1903a4 Rifle Recovery

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  • Roadkingtrax
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2010
    • 7835

    #1

    1903a4 Rifle Recovery

    Been chasing 1903a4 sniper rifles since forever, but the cost of entry has been way too high for my taste. Not thinking I'd ever find a reasonably priced original, I've been tempted to pickup a 1903a3 that had already been modified. The purist in me just wouldn't let that happen.

    Thankfully I lucked out on modified, yet affordable 03a4 that someone mounted Lyman match sights on, modified the stock, and applied a varnish finish. Much to my surprise, the rifle has it's original barrel, original bolt assembly, and was essentially unused otherwise. I've added a commercial Redfield mount, Scant stock, NOS handguard, and a Weaver 330c. I'm hoping I can find a USGI contract scope mount, but far too many A4-forgeries have the real deal, and this one wont barring me finding one to purchase. I did swap out the original blued firing pin rod, as this one has a much crisper trigger pull for sniper matches. So consider another one saved from the dustbin of history!

    Special thanks goes out to John Beard for his assistance in answering some questions regarding stocks, and 1903's in general. Always a tremendous resource in the community.



















    "The first gun that was fired at Fort Sumter sounded the death-knell of slavery. They who fired it were the greatest practical abolitionists this nation has produced." ~BG D. Ullman
  • p246
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2013
    • 2216

    #2
    Very nice, patience paid off...

    Comment

    • Dan Shapiro
      Senior Member
      • Aug 2009
      • 5864

      #3
      Great job!
      "No man's life, liberty, or property is safe, while Congress is in session." Mark Twain

      Comment

      • lyman
        Administrator - OFC
        • Aug 2009
        • 11268

        #4
        Nicely done!!!!


        range report?

        Comment

        • John Beard
          Senior Member
          • Aug 2009
          • 2275

          #5
          You have a splendid-looking rifle!

          You need to find stamped bayonet and stacking bands to replace the milled upper band. The milled upper band was exclusive to the M1903 rifle and, likewise, the stamped upper bands were exclusive to the M'03-A3 and M'03-A4 rifles.

          Thanks for sharing!

          J.B.

          Comment

          • Roadkingtrax
            Senior Member
            • Feb 2010
            • 7835

            #6
            Originally posted by John Beard
            You have a splendid-looking rifle!

            You need to find stamped bayonet and stacking bands to replace the milled upper band. The milled upper band was exclusive to the M1903 rifle and, likewise, the stamped upper bands were exclusive to the M'03-A3 and M'03-A4 rifles.

            Thanks for sharing!

            J.B.
            I fully agree about the stamped parts. I'm a bit nervous about those being sold in the market now, as many are not USGI.

            With the two extra screws holes, I opted for a bit of poetic license, and just reused what hardware came with the rifle in "Match" configuration.
            "The first gun that was fired at Fort Sumter sounded the death-knell of slavery. They who fired it were the greatest practical abolitionists this nation has produced." ~BG D. Ullman

            Comment

            • Roadkingtrax
              Senior Member
              • Feb 2010
              • 7835

              #7
              Originally posted by lyman
              Nicely done!!!!


              range report?
              SR-1C at 100 yards. 5 shots.

              20190330_181030.jpg
              Last edited by Roadkingtrax; 03-30-2019, 06:13.
              "The first gun that was fired at Fort Sumter sounded the death-knell of slavery. They who fired it were the greatest practical abolitionists this nation has produced." ~BG D. Ullman

              Comment

              • bruce
                Senior Member
                • Sep 2009
                • 3759

                #8
                Fine fine shooting! Congratulations on a fine rifle! Sincerely. bruce.
                " Unlike most conservatives, libs have no problem exploiting dead children and dancing on their graves."

                Comment

                • lyman
                  Administrator - OFC
                  • Aug 2009
                  • 11268

                  #9
                  Originally posted by bruce
                  Fine fine shooting! Congratulations on a fine rifle! Sincerely. bruce.
                  ditto,

                  not a bad group at all,

                  hope you place well at the match!

                  Comment

                  • Sandpebble
                    Senior Member
                    • Mar 2017
                    • 2196

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Roadkingtrax
                    SR-1C at 100 yards. 5 shots.

                    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45578[/ATTACH]
                    I used to use a grain less of 4064 ... using Winchester Brass.

                    Comment

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