1903 Just showin off

[lencac]

Sorry but sometimes I just got to show off. Fuel the fever so to speak.
I saw in the latest issue of Surplus Rifles there was an article on the Gibbs Rifle Company. It show cased their version of the venerable and highly sought after Model 1903A4 U.S. 30 Cal. sniper rifle. I'm sure we all know the kind of money these beautiful and sexy original rifles command nowadays. Does anyone know what kind of money Gibbs is asking for theirs?

Anyway, I thought I would share with my THR peeps a little different variation of the 1903A4 that I have aqcuired. It is referred to as a 1903A4 Hybrid. It is superbly made and is deadly accurate. This kind of dispels the perception that military surplus type rifles are clumsy, inaccurate and beaters (reference My Complaint Against Surplus Rifles).
Bon appetite

 

[jdub3]

gorgeous (drool)

 

[FlyinBryan]

shwinggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lencac]

Well, I had a little budinski here who wanted to get in on the glamor shots too. These prima donnas anyway

 

[P.B.Walsh]

WOW (drool)

 

[Riss]

Yup. Gotta add one of those to the stable. Starting with one of those CMP MANN devices to make a sweet shooter like that. WOW. Sending out the order tomorrow. What kind of scope mount is on that beautiful rig ?

 

[lencac]

What the heck right? Now if I could just shoot 4 or 5 shot groups without the 1/2 inch flyer :banghead:

 

[Riss]

What kind of scope mount is on that rig?

 

[lencac]

That's a Redfield 1 piece scope mount virtually identical to the mounts on the original 1903A4s. The scope is a Super Sniper tacticle fixed 16 power, 30mm tube with true mil-dot reticle. The center line of the scope is less than 1/2 inch above where the original rear peep sight would have been.
The rifle is a Smith Corona with a perfect original 4 groove barrel. It has a Timney Competition trigger, Wolf 20 lbs. main spring, the receiver and barrel are bedded to the stock and using a little trick the handguard clips are employed to tune the barrel. With the handload receipe I use this rifle is capable of shooting 1/2 MOA @ 100 yrds. off the bench.
I build these rifles
So some body go to www.gibbsrifle.com and find out how much they ask for their replica 1903A4. I will put mine up against theirs any time

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I can't find the Gibbs rifle price, what is the price?

Thanks,
P.B.Walsh

 

[lencac]

Here's another 1903A4 Hybrid I built. Gotta love those 1903s uh? Sexiest military rifle ever made. Who could argue that uh?

 

[lencac]

Ok Walsh, your mission, should you dicide to take it is to call Gibbs and find out for me. You in soldier?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Na, just curious, because right now, I can't even afford a Savage MkII FV.

BTW, what a "1903-A4" HYBRID", what does that mean?

 

[lencac]

I refer to it as a Hybrid because it incorporates the full essence of the original 1903A4s with modern state-of-the-art optics and bedding technics. I would be pretty certain for far less money than the Gibbs anf it will shoot circles are the Gibbs.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Can you take the rear peep sight off of the A3's? If not how much are your average A4's, I *need* one of each, a A3' for shoot range hunting and a A4' because my Remmy .308 needs an old compainion.

 

[lencac]

Yes the rear and front sights on the 1903A3s can be removed.
Original 1903A4s are curently going for anywhere from $3000 to $7000

 

[jpwilly]

AIM surplus has them for $999

1903A4 US M1903A4 Springfield 30.06 Rifles

Item#1903A4
US model M1903A4 Springfield bolt action 30.06 Rifles. These Rifles are built using original Remington-made World War II M1903A3 actions and turned-down bolts. These fine Rifles feature newly manufactured 4-groove barrels identical to the originals. Each receiver is carefully drilled and tapped using replicas of the original "Redfield" rings and mounts and an exact copy of the M73B1 scope, used on the 1st model M1903A4's. Each barreled action has the original military parkerized finish with beautiful walnut stock furniture, again, identical to the originals.
Each includes a replica of the M1907 U.S. issued leather sling and OD Green canvas carrying case. Not just exceptional in looks and finish, each gun is made to hold to the accuracy standards of the U.S. Military during World War II. These Rifles are currently in very high demand and we have a limited supply, so order while you can!



