03A3 Drill Rifle Re-Conversion

[robh5]

Was offered a Remington 03A3 that was re-converted from a drill rifle. Will see it this weekend. Supposedly all the parts from the drill rifle conversion have been replaced with correct Remington parts, and the weld removal on the cutoff was done extremely well. Was told rifle shoots very well. Price is $400. Does this seem fair, if everything looks good on the rifle?

[Mike H]

Did they change the barrel?

[robh5]

I was told that it was re-barreled with a NOS WW2 Remington barrel.

[Col. Colt]

If as described, I'd jump on it! You might want to pull it out of the stock and verify that the barrel/reciever weld, if present, was not large and ugly.... That would change my mind - otherwise it sounds like a deal! CC

[Dave in NGA]

It's worth the sum of its parts. I don't believe you can purchase the 'parts' to put together a complete rifle for $400.

[holdover]

just noticed this, I convert drill rifles to both shooting 30/06 and into 22s. If offered for 400 and converted back with all USGI parts it is a great bargain. You states NOS WW2 barrel, on ebay and most other places that is 175-200 alone, then add bolt, TG, stock etc etc you could not buy the parts for that price. As to being a good shooter, they will work well. The only real question is how big a weld they did on the barrel/Rec interface and the cutoff and was the new barrel installed correctly and head spaced. Some welds were real sloppy. I have converted over 100 of them and only use ones with small welds.

[p246]

Pretty much agree with everyone else. If as described and the weld bothers you then break it down for parts. I have restored two that had very light welds. One shoots well. The other embarrasses alot of my new guns. Its at 300 plus round count with no sign of stretch and head space has remained

[robh5]

just noticed this, I convert drill rifles to both shooting 30/06 and into 22s. If offered for 400 and converted back with all USGI parts it is a great bargain. You states NOS WW2 barrel, on ebay and most other places that is 175-200 alone, then add bolt, TG, stock etc etc you could not buy the parts for that price. As to being a good shooter, they will work well. The only real question is how big a weld they did on the barrel/Rec interface and the cutoff and was the new barrel installed correctly and head spaced. Some welds were real sloppy. I have converted over 100 of them and only use ones with small welds.

Saw the rifle over the weekend. They did a nice job with the weld at the cutoff. Did not get a chance to take it out of the stock to inspect the barrel/receiver weld. They said the rifle shoots well. Stock is not very nice. Had been painted white at one time, then scrapped down.
Hoping to see it this weekend and take it apart. Finish on the receiver is very thin.

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

I converted one using a new USMC barrel and a C stock. It is a tack driver and a pretty rifle to boot. It cost me more than $400 to convert.

jt