the serial number on your new purchase and compare the number with the serial numbers furnished under Smith & Corona.

CapnMac, I do not have two standards for behavior, the omission of welded receiver could look like an oversight to you, but, me? I do not make excuses for that kind of behavior.

F. Guffey
 
mshootnit: Looking forward to reading that AIM really takes care of you. Being calm and impersonal when discussing the problem often produces much better results.

If you receive a different 1903, and the sights are similar to (or the basis for) the M-1 Garand's sights, you will like whichever Springfield you end up with.

"memphisjim" and somebody else said it first.
If you manage to get a full refund, would you consider a 'Service Grade' Garand from the CMP?

The Garand (and Enfields: #4/#5) really help to compensate for my lack of training (just a few tips from two friends) and limited practice at my first range. Quite frankly, the initial range shooting began less than two years ago, and not very frequently.
 
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So pricey in my opinion. I can get a nice new Bolt Action Remington 700 with scope for that price.
Click to expand...

But a 700 isn't a 1903A3.

I was on board with AIM until it was pointed out that these are de-mills. NOW, that being said, my only issue is that the price is too much for a de-mill. Unlike some of the internet Chicken Little's who tell you de-mills will blow up, are unsafe, cluck, cluck, cluck the sky is falling....

I bought a de-mill 1903A3 2 or 3 years ago off GunBroker that had been done by an individual. He had redone the rifle and installed a new old stock (12-'43) barrel. I got it for $400 and it's a beautiful rifle and best of all it shoots way, way beyond my expectations and even rivals my K-31's for accuracy.

Malamute, watch GunBroker closely and be patient. Occassionally 1903A3's will sell in the $550 - $650 range.

35W

35W
 
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