What to look for when buying first M1903

[jabberwo]

Hi,

I'm not much a collector, just an acquirer, so to speak. I've been offered a Remington M1903 A3. What are the things to look at to make sure its something I can shoot, and shoot safely? The seller doesn't know it's throat erosion or head space (I know about them only because the CMP sales talks about them).

thanks,
Jab

 

[jpwilly]

Your eye and a good flashlight are great tools. If you know what a good bore looks like you should be able to spot a worn out bore. Look for sharp lands with a brite shiny bore also be sure the crown isn't damaged. Work the action etc inspect it and look for correct markings, sights, stock etc. Was the reciever drilled and tapped. Headspace can only be checked with gauges same for throat erosion and...What's he want for it? A few hundred is a great deal. 600+ look over it real good.

 

[jabberwo]

Hi,

Thanks for the info. He happens to want exactly $600. The bore is "shiny", I didn't check the crown that well, or at least I can't remember.

I don't know the correct markings and sights, etc. I thought surplusrifle.com would help out there, but alas no. My google-foo was weak and didn't find any pages on what to look for, like I did say for my K98. An interesting thing would be this rifle along with my M1, M1 carbine, and the K98 would all have been built in '43.

Merry Christmas Eve,
Jab

 

[22lr]

Ive got a 1903a3 but it has been sporterized. For $600 im sure its not all matching numbers and in extremely great shape but if the barrel looks nice and shiny with no pits. Also look at the receiver and how deep the machining marks are, with mine you can see them but there fairly smooth. Im not really sure how rough a 1903 receiver can get but ive seen many milsurps that just look like the internals were stippled.At the same time im sure it doesn't affect the gun its just looks (and one of my pet peeves).

Also id ask to take the stock off the gun and look underneath all that wood and check and make sure nothing is really rusty. If the bolt looks good as well id say you've got a chance for a nice rifle for the money.


BTW, nice collection there.