Thoughts on a 1903A3 sporter build

[Flak01]

Last year I traded an National Match M1A (at Dealer cost) for 16 firearms and box full of parts & nick knacks. In the box of parts was a plastic tube it said 1903 barrel, I put it in aside and started selling the firearms and parts. Got back to the tube opened it up and to my surprise a nice blued cut down 1903 barrel. so I looked at the bore man that's lot of.......then I counted 1 2 3 4 5 wow 6! So it's a Smith and Corona 6 groove barrel. It also checks on an CMP Erosion Throat Gage hair below 0. Since it was already cut down 1.43" where the sight base was. I was wondering if I should start a nice sport build.. I would like to hear from those who sported an 1903A3 what to look out for Pro's and Con's? HAS S C then 3-43 and P under barrel.

Thanks!

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[Flak01]

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[bruce]

Have bought and sold several sporterized 03-A3 rifles... all Remington. One was uncut ... so it got converted back to USGI. Gave it to my brother. The other three had the barrels cut and crowned. One cam in a cut down C stock. The other two were put in common after-market stocks. The uncut rifle was parked... turned out really nice. Accurate w/ 2-groove barrel. The other three had been D/T... one four groove and two two groove barrels. Not hard to get them shoot very well. At the time they were not expensive. Ended up with good rifles that I enjoyed using. Wish I'd kept them. Sincerely. bruce.

[sdkrag]

Built my hunting rifle on an 03-A3 barreled action back in 1981. Good accuracy and reliable as all get out. Fast forward 30 years and my oldest son announces he wants to build one like mine. Actions are scarce and everyone is restoring 03s. We found a welded action and he built a rifle. Turned out great and shoots like a million bucks. I would look for an action already drilled and tapped for a project. Well worth doing.

[Darreld Walton]

I've used such barrels to rebarrel M98's to .300 Savage, 308 Winchester, and have one with some pretty decent engraving chambered to .300 Winchester Mag. They shoot really well, and while not so much these days, used to be an excellent source for a replacement .30 caliber barrel. I've even seen them mounted to M94 Winchesters and 336 Marlins!
Interestingly, I've yet to use one to build up a .30-06!
I've built up sporters on 03's and A3's, but always to something besides '06. Seems like if I nab a barreled action, or even bare 03/A3 action, they end up as .257 Roberts or 7X57.
Mausers were/are cheaper, and parts to customize and improve them are a lot easier to obtain, install, and cost a LOT less. 03/A3 barrels install readily onto them.