SA 1903A3 ?'s

[titus7]

Hey Guys,
I came across a Springfield 1903A3 30-06 that my brother had left to me and I was wandering if anyone can tell me about them. How to tell if it is worth something or not, how to tell how old it is, and any other info that I can get about it/them. Thanks

[jamesob]

it's a 1903 springfield and not a 03a3. its worth in the area of 300.00 maybe a little more, there are sites that you can run the number and it will give you a mfg. date.

[NaughtyMonkey]

Thats been sportenized hasnt it?

[Bhobbs]

You can check the serial number on the front of the receiver to check the date of manufacture. Does the receiver say M1903a3 or just M1903?

[not-fishing]

A very nice sporterization.

It looks like some receiver "smoothing" has been done was well as the new blue job.

I don't recognize the aperture sight but it looks expensive.

I can't tell if it's an 03 or 03A3 and I have both - the barrel looks odd - does it have manufacturers markings?

[mosinnagantm9130]

With it's serial number it's a 1903, mfg. in late 1918. (either august or september)

[Bhobbs]

With it's serial number it's a 1903, mfg. in late 1918. (either august or september)

So someone did a lot of modification on it then. The front sight base is gone and they had to drill and tap the receiver bridge to mount the sights.

[mosinnagantm9130]

So someone did a lot of modification on it then. The front sight base is gone and they had to drill and tap the receiver bridge to mount the sights.

Yes. I've seen far worse sporters though, someone actually took their time on this one. The stock is gorgeous.

That being said, this sporter was probably not done recently. It was probably done in the late 50's/early 60's. The old sporter rifles I don't really mind that much, but anyone who would sporterize a 1903 today is a big time bubba.

[Bhobbs]

Yes. I've seen far worse sporters though, someone actually took their time on this one. The stock is gorgeous.

That being said, this sporter was probably not done recently. It was probably done in the late 50's/early 60's. The old sporter rifles I don't really mind that much, but anyone who would sporterize a 1903 today is a big time bubba.

Yeah I know how that is. I want a M1903a3 pretty bad but I need the money for other things. I read last night that the M1903A1/UNERTL (Marine sniper varient) would group 3.5 inches at 600 yards with M72 match ammo. With M2 ball it could get about 7 inch groups.

[v/dBrink]

It's a nice job with an interesting rear sight, a 1930's vintage diopter target sight. I'd say it's more a $500 rifle.

The rear sight is a Wittek-Vaver diopter. In 1939 it cost $12.50. I dare say today it could bring $250+ by itself.

On closer examination of the stock and bluing--- the stock appears to be a Richard's Micro-fit stock. It has the typical Richard's rosewood grip cap and slanted fore end tip.

The one thing lacking that would be included on a really vintage custom rifle is... checkering.

The bluing is a little too good to be from the 1930s or even 1950s. It's not that old.

http://rifle-stocks.com/modernclassic.htm

I can see glass bedding around the rear receiver tang. It's a nice job but it's not quite as nice as it appeared on first glance. Still, a nice rifle worth more than $300 as it is.

Dutch - who once worked around the corner from Richard's Micro-fit in Sun Valley, Calif

[rjf]

Keep it. It probably shoots very well.

[El Gato]

My O3-a3 is scary accurate... what a great gun... great sight...a definate keeper...
mine will shoot standard fed. 165 gr loads 5 shots into a quarter at 100... crazy accurate... between me my brother and my dad.. .we have killed alot of game with that rifle...I would keep it and shoot it... don't scope it... it's a great 300 yd plus gun if you learn how to shoot it with those sights... as long as the barrel is good... mine are 2 groove and again scary accurate...

[Bhobbs]

My O3-a3 is scary accurate... what a great gun... great sight...a definate keeper...
mine will shoot standard fed. 165 gr loads 5 shots into a quarter at 100... crazy accurate... between me my brother and my dad.. .we have killed alot of game with that rifle...I would keep it and shoot it... don't scope it... it's a great 300 yd plus gun if you learn how to shoot it with those sights... as long as the barrel is good... mine are 2 groove and again scary accurate...

You can shoot those groups with iron sights?

[El Gato]

You can shoot those groups with iron sights?

No silly...
best I've been able to do at that range is about 1.5 in with irons... one of the 03's is stock from the NRA back in the 60's... the other is sporterized and the tight groups shot with a scope....which fits my old fashion eyes ..
my colt 6940 I've shot 2 in groups at 100 with the irons...the heavy TAPS will do 3 in the same hole at 50 with irons... haven't shot the tap at 100...the smallish apetures work better for these old eyes...over the maytech on the colt...

Iron sights will rule the world when all of the batteries die...

[Bhobbs]

No silly...
best I've been able to do at that range is about 1.5 in with irons... one of the 03's is stock from the NRA back in the 60's... the other is sporterized and the tight groups shot with a scope....which fits my old fashion eyes ..
my colt 6940 I've shot 2 in groups at 100 with the irons...the heavy TAPS will do 3 in the same hole at 50 with irons... haven't shot the tap at 100...the smallish apetures work better for these old eyes...over the maytech on the colt...

Iron sights will rule the world when all of the batteries die...

How are the aperture sights on the 03a3?