Remington 03A3 action strength

[Vern Humphrey]

Then we're talking about the same cut -- as I said, my sporterized M1903 has it, both my 03A3s have it, and my M1922 .22 LR has it.

It's there to clearance the cut for the safety or anti-bind lug.

 

[retnav05]

Now Im curious. I pulled out an 03A3 and it doesnt have the cut. Only the earlier productions did? Here is a better view.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have one 03A3 by Remington and one by Smith-Corona. Both have the cut. Yours appears to have been milled out -- can't tell for sure. Maybe this was a late modification? Maybe done in rebuild?

 

[retnav05]

I know that this action was not modified. It must be that later productions didnt have the half round cut. Does anybody have the "Book of the Springfield"? I had it but I have no idea where the heck it went.

 

[Gewehr98]

Looking at the back end of my 1903A4's receiver...

And the Z-Prefix rifles don't have the cut, either. I'll have to ask Scott McDuff if he has any info regarding the purpose of the relief cut, it's intriguing to say the least.

 

[racenutz]

My 1903 Remington serial 3189068 with a barrel date of 8/42 has the same cutout. I wonder if this was used by the Pedersen device?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My 1903 Remington serial 3189068 with a barrel date of 8/42 has the same cutout. I wonder if this was used by the Pedersen device?

s

In a word, no.

The Pedersen device was used with the M1903 MKI and most of them were destroyed about 20 years before the 03A3 came into being. The Pedersen cut is a slot on the left receiver rail, about mid-way between receiver bridge and ring.

The cut we're talking about was to clearance the safety or anti-bind lug. It was forged into the receiver to faciliate machining for that lug.

 

[Jim Watson]

My '03 has that little scallop, but then it is a Springfield, a Mk I at that with a 1919 barrel and that not its first, if I read the punchmarks right.

The only top view of a Remington '03 in Brophy has it, too.
The A3s illustrated don't.