CMP has M1903 and M1903A3 Available

[CCRBUM]

hey that's not a bad idea

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Projects don't get done unless you have the time to do it. I know I don't. I'll just buy an M1D when they get one in.

[Army GI]

Ive been in the M14 game for awhile and pieced one together. But Id really like to get in to the 1903 game. Can you give me brief details on what parts I would need to piece one together. How difficult would this project be? TIA

Pretty easy, really. M1903s were produced in the millions and served the US Army for almost thirty years before being replaced by the M1. There's plenty of parts just laying around if you are willing to look for them.

You can find unissued 100% complete 1903 bolts on gunbroker.com and sportsmanswarehouse.com all the time. Plenty of people make prefit and/or custom 1903 stocks (I got mine from Kokolus, one of the top stock makers), and stuff like trigger mechanisms and buttplates can be found in just about every gunshow. A few custom barrel companies like Pac-Nor and Douglas barrels make match 30-06 barrels for the 1903 (and A3) for a couple hundred dollars. But if you just want a USGI shooter barrel I see a couple GI barrels on gunbroker every now and then. That's pretty much all you need, the 03 is a simple rifle.

hey that's not a bad idea

Go for it

[smle-man]

03A3 barrels are still pretty common but good 03 barrels are pretty scarce these days. A gunsmith can turn down an A3 barrel to fit the rear sight collar and to take the 03 front sight mount. The CMP VFW returns may or may not have pitted barrels but the rest of the rifle is probably going to be in much better shape than the Greek returns that the CMP was selling previously. I've looked at a fair number of 03A3s used by VFW groups and the exteriors are usually pretty good. I think the CMP 03 or 03A3 is the way to go especially if you are considering having to get a rifle barreled up anyway.

[5hundo]

CMP has been good to me so far.

My Krag turned out to be better than I thought it was going to be, so I really can't complain. I might get one of those, for my collection...

Although, I am in the middle of an OLL build, so I might have to wait...

[usmcchet9296]

Having a limited budget does anyone know if CMP does a Lay-away
id love to get a 1903 but can caugh up 500.00 at once (more like 250.00/250.00)
I got a M44 from them just this week and its almost perfect so Im willing to take the chance. If the barrel isnt great I can always replace it at a later time but I really do want a 1903. My father said that was the best rifle he ever shot and he should know. In the Army he was on the rifle team and was one of the top shooters in his Division.

[.22guy]

I don't think CMP does anything like layaway.

[FluorideInMyWater]

Why not get a barreled receiver from the CMP? $150

Then you can buy the bolt, stock, trigger mechanism, butt plate, and barrel over time.

I'm going to replace my old 1921 barrel with a match barrel from Pac-Nor. They have the dimensions to make you an 03 barrel. It's not that the old barrel is not good, it is. I just don't want to wear it out because I plan on shooting the heck out of this Springfield.

problem is, they dont even promise that the barrel receivers are going be in good condition either.

after thinking about it this weekend, i think im going to pass on these. u might get lucky but seems like u have an equally good or better chance of getting a lemon.

[Army GI]

All of their 03 receivers are safe to shoot unless otherwise noted. Low serial number Springfields are for display only. Just don't order a low serial number receiver and you'll be GTG.

Also, my Springfield was manufactured in 1921 and still has the original 1921 barrel and it's really good.

That's why I suggested buying a new barrel which isn't that expensive and if you're building everything from parts, what's the problem?

[5hundo]

Am I missing something?

The website still says Jan 2009...

I got the e-mail but the website has yet to be updated...

[Army GI]

They've been waiting on these VFW 03's for a long time. They got them earlier than they thought.

[5hundo]

They've been waiting on these VFW 03's for a long time. They got them earlier than they thought.

...but the website still says that they're not accepting orders.

I got the e-mail too but when you check out the sales section of the CMP website, it still says they are unavailable...

[Army GI]

What website are you checking? They have the prices up and everything:

http://www.thecmp.org/m1903.htm

I better get a barrel receiver they only have a few dozen!

