Virgin 03A3 barrel

[TimRB]

I recently bought a nice 03A3 from CMP. It's in beautiful shape; it has a mirror bore with very little wear at muzzle and throat. That said, I bought one of those 03A3 barrels that AIM is selling, just on the offhand chance that someone a generation or two from now may need it.

The new barrel came last night, and, as expected, was fully glopped with cosmoline, inside and out. It has been this way, evidently, since February of 1944. It even had the original paper wrapping. Cleaning it, I felt like I was opening a time capsule. And the bore? I almost had tears in my eyes. This is what rifle barrels looked like when giants walked the Earth.

Brand new, yet sixty years old. It'll probably be a hundred years old before someone needs it, but I'll make sure it's ready to go.

Tim

 

[DnPRK]

Since it was manufactured in 1944, I guess it is a 2 groove barrel?

 

[joab]

I have a Natl Ordinance Bubbaized 03A3 that I would like to put back.
I need a new barrel and furniture and I think safety.
How much was the barrel and how hard would it be to replace for a non gunsmith?

 

[hps1]

Since it was manufactured in 1944, I guess it is a 2 groove barrel?

IIRC only Remington made the 2 groove barrels. At least theirs were the only complete rifles I have seen w/original 2 groove bbl. At any rate, don't worry if it is 2 groove, all the ones I have shot were just as accurate as the 4 groove bbls.

Regards,
hps

 

[TimRB]

Two-groove barrel, cost about 80 bucks. Here's a link:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/M1_Garand_Parts.html

I don't think they even charged me shipping, but that may be because at this point I consider myself a major stockholder in AIM. Anyway, to replace it you have to have the tools and know-how to unscrew the old barrel, screw on the new one, and check headspace. Personally, I would have a gunsmith do it.

Tim

 

[Jim Watson]

Joab,

I wouldn't put a lot of money into a Nat'l Ordnance. It was a parts gun to start with, surplus parts assembled on a cast receiver. Not ever USGI.

 

[joab]

Jim
I've heard that before and now that I have gone to the CMP site and seen the price of 03s and M1s I don't think that I would bother either. I always thought the price was much higher

 

[444]

I am no 1903 historian, but I don't believe the 1903A3 was ever made with a four groove barrel.
The 1903A3 as designed to speed up production since production couldn't keep up with demand for the 1903. One of the design changes to improve production times was the 2 groove barrel.

 

[Jim Watson]

Brophy says Remington was making two- and four-groove barrels right along and that he had seen Remington A3s with both. Smith Corona barrels were made by High Standard and had six grooves in early production, four in late.

 

[444]

I stand corrected

For those that are interested, that information can be found on page 190 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy, USAR Ret.