My Fiancee' bought her first rifle and it stunned me. This rifle was a pre-64 Winchester Model 70, serial number 9xxxx, and the barrel is clearly marked 30-03. It's been customized by Griffin & Howe and has a nice old Leopold 4x scope. The thing looks like it might have been shot maybe once a year and babied until it ended up on the sale rack. Any idea on when and why Winchester would produce a rifle in 30-03 and would this be considered a rarity?

I have seen a few with this caliber stamping on the barrel. At first I thought it was a mistake but they were clearly marked 30-03. That being said, I would be very surprised if it were actually chambered for the 30-03. You should have a chamber cast done and compare to the standard 30-06 dimensions. I have no idea why this was done and no where in Rules or Whitakers books have I seen reference to this, but yet they do exist. And the ones I have seen and sold did not bring high dollars or anything over what a 30.06 sells for. I believe the 06 can be fired in a true 03 chamber but not the reverse. If you could send some pictures I'd be interested in looking at it. Thanks.

Wow so it isn't so much of a uncommon rifle? I did take a cerrosafe casting and the neck was a trifle longer than the standard 30-06, so I do believe it was a actual 30-03. She snagged this one for $750 at a little store in Valdez, Alaska after we came off vacation over in Plymouth. Thank you for your help and I'll try to get you some pictures as soon as I can!

Ahh sorry I forgot, my brother whipped up some reloads for the rifle using 30-06 case and my finacee' pulled out some good groups with it, hovering around the 3/4 MOA area using 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips with 58 grains of IMR 4350 in Winchester casings. We want to put it in our study, but I think there's going to be a few times where the old girl's going to come out and put some venison in the freezer

Sounds like a nice rifle. I would agree that this is a very uncommon chambering but with that being said, I've seen a few and don't really understand why Winchester did it. If you get around to taking some pics I'd like to see them.

James