Finished my M1903 build :)

Claven2

Claven2

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I had set out to build a nice 1903 for the local milsurp matches, and I think I achieved that.

I got a nice high-number SA action through a friend here on CGN (thanks Mystery Man). The bbl is a real WW2 replacement bbl from Remington, a 4-groove that I got new-in-wrap. The Wood is WW2 era Remington, as is the milled bottom metal.

Bolt is a 1919-made SA bolt with a few WW2 Remington bits on it because they are easy to find in new condition. Sling is a 1918 original M1907 sling.

Buttplate is a pre-WW1 checkered buttplate. Sights are inter-war and were NOS parts. All parts are GI and milled, no repro or stamped stuff was used. Some of the NOS parts were installed as-is, especially if they were blued. The used parts and the bbl'ed action were zinc parkerized by Armacoat to approximate a WW2 era rebuild at Remington Arms.

So here she is, in as-newly arsenal rebuilt condition. Quite happy with her :) And yes, apart from the parkerizing and borrowing a buddy's bench who had the right action wrench and BB: block already set up, I did all the work here in the shop. Not my first though... ;)

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Thanks guys, I may try to get out this weekeind to break her cherry so to speak.

I did manage to mildly mar the finish on the front sight collar - my own stupid fault because I just HAD to photograph her with the sight protector installed. I knew it would happen and did it anyway as it's a working gun, not a museum piece.

I keep a sight protector with my collectible accessories (like multi-tool, nickeled buttstock oiler/tool holder, etc.), but for those who care - they are a HORRIBLE shooting accessory, intended to be removed prior to firing and WILL scratch the parkerizing on the sight collar every time you install one. LOL

JRA is making similar builds now using new criterion barrels, but I like using original GI tubes when they can be found. These should get more love than the M1 in nice condition as the M1903 is first and foremost a target rifle with more accurate sights and an inherently more accurate action than the garand. At some point Wanstall should bring in some non-A3 1903's. I'll be they would sell.
 
Yup, those front sight protectors will do it every time. I keep mine in a box.

The Criterion M1903 barrels are not well reported on, unlike their Garand barrels which are very good. The other issue with a Criterion barrel would be installing the rear sight collar which can be a bear of a job.

You can use a more available 03A3 barrel on a M1903 as the threads are the same. The rear of the barrel needs to be turned down a tad for the M1903 rear sight collar. The 03A3 front sight band is easily replaced with one from a WW2 vintage M1903 barrel as these used a key, rather than a barrel spline, to locate and secure the front sight band. The vast majority of 03A3 barrels are 2 groove, whereas all M1903 barrels were 4 groove. Some yrs ago Sarco was flogging new Remington 03A3 2 groove barrels which they had re-jigged for the M1903 by installing M1903 front and rear sight bases and re-working the bores with 2 additional rifling grooves. They shoot surprisingly well.
 
Beautiful job. I know what you mean about the sight cover.
I was thinking of taking my collection out and take some pictures, haven't lookaed at them in about a year or more.
I just take them out, oil them, rewrap and put them away.
Did any of the parts you got from me help restore this one to such great condition?
Are the 03 A3 barrels that came out of Century International manufactured the same as Sarco? I never looked at mine its filled with grease.
I was watching a program about some Cajon Pawn shop and they were trying out a 1918, 1903 Springfield Trench Sniper rifle. It was in beautiful condition and Scott Duff said it was worth $50,000 and one of a kind prototype.
I would like to get an original sniper model but that won't happen.
What do you think of the new copies of the 1903 A4s that just hit the market, did any come into Canada?
 
The CAI 03A3 barrels were all original, Remington made. I bought several of them, all 2 groove. The Sarco re-works weren't bad at all-NOS Remington 2 groove barrels to start with. All of these 03A3 barrels were in the date range 9-43 to 2-44.

Original 03A4 sniper rifles are around. I got mine sans scope and rings about 6 yrs ago, a very nice rifle. I got both a Lyman Alaskan 7/8" scope with rings and an Original Weaver 3/4" dia M73B1 scope for it. It shoots very well with the Alaskan.

People have been making faux 03A4s for a long time. Start with an 03A3, drill and tap for a Redfield Jr mount, locate a proper scope and rings, remove the front sight band and away you go. The only problem is that it is still a clone and you bugger up an 03A3 in the process.:redface:
 
Al:

The receiver and bottom metal were from the stuff you sent. Some of the other parts are in my spares bin, a couple went to completing a worn WW1 era gun I have on the EE right now. Thanks - the infusion as most helpful! Particularly this high-number receiver which was the biggest help.
 
FWIW - the barrel I used is actually a very early 1903A3 4-groove Remington barrel that I converted to 1903 standard. I used take-off SA sight sleeves from a bulged 1920's SA barrel (now scrapped) and installed the parts as per original, the lateral and transverse retention pin holes were milled in the knee mill to prevent wandering.

Normally converted A3 barrels are cheesy as most are 2-groove which is totally incorrect for an '03, but the early Remington A3 barrels are actually 1903 barrels, even the shanks are the right diameter - they just weren't drilled for the rear collar pins. Impossible to tell the difference after they're converted as they were the same blanks.

This one was built as a "rebuild 1903" as a new Remington in 1903 would not have had a dished rear sight base.
 
As for the new JRA A4 clones, I suspect the rifles they are built on are the re-watted ex-DP A3 guns that they sell in the US. Nothing wrong with them as I think they re-do the heat treating to account for the heat-affected weld zone on the receiver faces.

The issue I would be wry of though is the repro scopes, likely from China and not very good.
 
Well I finally got out to do some serious shooting. Ammo was standard 1969 LC ball. This was (stupidly) the only target I photographed, but it's illustrative. It was my second target of the day. The top group is horizontally strung as I made a slight windage adjustment to get me closer to the bull and the bottom 3-shot group was shot slowly, prone with a sling, after correcting for the elevation being out in the top group. Group measured 0.8" across. Not bad for 100m with a military 4-groove barrel.

I'm happy with how this build worked out :)

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PS: Yes, I'm a cheap SOB and re-use patched targets for practise... lol.
 
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