Unsporterizing my 03A3 ????

[hylander]

I have a Remington 03A3 Sporter, bought it this way.
Anyhow I would like to restore it best I can.
Is this a pointless Escapade ? be honest
I'm figuring the cost under $400 that should cover the Stock and all Hardware, I'm I correct ?
Its either this or I make a Sniper out of it, but I really like Milsurps.
So What say You ?
By the way, this thing shoots under .57 MOA

These are the Stocks I'm considering.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=985010&chrSuperSKU=&MC=&CatID=11905&mySort=2

http://www.thecollectorsource.com/product/1903NOS%20scant

I would like to have the receiver Re-Parked but do not know the cost.
Obviously I would leave it D&T'ed and just install some plug screws and would install the rear sight or get a repro scope mount and scope.
I have a Correct bolt.

[IMG][/IMG]

[John Browning]

I'd sell that one and just buy a military one. You'll never be able to really undo what has been done, and I'd be surprised after the park job, hardware, new bolt, plug screws, headspacing and so on if you'd be under $600.

[Milsurp Collector]

I'd sell that one and just buy a military one. You'll never be able to really undo what has been done, and I'd be surprised after the park job, hardware, new bolt, plug screws, headspacing and so on if you'd be under $600.

I agree. Unmessed-with M1903A3s aren't hard to find. Sell that one to someone who wants something like that and use the money to get what you want. It's a win-win solution.

[hylander]

I hear you guys, but I'm attached to this one, can't bring myself to sell it.
So it is Restore or Sniper build.
For a Sniper build I pretty much just need a Stock an Scope.

Unmessed-with M1903A3s aren't hard to find

Been looking for awhile and have not found one Local.

[John Browning]

I hear you guys, but I'm attached to this one, can't bring myself to sell it.
So it is Restore or Sniper build.
For a Sniper build I pretty much just need a Stock an Scope.



Been looking for awhile and have not found one Local.

Maybe don't sell it, but keep it for what it is. If you're talking about restoring it and/or doing a 1903A4 build, you're most likely going to spend more (could be a LOT more) doing that than you'd spend buying a whole "new" rifle. To add insult to injury, the results may not be something you're totally happy with. Once a rifle has been sporterized, it is neither easy nor cheap to go backwards. It is kind of like undoing bad plastic surgery, it will never be as good as before, and may be worse. See Tara Reid for more info.

[Milsurp Collector]

Maybe don't sell it, but keep it for what it is. If you're talking about restoring it and/or doing a 1903A4 build, you're most likely going to spend more (could be a LOT more) doing that than you'd spend buying a whole "new" rifle. To add insult to injury, the results may not be something you're totally happy with. Once a rifle has been sporterized, it is neither easy nor cheap to go backwards. It is kind of like undoing bad plastic surgery, it will never be as good as before, and may be worse. See Tara Reid for more info.

Again, I agree with scobun. If you don't want to sell that rifle for sentimental reasons, that's fine, but I wouldn't pour money and effort into trying to return it to military condition. The toothpaste is out of the tube on that one. Keep it and get a military configuration M1903A3 if that's what you want.

Now, that doesn't mean a sporterized rifle should never be restored. This guy (lives in N. Calif., maybe he's a member here) bought a "sporterized M1903A3" online, thinking he could make a replica M1903A4 out of it.



When he got it, he saw this



It's a sporterized M1903A4! Talk about lucky. Now that rifle is worth restoring!

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=10630

I regularly see M1903A3s at gunshows, and they are available online.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=152561426

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=152367094

[hylander]

Thanks for the input
Been looking for a nice one local but no luck, buying a firearm online is a pain since I let my C&R license expire
I'm willing to drive 100 miles or so for a nice one.
Anyway sounds like I should just Restock this one back into a Sporter,
right now it is Stockless, sold the one it was in, didn't like it.

[rjf]

Stock set http://www.thecmp.org/stocksets.htm comes with bolts.

[jamesob]

make a 03a4 out of it if you can. other that that it really not worth restoring.

[HeyZeus]

It is worth it if that is what you want. I have returned a 1903 a3 and a krag and I love them both. I did it because I wanted to return the rifle to its former glory. The 03 was easy because I just needed to change the scope to a rear sight. All I have is a threaded hole I am stuck with. The krag took more work.

[coop44]

SOG has drill rifles for about 200(all the parts you will need), Texas armament will do a stellar repark for about 100.

[Chach]

I had a sporterized 03-A3 from my grandfather that I wanted to convert back to "mil spec" so to say. Looking into it, finding a stock was no problem but finding all the metal bits and pieces was next to impossible or would have cost a lot of money. As such I just ordered a drill rifle w/ welded receiver from CMP and swapped the stock over. Easy as pie and not much $$.

Unfortunately I just checked and they're all sold out now, but SOG has drill rifles for < $200

These U.S. surplus 1903-A3 drill rifles are all complete, all original parts with original finish, wood stocks. These guns have their barrels plugged and welded, boltface and cutoffs welded as well. Only the front sight blades have been removed by the government for long-term storage. Quantities are limited.

ETA: If yours doesn't have the sight blade, it can be purchased from Numrich

[WALDSCHRAT]

Go for it. It might look pretty good in a military stock. I think that you will probably need to get a new bolt.