[5hundo]

What website are you checking? They have the prices up and everything:

http://www.thecmp.org/m1903.htm

I better get a barrel receiver they only have a few dozen!

When I click that link, here is what it says:

I believe you, because I got the e-mail. I just cannot view the page for some reason...

[Army GI]

Wow, that's strange. Here let me see if I can do a simple copy/paste:

The U.S. M1903 and M1903A3 “Springfield” rifles are the greatest of all U.S. military issue bolt action rifles. This series of rifles was originally issued to the many proud and selfless Americans that answered freedom’s call during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

The rifles continued to serve as ceremonial rifles by veterans’ organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV and many others. We are pleased to offer these rifles for sale exclusively to members of CMP affiliated organizations.

These rifles have all seen considerable use. All have been rebuilt at one time or another and should be considered “mix-masters” as they have parts from all manufacturers. These rifles are returns from veterans’ organizations. Complete rifles are functional. Appearance and overall exterior condition varies from fair to good, except for the barrels. These rifles have been used for ceremonial purposes for decades and probably have fired thousands of blank rounds. Bores may be dark with little or no rifling, pitting, and rust. Wood is sound, but may have minor cracks, dents, scratches and gouges that do not affect function. Metal finish may be worn in spots and minor pitting may be present.
Each rifle has been inspected for completeness and headspace.


Shipping and Handling - $22.95 per rifle

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THESE QUANTITIES MAY APPEAR HIGH, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY SELL OUT VERY QUICKLY. THESE MODELS WILL NOT AGAIN BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2010, AT THE EARLIEST.

M1903*
NLU DESCRIPTION QTY AVAILABLE PRICE
RM03SHS Springfield Armory, High Serial Number, "S" Stock 348 $500

RM03SLS Springfield Armory, Low Serial Number, "S" Stock.
"Unsafe to Fire - Display Only" 237 $350

RM03REMS Remington, "S" Stock 903 170 $500

RM03RIHS Rock Island, High Serial Number,"S" Stock 104 $500

RM03RILS Rock Island, Low Serial Number,"S" Stock.
"Unsafe to Fire - Display Only" 76 $350

RM03SMS Springfield, Mark I. "S" Stock 144 $500

RM03SAHBR Springfield Armory, High Serial Number, barreled receiver only. 62 $150

RM03SALBR
Springfield Armory, Low Serial Number, barreled receiver only.
"Unsafe to Fire - Display Only" 67 $100

RM03REMBR Remington barreled receiver only 38 $150

RM03RIHBR Rock Island, High Serial Number, barreled receiver only. 19 $150

RM03RILBR Rock Island, Low Serial Number, barreled receiver only.
"Unsafe to Fire - Display Only" 14 $100

RM03SMBR Springfield Mark I, barreled receiver only 27 $150

"S" Stock. The "S" stock will be either the straight stock or the scant stock (pictured at top of this page). At this time, we do not have any of the "C" (full pistol grip) stocks available for mail order.

M1903A3
NLU DESCRIPTION QTY AVAILABLE PRICE
RMA3REMS Remington, "S" Stock 750 $500

RMA3REMBR Remington, barreled receiver only. 45 $150

RMA3SCS Smith-Corona, "S" Stock 290 $500

RMA3SCBR Smith-Corona, barreled receiver only. 27 $150

*WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS
M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.

To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000, and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.

In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.

Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles.

A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes).

CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.

CMP ALSO DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE, REGARDLESS OF SERIAL NUMBER, WITH A SINGLE HEAT-TREATed “LOW NUMBER” BOLT. SUCH BOLTS, WHILE HISTORICALLY CORRECT FOR DISPLAY WITH A RIFLE OF WWI OR EARLIER VINTAGE, MAY BE DANGEROUS TO USE FOR SHOOTING.

THE UNITED STATES ARMY GENERALLY DID NOT SERIALIZE BOLTS. DO NOT RELY ON ANY SERIAL NUMBER APPEARING ON A BOLT TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH BOLT IS “HIGH NUMBER” OR “LOW NUMBER”.

Hope that helps. The alignment is a little off, but it goes model number, gun type, quantity available, then the price