Resurrect a Springfield 03-A3?

[tex_n_cal]

During my college days I bought a sporterized Remington 03-A3, muy cheap. I was told at the time, "...oh it's an old army rifle, it's not safe to shoot". I knew enough then to know that info was bogus. Dad had .30-06 headspaces gauges, and it checked fine.

I shot it a few times, worked on shaping the Bishop stock from a Monte carlo Style, to a classic style suitable for iron sights. The action was not drilled for a scope, but rather a Lyman receiver sight. The 2 groove barrel, dated 5-43, was quite accurate - good handloads would do a little more than an inch at 100 yards, pretty good considering a dark spot in the bore, about halfway down.

A few years ago, I realized the dark spot in the bore was actually a slight bulge, of perhaps .005" to .007". Hmmm... I haven't shot it since.

Looking at the rising prices of even sporterized Springfields, I am thinking of getting it shooting again. Since the top of the action is unmolested, it could get rebuilt to issue condition. The bolt I believe is a replacement model, as it appears intended to clear a scope - odd given that the action's never worn one. Add a stock and a few other parts, viola a restored 03-A3.

Of course, since it will never be anything but a parts gun, I could also work on the stock some more, add a machined triggerguard, and rebarrel it to a .338, or .35 Whelan.

Opinions? restore it to military configuration? Sporterize it further? What would the value be were it restored to issue condition?

Thanks!

 

[Feanaro]

Restoring it would cost as much, or more perhaps, as sporterizing it. I would think that a restored version would be more valuable. But what I think and the way it is are sometimes two different things.

Comes down to your personal choice. I lean towards restoration since I prefer military style firearms. If I wanted a hunting/target shooting rifle, I'd buy one. I like mine beat-up(not destroyed, merely used). I couldn't explain why. The most practical thing to do would be to simply get a new barrel. The best for increasing the value of the rifle would likely be restoration. Then again, since it will never have the collectors value of a mint, it wouldn't hurt to Bub... sporterize it.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don’t think returning it to the original style will increase its value much, because at this point it will still be a “parts gun†to collectors - at least most of them. However if you want to do this for yourself go ahead. I believe Numrich/Gunparts Corp. have aftermarket Type C stocks and everything else you need to complete the project. I would say, “have at it,†unless you find that the expense isn’t worth it.

www.e-gunparts.com

 

[telewinz]

There are more shooters than collectors out there. I'd restore it after doing research to see how expensive the parts would be. Many people have no idea on how to tell a "collector" from a parts gun. I've got a Remington 03A3 in 90% condition, I thought it was a steel at $500. What was most important? That it was an 03A3. Restore it and you will have little problem selling it in the future.

 

[Fed168]

You may have a sporter that was done at the factory. I just examined one that was, very nice job on its configuration.

Some early 03s had a softer steel, leading to problems. This was picked up from an article that Clint Smith wrote about two years ago on the 03.