Palma Rifle?

Google Palma rifle, you'll get lots of information.

Try the forums at http://forums.thecmp.org

May have been built into one by any number of guys. I'd look for Redfield Olympic/International sights on it.

A Palma rifle must be chambered in 308. If it was rebarreled and has target sights it could have been shot in a Palma match.


Edit: oops, the .308 restriction was put in in the late 1980's. An -06 was legal before then. Sorry.

Erik12 said:

So I need some help here...

I have a Remington 03-A3 that I got from my dad, who got it years ago from an old guy that said that it was a Palma Match rifle. Judging from the rifle itself I wouldn't doubt it, but I haven't been able to find a shred of evidence to support the claim or any way of researching it. Does anyone know of any resources that might be able to help confirm or refute this?

Click to expand...

Sounds cool, can't wait for the pics...and welcome to the forum!

There was a time when an unaltered '03-A3 could have been used in PALMA competition. However, the sights and other complications would have severely limited it's effectiveness in competition. More recently, the PALMA rules mandated rifles be .308 Win. caliber and there were other restrictive requirements. The purpose being to level the international playing field so that teams from each country were essentially shooting the same ammo, with the host country supplying identical ammo to all teams. The most recent rule change in US-PALMA rules now also allow .223 Rem. caliber rifles. The purpose, in addition to other factors, being to broaden the appeal to a wider segment of completion minded shooters, especially younger shooters who otherwise would have no interest in the PALMA program. Here is the rifle I once fired in PALMA matches, with the ammo we issued for the 1992 PALMA Trophy Match. The rifle (and I) were competitive back in those days but have been mostly replaced with more advanced rifle design and technology and shooters with younger eyes.

Mr. Erik, thanks for sending the informative photos. You have a very nice rifle that was well fitted out with sights for competition shooting, including PALMA matches. Here is a rifle almost identical to yours, including the Lyman #48 rear "peep" sight. I've owned this rifle longer than any other gun in my collection, having bought it when I was 14-15 for use in Hi Power rifle competition. Which is rather typical of rifles used in competition back in the 1950's and before, as they were easily and inexpensively available and with the addition of a good set of sights a budget minded shooter could get into competition. That the ammo boxes are marked PALMA does not necessarily mean that the rifle was actually used in PALMA competition, as that was also the ammo commonly used in the more popular NRA "over the course" matches..It's nice rifle to own and be glad you're the owner...

Rifle has a short slide Lyman 48 peep sight elevation scale to 60. I don't think a short slide sight will give enough elevation for 1000 yards. (Palma match is 800, 900, 1000 yards.)

I guess it’s not what I would call a Palma rifle but I guess it’s possible it was used as such. Looks like it was setup to shoot regular service rifle matches to me. Real nice rifle and I’d be proud to have it.

Have you tried the forums at http://forums.thecmp.org ?

They have a great depth of knowledge there.

“Tapered heel bullet”