03-A3 questions

[kingzero]

Yesterday my grandfather gave me his Springfield 03-A3. He bought it in 1960 for 14.00 bucks and just stuck it in his closet. After a few years he pulled it out and took it to a gun smith. He had it drilled and tapped for scope mounts, had the barrel crowned and had it fiberglass bedded in a Fajen stock (Sporterized I guess is what it's called). After he got it back it went back in the closet and there it stayed until yesterday. It has never had a round fired through it, and the bluing doesn't have a blemish on it. I got the rifle home and took the scope mounts off and found it marked Remington model 03-A3. I know Remington started manufacturing 03-A3's after a while, I guess my grandpa just didn't remember. The serial # is 3849521 and the barrel is marked 8-43. If I’m not mistaken the serial # is high enough that the receiver should be made of nickel alloy right. And does the 8-43 on the barrel represent the date of production or what?

I know that the modifications have taken a lot of value away from the rifle, but it was my grandfathers and someday it will be my sons, so the market value doesn't really mean a whole lot.

If anyone could give me some info on the serial # and the marks on the barrel and if someone knows exactly when Remington started production on the 03-A3 I would appreciate it.

 

[kingzero]

Here is a pic.

 

[Jim Watson]

Remington made 03-A3s only during WW II, along with Smith Corona. Sorry, my book is loaned out and I don't have a reference to pin it down to the exact year by serial number.

However, 8-43 on the barrel is the date the barrel was made, August 1943. Odds are that it is the original barrel and that is when the rifle was built, within a month or two.

All A3s are of nickel or vanadium steel and are strong enough for regular use with .30-06. The change from the old case hardened carbon steel was made in 1918 long before your rifle was made.

 

[Hoppy590]

nvm, delete post?

 

[kingzero]

Now when I read about people saying the A3's receiver is strong enough to use regular 30-06 rounds, does that mean that it's strong enough to use every once in a while or can I experiment with some loads without the fear of blowing my face off. Since it has been sporterized I plan on hunting with it and doing some plinking every now and then at the range. I would assume with the hundreds to possibly thousands of rounds the soldiers put through these things that I shouldn't have any problems with the few rounds I might put through it in my lifetime.

 

[M2 Carbine]

A friend almost cried when he saw my cut down, restocked 03-A3 and 03-A4.
I told him, What's the big deal? They only cost $14.50, NIB, delivered to the house.

Your 03 probably has a two grove barrel. My A4 is very accurate with a 16 inch two grove barrel.

 

[mnrivrat]

You won't have to worry about the gun holding up with ammo that is loaded to saami spec pressures. If by "experiment with some loads" you mean loading behond proper saami pressure levels than I wouldn't recommend you do that in any gun.

My Remington 03-A3 was purchased in 1967 . Still packed in cosmo the cost was $25.00 Times have sure changed ,and part of todays value for the stock military rifle reflects the fact that many were "sporterized" .

 

[kingzero]

I have no intentions of loading beyond recommended specs on this rifle or any other for that matter. When I said experimenting I meant just that. With the wide variety of bullets, bullet weights and powders I think it would be safe to say that anyone who loads their own rounds would be in fact experimenting. At least until they found a combination that fits their needs. All I want to do is find a combination that I am satisfied with, weather it be for taking deer or killing a beer can.


EDIT.. I don't mean to sound like an A**hole so don't take it that way.

 

[mnrivrat]

No offense taken . I know that most all reloaders know the limits of good sense when reloading, but I have meet a few that liked to push the top off the jar a little - didn't mean to insult you in any way either . Just an assurance that the 03-A3 of yours is a strong action that will hold up well.

I found one of the most accurate loads in by 2 groove barrel to be a BTSP 165 grain Horandy running at 2700 fps. It actualy was a pretty good standard load for other 06's I have owned and shot as well.

Happy Shooting.

 

[kingzero]

Cool thanks for the advice, I will try those bullets and see how they do.

 

[Steve in PA]

The 03A3 is perfectly fine shooting standard factory .30/06 ammo.

 

[buttrap]

I would think that its a tougher action than most any new 30-06 gun made now too.