1903A4 repo sniper rifle review

[Flyboy73]

I finally got a chance to take out my 1903A4 repo sniper rifle I had picked up earlier this year from AimSurplus. It was put together by rock ridge machine works. Fit and finish was pretty good on the rifle. Stock finish is a little rough. It has a repo M73 Hi Lux scope mounted on it. Scope clarity is also pretty good. Went to bore sight it last night and it was pretty much on, so just tweaked it a little. Shooting was done at 50 yards (longest I can shoot in my back yard range). Ammo was 150 gr. surplus CMP ball. It was pretty much right on at 50 yards and really didn't need to adjust the scope. Shooting results in the pics are excellent.

Overall I am Pleased the Rifle.


Brion

 

[yzguy87]

Sweet! I like to read about old school weapons!

 

[wally]

I don't know, at 50 yards that target looks like the targets I get with a typical AK -- 4 or 5 moa. I would not be happy with this "sniper rifle".

Looks neat though.

 

[carbine85]

I was kinda thinkin the same thing as Wally. You should be able to get 1.5 -2.0" MOA at 100 yards with the scope. Have you cleaned the bore?
What size is that target?
As far as the stock finish goes, I would think a proper reproduction will have a rough sanded oil finish.

 

[itsa pain]

remember he was just firing old FMJ surplus general issue ammo. if the gun would not shoot with some handloads or different factory hunting ammo then it could be said it should shoot better

 

[ifit]

nice flyboy, pretty sure those things are shooters mac did a video a while back and also purchased his rifle from aims. the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcc99z8PPQw

 

[Flyboy73]

I was not really shooting for groups. The target has a few shooting strings, some from my wife and other me banging away as fast I can work the bolt. I would bet its shooting easily under 1.5 MOA.

I read the original 1903A4s had to only shoot 3.5 inches at 100 yards. And if IRC the originals were pulled from the line and not selected for accuracy.

I think MACs repo was made by Gibbs and mine was made by RRMC. Although I am not sure if Gibbs is making them or just having someone else make and marking them Gibbs. I originally thought I was getting a Gibbs.

Finish on the guns stock doesn't quite match my orginal 1903A3. I may refinish it to match.

From my short shooting session I think she has good accuracy potential.

Brion

 

[TIMC]

They can shoot very well, this is one of my Remington made 03's at 100 yards with a vintage Weaver K3 scope. This was the sight in target with 5 rounds fired, adjustments were made after the first two rounds then again after the second 2 rounds with the final round in the bull.

 

[tahunua001]

one thing about my 1903A4. it sure was accurate. with lake city surplus I was ringing the 500 meter gong at my range with about 75% predictability. ofcourse I didn't put one of the repro scopes on it, it wore a redfield 3x9 but either way... remington sure made a good gun.


maybe I'll luck into another someday for super cheap, whole this time, rebuilding one is an expensive process. repros just do not interest me that much. I've built an A forgery and though the guy I built it for was happy with it, it just never compared to the real deal.

 

[fpgt72]

Personally I do not see them as a forgery, or fake..whatever. More as a tribute.

I have a few "forgery" guns and like them quite a bit, it gives you the feel of what those guns did so many years ago at a fraction of the price. Plus the glass in some of these scopes is getting pretty old, I am not sure I would want to risk the original optic to the recoil and such...we are talking about things that are at the highest tech at the time and are not knocking on the door of 100years old.

As long as people don't try to pass them off as the real deal I have no problem with it. The OP's looks very nice and I think it would be a great thing to have in anyone's collection that has world war rifles in it.

 

[dvdcrr]

Though I sold mine, an acquaintance still has his and it is indeed a one moa shooter. My advice: don't get that scope out in the rain. The receivers are fine. If you like it, keep it and dont look back.

 

[itsa pain]

The only thing I did not like about the 03 A3 or 4 was it was the hardest kicking 30-06 I ever shot. must be the stock design

 

[Laphroaig]

My Gibbs

I also bought a Gibbs about 2 1/2 years ago to compete in CMP vintage sniper matches. Original 1903A4's are definitely out of my price range, and the Gibbs is still cheaper than trying to build one from a 03-A3.

Mine needed some work. The trigger was terrible, maybe 8 lbs. and creepy. Not what you'd expect from a "sniper" rifle. I swapped the sear and polished the striker, now its about 3 lbs. and crisp. The scope was OK, but didn't track very well. It was a problem changing zeros from 300 to 600 yds. I replaced it with a Weaver K2.5C. Its definitely clearer and brighter, but I'm not sure if it tracks any better. The bolt is pretty stiff, more of an annoyance than a problem since its essentially a single shot as I use it. Hopefully it will loosen up with use. As for the stock, it looked a little shabby even though it was advertised as oil finish. I got into a linseed oil jag two winters ago (I found a gallon of RLO while cleaning out my parents house) and rubbed in 4 coats. It looks really nice now.

My gun shoots about 1 1/2 moa with 168 MK's and varget. My sniper team mate and I have shot it in several matches, usually at 300. Best score so far was a 99 with several 95's and 96's. I'm working on a load with 175 MK's and IMR 4350 now. A local club is having a 300 yd. match the end of the month and I'll give them a try there.

Laphroaig