1903 Receivers ? Where to buy ?
- Thread starter Megaclocker
- Start date
Not likely to find an '03 anything receiver. They haven't been made since W.W. II and there's no place to order 'em from. Plus you'd have to decide which 1903 you'd want. A 1903A1 or a 1903A3. You might still find a beat up rifle at a gun show.
A carbine would require a non-restricted barrel that you can't order from the States due to their daft export rules. There are a few Criterion barrels around though. Search M1 Carbine barrels here. Last week or the week before we were discussing 'em. Somebody there was a guy who had 'em. B.C. I think. You'd likely have to buy a high priced restricted Carbine and re-barrel it. Carbines are great fun to shoot.
A carbine would require a non-restricted barrel that you can't order from the States due to their daft export rules. There are a few Criterion barrels around though. Search M1 Carbine barrels here. Last week or the week before we were discussing 'em. Somebody there was a guy who had 'em. B.C. I think. You'd likely have to buy a high priced restricted Carbine and re-barrel it. Carbines are great fun to shoot.
AFAIK there are no M1903 or 03-A3 receivers being stocked by any dealer in Canada. I've been trolling the EE for a good Springfield receiver, action, or a rifle with a toasted barrel for quite a while and haven't found one for a couple of years.
Finding a serviceable military M1903 barrel is a big challenge. When you can locate one, expect to pay $400 for a USGI barrel complete with rear sight sleeve and front sight band. Criterion makes a replacement barrel with a military contour, but they do not come with a rear sight base. Locating and installing one of these is also a challenge. I don't know if they come with a front sight band or if they have a keyway milled in the barrel to accept a front sight key.
Assembling a M1903 or 03-A3 is the same as any other Mauser type. You need a proper action wrench and barrel vise as well as a finishing reamer if installing a new barrel. It's a good idea to have a selection of triggers, sears, and cocking pieces on hand to be able to set up a rifle with a proper trigger pull. The barrel has a precut slot for the extractor, so proper indexing is important. I normally look for an initial hand tight position of 15-18 deg off vertical before installing the barrel. The last one I assembled had too light a draw which required the use of a breeching washer in order to get a proper fit.
You can get all parts from Numrich, except for a GI barrel. Criterion barrels are a licensed item for export. Marstar has new stocks and misc parts. If you are trying to assemble a "correct rifle" finding a stock to match the original is very tough. Most M1903s were rebarrelled during the course of military service, so any GI barrel is appropriate. If using a Criterion barrel you are basically looking at a shooter/parts gun, so any serviceable part works.
Finding a serviceable military M1903 barrel is a big challenge. When you can locate one, expect to pay $400 for a USGI barrel complete with rear sight sleeve and front sight band. Criterion makes a replacement barrel with a military contour, but they do not come with a rear sight base. Locating and installing one of these is also a challenge. I don't know if they come with a front sight band or if they have a keyway milled in the barrel to accept a front sight key.
Assembling a M1903 or 03-A3 is the same as any other Mauser type. You need a proper action wrench and barrel vise as well as a finishing reamer if installing a new barrel. It's a good idea to have a selection of triggers, sears, and cocking pieces on hand to be able to set up a rifle with a proper trigger pull. The barrel has a precut slot for the extractor, so proper indexing is important. I normally look for an initial hand tight position of 15-18 deg off vertical before installing the barrel. The last one I assembled had too light a draw which required the use of a breeching washer in order to get a proper fit.
You can get all parts from Numrich, except for a GI barrel. Criterion barrels are a licensed item for export. Marstar has new stocks and misc parts. If you are trying to assemble a "correct rifle" finding a stock to match the original is very tough. Most M1903s were rebarrelled during the course of military service, so any GI barrel is appropriate. If using a Criterion barrel you are basically looking at a shooter/parts gun, so any serviceable part works.
Century Arms had the last 1903 Springfield rifles. Most of the barrels were counter bored. Castle Armory had some before they closed down.
Sarco Inc has parts also. They used to show up at gun shows . The barrels used to be available at Washington State gun shows at one time.
Sarco Inc has parts also. They used to show up at gun shows . The barrels used to be available at Washington State gun shows at one time.
This would be a fairly expensive project. Figure on the following costs;
action - $300- $400
military barrel - $400
barrel installation - $100
possible re-Parkerizing of receiver and misc parts - $200
military stock and handguard - $300
misc parts (stock metal, action parts, sights) - $200 - $300
action - $300- $400
military barrel - $400
barrel installation - $100
possible re-Parkerizing of receiver and misc parts - $200
military stock and handguard - $300
misc parts (stock metal, action parts, sights) - $200 - $300
There's no place for IrunGuns to import 'em from. There are no distributors. 1903's are not on the Restricted for Export list though.
Any rifle Century had anything to do with is suspect at best. Century is notorious for assembling rifles out of parts bins with absolutely no QC of any kind.
Any rifle Century had anything to do with is suspect at best. Century is notorious for assembling rifles out of parts bins with absolutely no QC of any kind.
You can get one of these
http://www.irunguns.ca/store/rifles-for-sale-canada/Rock Ridge 1903-A4 Springfield Sniper Rifle
if you don't mind the scope
http://www.irunguns.ca/store/rifles-for-sale-canada/Rock Ridge 1903-A4 Springfield Sniper Rifle
if you don't mind the scope
Great minds think alike!
I am working on one myself after the umpteen M1 builds I did over the last year!
I picked up an in the grease '44 barrel, mint bolt, and a great stock with all hardware, stock has the tang split, but the rest of it makes up for that.
Sourcing is tough!
I have a mint low number RIA barreld action with great bluing. If it doesn't worry anyone that it's in the poor heat treat serial range it's available. It could be heat treated if someone was to have it done.
I am currently installing it's barrel on a pitted Springfield receiver to put on the EE, but can put it back on the RIA, so the option is there.
Springfield has the Pedersen cutout and the RIA is Drilled and tapped but tastefully plugged with screws.
Jon
I am working on one myself after the umpteen M1 builds I did over the last year!
I picked up an in the grease '44 barrel, mint bolt, and a great stock with all hardware, stock has the tang split, but the rest of it makes up for that.
Sourcing is tough!
I have a mint low number RIA barreld action with great bluing. If it doesn't worry anyone that it's in the poor heat treat serial range it's available. It could be heat treated if someone was to have it done.
I am currently installing it's barrel on a pitted Springfield receiver to put on the EE, but can put it back on the RIA, so the option is there.
Springfield has the Pedersen cutout and the RIA is Drilled and tapped but tastefully plugged with screws.
Jon
