So...if you're wanting.....

[Sharpsman]

a good 03A3 Springfield....you're just schitt outa luck.....without having to scrounge parts or just lucky enough to find one someone wants to sell?

[1mark]

A Springfield 1903A3 would be something. Or do mean 1903.

[Sharpsman]

The '19'...is a 'given'!

[Roadkingtrax]

How nice of one are you looking for?

Good=$$$$ of late.

[mack]

The occasional ones I see in the used racks at LGS are so often dogged out that no one would want them. Worse, many have had their fore ends butchered into a "sporter" configuration and ruined as far a collectability unless you want to rebarrel and restock.

There were many excellent ones that came back from the Greeks, many fresh from the '57 era rebuild program. The Greeks apparently didn't use a fraction of the ones sent them and simply mothballed them in the usual 10+ pounds of axle grease. The grease made an effective preservative and deterrent to anyone using them as degreasing them was a monumental effort. I finally finished the last three I bought years ago and have a nice group of 03 and 03A3 rifles that should see me out and provide some left over to gift my grandsons should they want to shoot one of these fine antique rifles when they reach young adulthood. Lots of folks wouldn't buy them when they were sold off because of the grease storage and some with a different finish the Greeks had applied. Sorry about that, but now they are gone and it's their loss.

[Sharpsman]

How nice of one are you looking for?

Good=$$$$ of late.

Well...I wouldn't want one any less than this one which I have:


03A3 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

I just recalled last date that my brother has an 03A3 that my Dad 'sporterized' 50 years ago and when I called him and asked about it....he told me he was glad I had called because as he never uses it....he was thinking about GIVING IT AWAY!! That barreled action with hardware will be sent to me next week so now...I'm wondering about where I can get a top notch C stock and possibly an as issue 4 groove barrel. I'm wondering if the CMP has any available??

Much obliged for any info you can offer!

[Randy A]

Not all were "as issued 4 groove" many were issued as 2 groove, some think that the 2s were mostly replacement, but not the case. Also 99.9% chance it originally came in an S stock. Post the S/N when you get it, lotta guys have been stock piling NOS barrels for several years I probably got the date you need.

[Rick the Librarian]

The two groove barrels started to be used as "production" barrels about mid-1943 and gradually replaced the 4-groove barrels. They were made as replacements, but a large number were used on the later M1903A3s. I don't have a "percentage", but I'd guess, numerically-speaking, close to half of all M1903A3s made by Remington had 2-groove barrels as completed.

[Sharpsman]

Thanks guys! I'll get back to you!

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Don't knock the 2 groove barrels if you have one, they shoot very well. When you get the rifle, shoot it and see. CMP has new barrels made by Criterion/Kreiger, I just brought one back from Camp Perry.