1903A3

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303 Savage Hunter

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Hello, I am new to collecting US Service weapons but I have picked up what I think is a sweet Remington 1903A3. The serial number on the rifle says it was made in 1942, the serial number is also about 10,000 below when production on the 1903A3 began in 1943 so I think I have one of the first 2000 1903A3's made in 1942

My questions is what stock should be on the rifle. it has what looks to be a field replacement with multiple repairs and a decent split behind the receiver. I know there are a number of stocks so I want to make sure I put a stock on it that should have been on it in 1942.

Thank you,
Tony
 

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Your serial number puts the rifle near the end of the production line in Dec 1942, so it was near the end of the 300,000 or so rifles made by Remington that year.

A straight stock would be the correct stock for that rifle.
 
"...production on the 1903A3 began in 1943..." Started in 1942 with some in 1941. Like Steve says, your's is a December of '42.
Rummage around here. Clicking on 'Manufacture Dates' can make your head explode though. Lotta work put in there.
http://m1903.com/
"...a field replacement..." More likely to have been done at some time since 1942. Any rebuild marks on it?
 
Remington made 1903 and 1903 Modified rifles in 1941 and most of 1942.
The 1903A3 with receiver sight was first delivered Dec. 1942, with some 1903 Mod still coming out into 1943.
 
there are no cartouches or rearsenal marks on the current stock. it has a 4 grove SC barrel. and the current stock shows several repairs. the rifle itself has a milled trigger guard, butt
 
With milled guard and SC barrel you obviously have a rebuild so as far as the stock goes you can pick any one of the three. I would replace your beater with a scant stock from SARCO and then enjoy shooting your piece of US military history.
 
I hunted with one for years, they were every where easy to get and great shooters, people would cut the stocks down and make a custom gun !!!
 
I hunted with one for years, they were every where easy to get and great shooters, people would cut the stocks down and make a custom gun !!!
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Some were better at it than others. Some of them could cut down a stock and make it fairly decent looking. Others just cut them down without a care for how it looked.
 
I had an imitation NRA Sporter. A 1903 barreled action in a 1922 .22 stock.
Not a fake, it was a Remington 03 action, a Remington A3 barrel (no sight sleeve spline cut, but 4 groove) and a Lyman 48 sight. A little heavy by present standards, but well proportioned and good handling. Accurate, too; especially with Speer 130 gr JHP.
 
The M1903A3's may have been, as a group, the most accurate military rifle ever made. I have owned several and fired many and all were tack drivers. Many had two grove barrels but those were just as accurate. I have never seen any explanation for it; maybe it was the lack of the rear sight band or something else but they all shot well. In fact there was one rumor that the A4 sniper rifles were picked for accuracy from batches of A3's, but that was not true since the A4 had the receiver markings to the side so the mounts wouldn't cover the serial number. (The marking still said ""A3" though.)

Jim
 
Yes Hawg some were just hacked off but some were done right, the one I had was done by my shop teacher who sold it to me, I paid $25 for it, sold it 5yrs later for a $100 I had one of the best guns I ever owned and didn't know it !!!!!!
 
gw44 said:
Yes Hawg some were just hacked off but some were done right, the one I had was done by my shop teacher who sold it to me, I paid $25 for it, sold it 5yrs later for a $100 I had one of the best guns I ever owned and didn't know it !!!!!!
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My father bought four 03s after WW2 ( $35.00 each ); still in cosmoline. I still have one ( full military ), with a Kahles Competition telescopic sight.
 
If you have an 'A3 with a 2 groove barrel, you really need to try cast bullets. Something about the 2 groove that make excellent, accurate cast bullet rifles.
 
Yes Hawg some were just hacked off but some were done right, the one I had was done by my shop teacher who sold it to me, I paid $25 for it, sold it 5yrs later for a $100 I had one of the best guns I ever owned and didn't know it !!!!!!
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Mine was done right and cost considerably more than 25 bucks.:D

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Hello, I am new to collecting US Service weapons but I have picked up what I think is a sweet Remington 1903A3.
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There are a couple of mil surplus sites that would be good to join and some books to read.

CMP Bolt Action (with John Beard and Rick the Librarian with great data, a number of others who know the rifles inside and out)

Jousters

Mil Surplus Forum.

Clearly a re-build and great fun to shoot, but about as far from original as you can get.

1903s and even more so the A3s are amazingly varied with all sorts of nuances to them.
 
My brother did a couple, stocks not as cool nor the barrel fluting. Action is nice so agreed its a good one to convert as long as its not a mil surplus keeper.

Funny part was he would get a donor and go shoot it, then could not stand to tear it down because it shot so good.

I told him to quit shooing the donor and just turn it over to the gunsmith!

I went with Savage so I could change barrels myself, he gets a lot of compliments on his for sure.
 
My Dad & a close friend who was a competition shooter & gunsmith, ordered several of the 03-A3's in the 1950's. I am proud to own two of them. One is still in very good original condition, the other took an awful lot of time & hand work, and years to complete my sporter version below. The stock started life as a French Walnut 2½" X 8" plank The Bbl. is 18½", Timney trigger etc.

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