sinbad339
Member
Aim Surplus is showing refurbed 1903A3s for $799. Antone here bought one, or thoughts, opinions?
Aim Surplus 1903A3
- Thread starter sinbad339
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Dazen
Member
I picked up one a few years back. This is the only firearm purchase that I regret. I did not notice till a month later when I was cleaning the rifle before I took it out to shoot, the receiver had been welded up. I would have Never bought this if I knew there was a chance of getting a welded receiver for my rifle. I am in no way saying anything bad or putting the blame on Aim ,that rest on those who refinished the rifle.
Ibmikey
Member
Ask before ordering if your intended purchase is a recycled drill rifle, Aim folks are most helpful and friendly and their used firearms normally a step up from some others.
$800 will buy you a clean 'A3 that isn't a former drill rifle. Heck for that much I would sell one of mine.
Not all of the refurbished drill rifles are bad though. A friend of mine bought 50 of them when they were $25 apiece. About half had cracked receivers and of the rest, probably 30% had the cutoff welded up pretty thoroughly. He was able to restore the ones that were left with new barrels and bolts and they came out nice.
Not all of the refurbished drill rifles are bad though. A friend of mine bought 50 of them when they were $25 apiece. About half had cracked receivers and of the rest, probably 30% had the cutoff welded up pretty thoroughly. He was able to restore the ones that were left with new barrels and bolts and they came out nice.
bainter1212
Member
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These are Gibbs rifles, right? Basically refurbed drill rifles? In that case, they are only worth how well they shoot.
I would look for a good original in shootable condition.
I would look for a good original in shootable condition.
sinbad339
Member
Thanks for the replies all. I've got an email into Aim asking if these were drill rifles, if the cutoff is functional, etc. But no reply yet. And I thought a 1903A3 would cost at least $1000; am I wrong on this?
sinbad339
Member
Of course, right after I post, the email from Aim came in.
they were drill rifles that had plugged barrels, and welded safeties. They plugged barrel was removed and weld was removed from the safety. The stocks are Boyd stocks and are really nice
Bryan
Aim
Bryan
Aim
Panzerschwein
member
Well that doesnt sound bad uh-tawl! I kind of want one...
1KPerDay
Member
Yes. Unless things have drastically changed the last year or two. I got my A3 and my MKI for around $600 per within the last couple of years. Keep your eyes open. $800 should get you a very nice original.
GBExpat
Member
Sad. Apparently, AIM is not as forthright as it once was.
In earlier times, this is the kind of pertinent information that AIM would have included in the product's online description.
In earlier times, this is the kind of pertinent information that AIM would have included in the product's online description.
carbine85
Member
They are refurb rifles with new barrels. Most of the reviews I see speak favorably of them. Sarco is building 03 rifles from parts.
A nice example of an original 03A3 goes for $1K+
A nice example of an original 03A3 goes for $1K+
Some drill rifles were more drastically modified than others, some took very little work to clean up the welds, some were welded up pretty badly, and a few even had parts cut out of the receivers under the front ring. Nobody would try to recover those, but the other work isnt too bad if done right. What they are calling a safety is probably the bolt stop/magazine cutoff.
They are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. They do have new barrels and stocks, and probably will shoot well.
I'd have no qualms about having one for a shooter if it was less expensive than a comparable condition original.
They are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. They do have new barrels and stocks, and probably will shoot well.
I'd have no qualms about having one for a shooter if it was less expensive than a comparable condition original.
I bought one from AIM 5 or 6 years ago and have no real complaints about it. I was disappointed to find out that it was once a drill rifle. Someone at the range pointed out a little blemish near the cutoff and explained that it was once tack welded there. He also said that the receiver is Cerakote b/c the weld material used to repair the grinding will show through the typical parkerizing. Doesn't really hurt my feelings though. The rifle looks very nice and shoots to point of aim pretty well. I can do 3-4 inch groups at 200 yards with bulk ammo and about 2 inches with heavy bench rest and bag with reloads. I have since put it in a "C" type stock from Brownell's I believe.
Its a Smith Corona receiver, '43 Remington 2 groove barrel with ever so slightly canted sight blade. All hardware on mine appears to be NOS or reparkerized gray.
I had a problem the last time out with ejection so I need to go check that out soon. I had forgotten until now!
ETA: I distinctly remember AIM advertising these guns as assembled from "leftover" parts. I can't remember the precise words they used but it did not mention they were using drill rifle parts at all. Had I known that at the time, I would have done as Reloadron suggests below.
Its a Smith Corona receiver, '43 Remington 2 groove barrel with ever so slightly canted sight blade. All hardware on mine appears to be NOS or reparkerized gray.
I had a problem the last time out with ejection so I need to go check that out soon. I had forgotten until now!
ETA: I distinctly remember AIM advertising these guns as assembled from "leftover" parts. I can't remember the precise words they used but it did not mention they were using drill rifle parts at all. Had I known that at the time, I would have done as Reloadron suggests below.
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
So figure $800 plus S&H. I see you are out in Painsville. I would wait for the next Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds gun show in Berea and look for one there. I have seen a few really nice 03A3 guns there, private sale in the same $800 range. I wouldn't screw with a demilled gun that has been remilled.
Just My Take
Ron
I too, think that if you look around, you will find an original 'A3 for $800 or less. Nearly all of them have gone through an arsenal test and inspect campaign, so you will often see various arsenal markings on them.
I picked this one up for $700 a year or so ago. I only bought it because it is slightly better than the one I already had. I know I'm sick, but I just can't help myself.
What $700 got me.
And this is the one I already had.
I picked this one up for $700 a year or so ago. I only bought it because it is slightly better than the one I already had. I know I'm sick, but I just can't help myself.
What $700 got me.
And this is the one I already had.
1KPerDay
Member
drooooooooooollllllllllll
Speedo66
Member
Gone. Aim's site only shows receivers with stripped bolts left at this point, at $120 per unit.
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