M1903A3 - rust, packing grease, other? What to do about it?

[Boba Fett]

I have my grandfather's Remington M1903A3.

It has been in a safe for many many years and really never taken out. To my knowledge it has not been shot, but them my knowledge of it is limited to the last 20+ years after my grandfather passed away.


I am wondering if it has some light rust or if this is a packing grease on it or something else.

I tried a little CLP breakfree in a small area and a very slight bit of brownish color showed up on the rag, but no real change in the discoloration on the rifle.


Also, what can someone identify what the markings on the rifle mean?

The circles are a 1 and a 9, there is a large 5, and an 8 in a diamond.

I'm guessing RA means Remington Arms? And what do the numbers signify?



Thanks!

 

[Maverick223]

Don't know if I would be any help anyway, but your attachments appear to be invalid...try again.

 

[Boba Fett]

See if that is better. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Maverick223]

As you know it is an A3 due to the rear sight and stamped trigger guard. The "RA" is indeed Remington's stamp, the numbers are the date (July of 1943), and the flaming bomb is the arsenal stamp (bbl is 100% USGI). I have no clue about the cartouches on the stock are for (likely arsenal marks for inspections and upgrades and such).

The discoloration appears to be from good ole cosmoline, and therefore you should be able to remove it with a thorough cleaning. Looks like a fine example that should clean up nicely. ...but I do need an overall photo to comfirm that it really is a rifle...and not a tree branch, or a weed wacker.

Wanted to add that the Circle-1, appears to be a "41" in the circle and is likely the inspection mark for when the stock was made (in 1941?).

 

[Boba Fett]

Here's your gun porn Maverick

Thanks for the info.


Any idea how accurate these rifles are and out to how far?

 

[Maverick223]

Thank you, you're welcome, and depending upon the bore...whatever you can see (about on-par with a Mauser, so pretty darn good).

Wanted to add: That is one good looking 1903, thanks for sharing.

 

[Boba Fett]

Thanks. Looking down the bore with a light, it looks like it is brand new. Very distinct rifling.

Overall wear on the rifle is that of a rifle which has been handled a few times in a gun store. Minor scuffing/wear on bolt where it rubs during operation.

 

[Maverick223]

Sounds great, I think the thing left to do is go shooting.

 

[Mauserguy]

Yep, you've got dried on cosmolene there. It's nothing to worry about.
Mauserguy

 

[Kernel]

The first pic looks like old grease/crud/varnish. Pretty typical for an old milsurp. It's not rust. MEK will clean it off.

 

[Boba Fett]

So...speaking of shooting it, which I haven't decided if it would be a crime or not yet, what sort of ammo should I look at getting?

Something like a Federal Match or would that just be wasted on it and WWB would be better?

 

[Maverick223]

which I haven't decided if it would be a crime or not yet

That is what it was made to do.

Honestly I don't believe that you will be able to tell a real big difference with match, but it is hard to tell (until you shoot it ). I would start with several cheaper loads (like Fed. PP) to start with, and work my way into match or handloads.

 

[garyhan]

From my own experience, I rate the Springfields(O3's AND A3's) on a par with Swedish Mausers and Swiss K's and K31's as the very most accurate milsurps. Yours is a great looking specimen.

gary

 

[longdayjake]

Make sure you clean that cosmoline off before you go shoot it. Take it out of the stock (which is probably caked in cosmo as well) and spray it down with brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Also, easy off works too. Take the bolt apart as it will most likely be filled with crud and may give you delayed firing if you don't clean it out.

For what its worth, I am jealous right now.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Your '03A3 should group into around 2", which is very good for military rifles of that era. Any commercial .30-06 is fine -- which is not the case for the M1 Garand, which is very sensitive to muzzle pressure.

I have two '03A3s, one by Remington and one by Smith Corona. Both are about two minute of angle guns. I like to shoot the Lee C309-160-1R bullet in these rifles, cast from wheel weights, gas checked, and loaded with 13.0 grains of Red Dot.

 

[Boba Fett]

Thanks all for the info. Few more questions.


What sort of bullet weight does the 03A3 typically like?

Does anyone know a good online 03A3 guide? Specifically a disassembly and maintenance guide? Something like a PDF would be very good or a site dedicated to it. I'[m sure I could do the ol google search and find plenty, but always good to have a site others have found to be good.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

You sir, Have a nice rifle. Handed down from your grandfather to boot.

I feel good for you.......now was there two?

 

[raindog]

My standard procedure for cosmolined milsurps is:

- take the metal from the stock
- any parts that fit are boiled in a pot on the stove - the cosmoline floats
- any parts that don't fit in a pot are put in a big trashcan, into which I pour boiling hot water. It doesn't have to be boiling - I think cosmo melts at 150 or so
- if there's a lot, I might spray brake cleaner down the bore
- stock goes in the oven at 200 degrees, removing every 10 minutes to wipe

Obviously, important to thoroughly dry everything. I spray RemOil on the bolt/trigger parts and ballistol on everything else.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

What sort of bullet weight does the 03A3 typically like?

The M1903 was originally designed to shoot a 220 grain roundnose bullet. That was changed in 1906 to a 150 grain bullet (which is why the M1903 Springfield shoots the .30-06 cartridge.) The rifling twist is therefore adequate for long bullets, like the original 220 grain roundnose (and will handle bullets up to 250 grains).

The fast twist doesn't hurt when firing lighter bullets, so the M1903 (and the '03A3) will handle a wide range of bullet weights and lengths very nicely.

 

[Big Matt]

For "Does anyone know a good online 03A3 guide? Specifically a disassembly and maintenance guide? Something like a PDF would be very good or a site dedicated to it."

Check out:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/03a3/index.asp

and

http://www.surplusrifle.com/1903/index.asp

 

[nyresq]

buy a large can of brake cleaner (use the ozone safe type) and use outdoors, take the stock off and just start spraying down the rifle and the cosmoline will run off... put some rags or newspaper underneath so it drips onto that and not the grass. you will see it just liquify and run off. keep spraying it down till its all off including down the barrel. take the bolt apart as it will be packed in there also. once its all clean, take a rag soaked in a light oil and wipe down the whole thing. Brake cleaner will stip off any residue including oil, so you need to give it a light coat to protect it when you're finished.

Very nice looking rifle in great condition. It was made to shoot, not to sit in a dark safe. Use it and think of your grandfather every time you do.