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Someone mentioned a Remington 03-A3 earlier
Smitty500mag
Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
In another post so rather than high-jack Sam's thread I posted a new topic.
I'm not a big fan of sporterized 03's but I liked the looks of this Remington that I found and bought it. I had just taken it out of the safe earlier today preparing to take it to the shooting range tomorrow when I saw Sam's post about Ricci's 03 on the auction side which by the way, is a beautiful old gun.
I was at a gun show in Montgomery, AL late on a Sunday back about 18 years ago and I wasn't in the market for a rifle of any kind but the seller, which was the gun smith that did the work on this gun, kept lowering the price until I couldn't pass it up. Glad I bought it now. It's the cheapest gun in my safe yet it's as accurate as any rifle I own that cost 4 times as much.
The guy that built the one I have put a Douglas barrel on it, with Redfield scope rings, carved a stock for it and did a little engraving and jeweling on the bolt and trigger. He did a really good bluing job on it. It's got a very old Winfield 3-9 x 32 scope on it that actually works surprisingly well in good light. Probably not worth a darn in low light.
The serial number on the receiver is 3930XXX which was made in September 1943 according to the info I could gather.
Anyway I haven't shot it in a while and thought I'd take it out for a little exercise tomorrow. The range I go to over in West Point, GA has been remodeled and lengthened. So I'll get a chance to see if that old scope works out pass 100 yards tomorrow.
I'm not a big fan of sporterized 03's but I liked the looks of this Remington that I found and bought it. I had just taken it out of the safe earlier today preparing to take it to the shooting range tomorrow when I saw Sam's post about Ricci's 03 on the auction side which by the way, is a beautiful old gun.
I was at a gun show in Montgomery, AL late on a Sunday back about 18 years ago and I wasn't in the market for a rifle of any kind but the seller, which was the gun smith that did the work on this gun, kept lowering the price until I couldn't pass it up. Glad I bought it now. It's the cheapest gun in my safe yet it's as accurate as any rifle I own that cost 4 times as much.
The guy that built the one I have put a Douglas barrel on it, with Redfield scope rings, carved a stock for it and did a little engraving and jeweling on the bolt and trigger. He did a really good bluing job on it. It's got a very old Winfield 3-9 x 32 scope on it that actually works surprisingly well in good light. Probably not worth a darn in low light.
The serial number on the receiver is 3930XXX which was made in September 1943 according to the info I could gather.
Anyway I haven't shot it in a while and thought I'd take it out for a little exercise tomorrow. The range I go to over in West Point, GA has been remodeled and lengthened. So I'll get a chance to see if that old scope works out pass 100 yards tomorrow.
Comments
While I like them in their original form, there were millions of the '03s made, and people have done some wonderful things with/to them.
Yours is a great example.
Brad Steele
I agree I like the original form also. I wouldn't ever mess up one that could be saved. According to the gunsmith I bought this one from he said it was in pretty sad condition when he got it so this is what he came up with. I think he did a good thing. At least some part of the original rifle will continue on.
Ricci sold a Converted 03A3 that I had. I bought the gun in the 80's at a gun show in Puyallup WA. It had a 24" barrel of unknown make and a nice aftermarket stock. I put a timney trigger and a lift up safety on it and 3.5x10 VXII scope. I glass bedded the gun and with my handloads it shot inside MOA. I remember I took it out and shot it at 500 yrds at a paint can and it would hit everytime if I did my part. I hunted with that gun all over the US and it never failed to bring home the meat.
I was looking in my much diminished safe and I felt kind of sad I had sold it................oh well I hope whomever bought it enjoys it as much as I did and keeps it out hunting.
I love custom rifles. The talent some people have, is inspiring. Like fine functional art.
Back in the 50's-60's my Dad used to know a guy that got him crates of old 03a3 rifles. At the time he could get them for like $10.00 each if he bought a crate at a time!
He would sell them off one at a time for $15-25 each depending on condition and what he could get.
He would sporterize 2-3 over the course of time and sell them off for a little more. Then get another crate and do it again.
Every night after dinner when I was little, I'd sit on the work bench in the basement and sand a block of wood while the old man worked on his latest project. He made a beautiful rifle for one of his buddie's that the guy hunted everywhere with and his dumb * daughters gave it away after the guy croaked. I would have liked to have that gun!
I hunt occasionally with his hunting rifle which is a 721 Remington 30-06 with a Maple Mannlicher stock he made for it. It's topped with an old Bushnell scope that hasn't been adjusted in 50+ years! 1' high at 100 yards forever!