We are currently taking pre-orders for the weekly shipments we are receiving of these Rifles. To pre-order please call Toll Free 1-888-748-5252.


Price: $999.95

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Holy **** that alot of $$$$!!!$$$!! so, how much are your average A3's?

 

[DMK]

Sexiest military rifle ever made.

I always liked the lines of the '03 as well. I love the Garand, but it isn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing as a 1903, especially an early model.

Beautiful rifles! Thanks for sharing the nice pics.

 

[1KPerDay]

how much are your average A3's?

depends who you ask. Some here claim they can find them all day for 75 bucks, but from what I've seen you have to pay north of 500 clams for one in good shape. I paid 600 for mine and am happy with the deal.

 

[lencac]

but it isn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing as a 1903

Heck I can't even say that word let alone spell it
Thanks DMK

 

[krs]

Repo..............phooey.


When they came from Remington the receiver, barrel, and small bolt pieces were parked but all the other parts were blued contrary to popular internet gospel. It was after they'd been back to one or the other arsenals that they received parkerizing of most every part. The "RA" on this one is 'Remington Arms', not Raritan Arsenal, and this rifle is correct to an unusual extent - so unusual that most people who know of it think IT must be a repo. But it ain't.

To me those Gibbs arms things look worse than the versions that so many energetic owners have put together on their own. For someone with a good 1903a3 like 1Kperday's above it would be no problem to replicate a more realistic rifle, and for less money too.

I have another one that has been rearsenalized and is overall parkerized. The park is darker and better looking than those Gibbs versions because it doesn't have that powdery sort of appearance of being freshly done, or overdone - left too long in solution.

I bought both rifles many years ago, and they were quite reasonable - more in line with their shooting capability than the collector prices of today. Frankly, their value now embarrasses me and I don't enjoy owning them anymore.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well, I no choice but to conclued that now you're just showin off!

 

[krs]

No. I like Lencac's rifle and think his is the way to get the venerable old girls, the 1903a3, to shoot. As issued the standard of accuracy required was that each rifle be able to fire ten shots into a 4" circle at 100 yards which might have been a problem then but which is hardly anything to brag on now.

But with a good modern barrel, proper bedding, and good optics they can shoot as well as most any off the shelf Savage.

The scope used at first was a result of the urgent demands for a snipering rifle made by the services. They were being mauled by Japanese snipers during the early landings and needed a way to counter that. So Remington was awarded a quick contract and had to go onto the commercial sources to find a workable telescopic sight. The first batches were exactly the same as were available in every hardware and general store, no military nomenclature or markings whatsoever.

A little later they formalized procurement and gave the scopes a number but you know what? It was and is a crappy scope to give to U.S. servicemen, particularly US Marines trying to stay alive in late 1942. The scope leaks, it's reticle is fragile, and it won't hold adjustment worth a damn.

There were complaints and better scopes were found. A French made beauty, then a good Lyman 'Alaskan' that actually kept most of the rain out. The later scopes right through the M84 used on Garand based M1-C and M1-D rifles is a direct descendent of that Lyman. But even those are a poor excuse for a sniper scope. US sniping was a travesty, or a joke depending on who's telling it. It wasn't until late in Vietnam that sniping was fully recognized aas an effective and necessary element by the generals-that-be and a lot of GI's paid for their resistance to it with their lives.

It makes me wonder to see the sniper rifles romanticized and valued so highly these days. I wonder at the ignorance of people who chose them as a focus of reverence.

Amen.

 

[krs]

from the Gibb's promo material: "These fine Rifles feature newly manufactured 4-groove barrels identical to the originals"

This is more BS. The truth is that the 1903a4 barrels were split about even between two and four groove versions because in 1942, after some level of testing by the ordnance department, it was determined that no difference in accuracy could be documented between the then current four groove stipulation and a proposed two groove version. So they granted permission for Remington to make the barrels with two grooves at a savings realized in the per rifle cost to the gov. They shoot the same but were cheaper, and rifles are found with either type, still correct as could be, again despite the insistence of untold internet know-it-alls that only a four groove barrel can be correct ob a 1903a4 sniper rifle.

Amen....again.