SA 1903 Deer Rifle

[Fortyfied]

I came across a Springfield Armory Model 1903 in a pawn shop that looks like a deer rifle. It has the bolt action of a 1903, the barrel is marked like a 1903, but the stock is deer rifle style and there are no sights on it. He wants $300.00 including scope. The finish on this item is maybe 85%.

Is a 1903 worth three bills? I am in the market for for a 30-06...

 

[Baba Louie]

Worth it? Maybe.
Lotsa sporterized 03's out there, tho you don't see too many of them nowadays (well, I don't). It seemed to be a mainstay of gunsmiths back in the 50's & 60's to convert an el cheapo 03 into a bambi killin' machine. Some of them were pretty well done. Some were beautiful. Others just were... done.
If the bore looks good and hasn't been cut down and all the other parts are there you could always hunt down a milsurp stock and unBubba it.
Or you could buy it as is and put some sights back on it or build a replica 03A4 sniper (that wouldn't be too bad, maybe).
Offer them $200 (taking a roll of $20's out of your pocket as you make an offer) and see if they'll meet you halfway.
What kind of scope? Good glass is not cheap. Cheap glass is... cheap.

 

[JShirley]

Well, I took two does this past season with my Eatman Express. It would be hard to find a better all-around deer gun.

John