Sported SC 03A3

[Calfed]

A few years ago I glommed sported 03A4 at auction to use as the base for a CMP vintage sniper 03A4 reproduction. I fooled around and never did anything with it, but today, finally, I made a quick trip to the range to shoot several of my rifles, including this one. It has a Redfield target sight.




I shot 6 rounds of the 150 gr Powershock@ 100 yards. I pulled the #3 shot, but the rifle groups really well with the Redfield sight.

This rifle has the 6 groove barrel

[Sunray]

I wonder if it's an NRA Match rifle. It glass bedded and have an aftermarket trigger?

[Calfed]

I wonder if it's an NRA Match rifle. It glass bedded and have an aftermarket trigger?

Nah, Smith Corona never made NRA match rifles. It is not glass bedded, nor does it have an aftermarket trigger.



It does have an unusual 6 groove barrel...

[98src]

One thing for sure, it's the 17,930th one made. What is the barrel date?

[Sunray]

According to these guys, the 6 groove barrel was made by High Standard from roughly Jan. 1943 to April 1943. Supposedly only 5,000 of 'em made too. The S/N indicates your rifle was made in 1943. I think that's an original barrel.
There were no SC '03A4's. SC did make NRA rifles, but not with that kind of stock(there are all kinds of pictures of full military stocked SC's with the Redfield sights). Cousin Bubba, methinks.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...groove-rifling
You have any 168 grain Match ammo? I'm wondering how well it shoots with better ammo.

[Calfed]

One thing for sure, it's the 17,930th one made. What is the barrel date?

Barrel date is 12/42. It looks like 2/42, but if you look closely you can see a very lightly struck "1" in front of the 2

[Calfed]

According to these guys, the 6 groove barrel was made by High Standard from roughly Jan. 1943 to April 1943. Supposedly only 5,000 of 'em made too. The S/N indicates your rifle was made in 1943. I think that's an original barrel.
There were no SC '03A4's. SC did make NRA rifles, but not with that kind of stock(there are all kinds of pictures of full military stocked SC's with the Redfield sights). Cousin Bubba, methinks.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...groove-rifling
You have any 168 grain Match ammo? I'm wondering how well it shoots with better ammo.

I didn't mean to imply that this was anything other than a sporterized Smith Corona 1903-A3...a nicely sporterized A3, but sporterized nonetheless.

I know SC never made any A4's, but luckily the CMP allows SC receivers to be used for reproduction A4's made up for their Vintage Sniper Matches.

I do have some 168 gr 30.06 Federal Gold Medal Match ammo that shot very well in my faux 1903A1 USMC sniper rifle. I haven't tried it in this rifle though. I reload for my Garands using IMR 4064 and 168 gr Nosler Custom Competition. I could try some of those in this rifle.

[jmm03]

My first 03-A3 was a 11-42 SC,S/N:3612220, it was in a sporter stock but thankfully not drilled anywhere. It too has a six groove barrel. I put it back into military dress, although not correct as it resides in a C stock, but all the hardware is SC. Alas, I cannot do it justice anymore due to aging eyes, but it was a very good shooter. Jim

[Calfed]

My first 03-A3 was a 11-42 SC,S/N:3612220, it was in a sporter stock but thankfully not drilled anywhere. It too has a six groove barrel. I put it back into military dress, although not correct as it resides in a C stock, but all the hardware is SC. Alas, I cannot do it justice anymore due to aging eyes, but it was a very good shooter. Jim

Truth be told, I'm reluctant to break up the Smith Corona rifle to make it into a an A4 clone. It shoots so nice as is.

I do have this one that I could use, although it would need a new barrel.

[jmm03]

The Smith is an early one, and the other one is already tapped for a scope...

[Calfed]

The Smith is an early one, and the other one is already tapped for a scope...

Yep...I've got a couple of NIW 03A3 barrels. The issue would be how much would it cost to mount the new barrel.

[Sunray]

IMR4064 and 168 grain Hornady Match work really well out of my '03A4.
"...have this one..." It has the scope base too. Doesn't cost as much as you'd think to change a barrel. Criterion has 24", 4 groove, short chamber, '03A3 barrels for $219.99. Dean's Gun Restoration wants $199 for the Criterion barrel plus $185 to install and finish the thing.
Still a pile of money for the wee metal bits though. I'd cost that out and then decide.

[lyman]

Yep...I've got a couple of NIW 03A3 barrels. The issue would be how much would it cost to mount the new barrel.

if you have an action wrench and barrel vise, it is easy to do,

of course you would need a reamer and headspace gauges,



FWIW, 168 SMK's and 4064 do very well in my 03's and A3's

[Calfed]

IMR4064 and 168 grain Hornady Match work really well out of my '03A4.
"...have this one..." It has the scope base too. Doesn't cost as much as you'd think to change a barrel. Criterion has 24", 4 groove, short chamber, '03A3 barrels for $219.99. Dean's Gun Restoration wants $199 for the Criterion barrel plus $185 to install and finish the thing.
Still a pile of money for the wee metal bits though. I'd cost that out and then decide.

I've heard that the Criterions are great barrels. Probably more accurate than the older WWII NIW barrels that I have. If I end up using the 03A3 with the short barrel, I might consider selling off one of my NOS barrels and using the money to buy a Criterion.

I'll definitely need a few bits to finish off this project, but have a collection of parts that I can draw from.

[Calfed]

if you have an action wrench and barrel vise, it is easy to do,

of course you would need a reamer and headspace gauges,



FWIW, 168 SMK's and 4064 do very well in my 03's and A3's

Thanks, Lyman.

Much as I like to save money, I will probably have someone else rebarrel the rifle.

I reload for a lot of old military calibers...7.5 Swiss, 6.5 Swede, 8mm Mauser, 7.65 Argentine, 7.62 x 54R, 7.62 x 51, etc. I've yet to run across one of these military cartridges that would shoot well with a proper load of IMR 4064. It seems like it is a great "one powder fits all" solution to reloading military cartridges.

Have any pet loads you would like to share?