Remington Unknown?

[JFrameTwitch]

Hi Folks,
I am very excited I have found a site with such a deep well of knowledge to tap into. I have another thread going, "wife wants an elk," and have received some great ideas. It has sparked some debate so I am waiting for the right time to respond to that one.
In that thread I mentioned that I have two 30.06's. These were my Dad's and have been my only hunting rifles all my life. And they have seen a lot of rounds.
One is a Remington 700 which I love. I really don't know what the other one is so I am hoping someone can help.
Some time ago, my Dad had some work done on it and they drilled out the model number.
This afternoon, I took off the scope and mounts hoping to find more info. To this point, I didn't even know it was a Remington! I have always referred to it as "the heavy one."
It is hard to tell but I think the last number of the model number is a 3. Beyond that all I know is that it is a Remington 30.06. If other pictures or angles will help please let me know.
Thanks

 

[WestKentucky]

Looks a heck of a lot like a Springfield 1903. Remington as well as others made them under contract in ww1, but I am by far no expert on the '03. Others who are will be by shortly.

 

[crazysccrmd]

It's a sporterized Model 1903.

 

[rcmodel]

It is a WWII Remington 1903-A3 which according to the serial number 3743372 was made in 1942.

It was later sporterized with a different stock, scope bent bolt handle, and drilled fore scope mounts.

Here is what it looked like to start with.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1903_Springfield


rc

 

[bannockburn]

When I first saw the photos I thought the rear of the bolt looked a lot like that of a '03 Springfield.

 

[greenmtnguy]

Yup, I bet there are alot of stories in that sporterized 1903A3..

 

[Jim K]

I am glad the rifle works for you, so it doesn't really matter, but that drill and tap work is about as bad as I have ever seen.

Jim

 

[eastbank]

seconds on that drill and tap job. who ever did it, did a horrible job on grinding threw the reciever hardening. it didn,t hurt the reciever ,it just looks like crap. eastbank.

 

[BigBore45]

yeah that is a not so pretty job on the drill and tap, but very cool rifle and RC dated it 1942, that is awesome!

 

[zacusmc66]

yes someone turned an '03a3 sniper rifle into a hunting rifle , In good condition military stock rifles of that type go for a lot of bucks , but they are , in my opinion , among others the best 30-06 action ever made !

 

[Grizzers]

They are great actions and a direct copy of the Mauser action which could possibly be the best bolt action ever made. I have a sporter'd 1903a3 as well. Mine was built in '42 or '43.

 

[JFrameTwitch]

Thanks for all the information. Is this rifle a 1903-A3 or is it plainly a 1903? I don't see the -A3 anywhere on it. Or does it matter?
What does sporterizing actually mean? Was it done by an individual or by Remington? Was it manufactured in 1942 and then later sold as surplus? Any other info on this rifle's possible journey is appreciated. It was purchased at a gun shop in west Texas a long time ago is the only other thing k know about it. I have been shooting and hunting with this thing since I was a kid so it is nice to find all this out. Thanks all

 

[holdover]

Rifle is a Remington 1903 A3 it is a std model Not a sniper that is called an A4, but are marked A3. The way you can tell is the roll mark on the rec which allows you to see US Rem and the serial # when the scope mount is in place, also the serial # is not in the A4 range. This rifle was made in May-June 1943 http://www.vishooter.net/ra_serialization.txt

they were sold after the war as surplus and converted by some companies but mostly private citizens. Making it a sporter usually means cutting the barrel to a shorter length, putting a new front sight on, either cutting the stock or replacing it with a commercial stock, in your case drilling the action for a scope mount. Many consider it butchering a military rifle, but in the 50-60s they could be bought for about 20.00 as compared to a commercial rifle for 50-60, money was tight back then. Most make great shooters

 

[Grizzers]

The question on what's a sniper rifle and what's not is a touchy one with some. The A4's were the official 1903 sniper variant but snipers were using 1903's as sniper rifles long before the A4 came about. They are accurate and reliable. Nice guns.