Springfield '03A3 national match?

P

Popsicle

New member
Hey everyone! I've been on a gun buying frenzy lately! Just picked up a excellent/minty? springfield 03a3 made by Smith Corona in 1943. The rifle has been bedded,wears a globe front sight and a finely adjustable target aperture rear. Trigger action is very crisp. The bolt handle is like a highly polished steel, along with the floorplate. The extractor claw is engine turned. I bought the rifle for 300.00. Haven't shot it yet,but would like to know if possibly this is a match rifle, or the previous owner simply tricked it out for dcm/highpower competition. If needed, I can provide serial # and other markings. This rifle is truly in awesome condition, and I would like to know if I made a good deal Thanks

Pat Brophy
 
Popside:

From your descripton your 03A3 may possibly be a "tweeked"
version. If my memory serves the NMC Springfield was the milled version and there was a "Star" stamped on the muzzle crown. I do suffer from CRS (can't remember stuff sometimes) and this may be partially incorrect. I do know that there was a star stamped on the Sniper Rifles and the NMC version.

The star indicated that the bore had been measured with a "Star" gauge and met certain specifications.

1903A3:
Originally introduced in May of 1942 for use in WWII. It basically consisted of improvements to simplify mass production. It features an aperture sight and various small parts that were fabricated from stamping, this includes the trigger guard, floor plate and barrel band. It was mfg’d by Remington and Smith Corona.

HJN
 
While there were various types of NM rifles made at Springfield Armory, I don't believe that they were equipped with globe front sights. While the early ones weren't drilled and tapped for Lyman receiver sights, later models were. Of course, you can always contact Springfield Armory to see what their records say. I was able to confirm that a previous owner of a "sporterized" Springfield was assigned there once. This enabled him to purchase an old Springfield at a reduced price. They reduced it to "unservicable" by making the front sight loose. What a deal he got because of living there and knowing the right people.
 
Definitely "tweaked" by the previous owner. A good, untouched shooter will run in the 400-600 range. IMO you got a good deal and probably have an accurate rifle. For more info on 03's you can go to GunandKnife forums or Jouster.com.
 
03a3 national match

Just a little more info on this rifle. The rear sight is a Lyman #48s and the front is also a lyman with hooded globe front sight ,but I don't see a # marked on it. The trigger guard/floorplate is in fact milled, but I realize that the 03a3 is supposed to have a stamped unit. The wood is in mint condition- is it still possible to get mint stocks for these guns? I would bet my life that this stock has not been refinished. Also it has a smooth shotgun style steel buttplate. A check on the serial # suggests this rifle was made in 1943. the parkerizing is excellent, along with the bore. I can't wait to shoot it I just wanted to know if this rifle was worth more than I actually paid for it. thanks everyone!

Pat Brophy
 
I may be wrong, and have not checked the books, but I don't think there were any government NM rifles based on the '03A3. Nor were any '03A3's or '03A4's star gauged. Pat, I think what you have is a good rifle made into a match rifle by a previous owner. It will probably shoot well and should give you great results. IMHO, the '03A3/A4's are more accurate, as a group, than the '03's.

Jim
 
Thanks everyonr for the info! I think I'm gonna shoot her today, and I'll let everyone know the results. One more thing, I'm pretty green on this, but I would like to know if she shoots well could I use her for formalized military rifle competition? I know nothing about service rifle matches, but I would like to try one(even if I don't like it, I would get access to the cmp garands for 500.00 right?) Are the non military mods-namely the sights- gonna keep me out of competition? thanks again everyone!

Pat Brophy
 
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