I have a Smith Corona 03-A3 that I am thinking of turning in to a 35 whelen. the rifle has been sporterized some the stock has been replaced with what looks like an old bishop stock. the rest of the rifle is original with the can opener front sight and military peep the rifle shoots good and I have taken a few deer and one coyote with it. I would like to build it in the style of the old sedgleys with a barrel band front sight and a side mount peep chambered in 35w. my question is is it worth doing and is the smith corona action a good action to build on. Any suggestions would be helpful

The Smith Corona is as good an action to build on as any 03A3. They take a lot of effort to polish up for bluing and you need milled bottom metal. I would just get the barrel rebored for .358" diameter bullets. Keep the original barrel instead of rebarrelling it.

Wetdog:

I think you would have more rifle, if you went out and found an A-3 stock and hand guard, and turned it back into a standard military issue, if the metal is original as you said. A good Smith Corona A-3could bring upwards of $950.00 these days, if correct.

On the other hand, nothing wrong with the action, except they build pretty heavy. I built a 6.5-06 on an A-3 that had been drilled for other than military sights, nice rifle, but the heaviest sporter I now own.

You used to be able to get a bent bolt from Sarco or Numrich Arms, then you could buy a jig to drill the receiver from Midway for about $50.00, you'll also need the "special drill" from Brownells to drill the hard receiver, or have a smith drill it for you. Then send the action with your "bent" bolt to a barrel maker installer, and have it chambered for the great 35 Whelen.

Regards

Jerry

As a collector of U.S. martial arms, I would suggest you consider restoring it to original condition by locating a M1903A3 stock, since you say the metal is all original. These are pieces of American history and are becoming more rare with every passing day. The A3s are of particular interest because of the ease of shooting with the rear sight, and there were fewer Smith-Coronas made than there were Remington A3s. Your rifle is at least 64 years old and is classified as a Curio and Relic by BATFE. Low end value for a restored Smith-Corona M1903A3 would be around $750 and you could buy a new hunting rifle for that amount.

Something to think about, but it is your piece and you can do whatever you like with it.

I would also agree w/ Jerry and Lionhunter. If you really want to build one I would look at a K98 reciever and bolt from Sarco and go from there. The 98 action is going to give you a strong and stable platform. It also will support the case better than the 03 action. Restore the one you have, wood and bands would be $200.00 on the high side. A 98 action and bolt, no more than 200.00. The case head on the 8x57 and 30.06 are the same, so no mod would be needed for a 35 Whelen.

part of my indecision on the project was did I really want to mess with a mostly original 03-A3 I can easily get original wood. the rifle has been blued. Weren't the originals parkerized ? the peep sight is still parkerized. I love the look and feel of the sedgleys and other sporterized springfields of that era maybe I should find a different springfield to build on and try to restore this one the bluing bugs me though . thanks for the suggestions.

Wetdog:

No worries, I have a Smith-Corona 1903-A-3, barrel stamped 6-43, 4 million plus serial #, and it is BLUE!!! Mine does not appear to ever have been messed with, some 1903 Models were blue.

Check with an expert in your area.

Jerry

Wetdog,
As Jerry says blued may be original. Some Mil rifles were originally blued but parked when rebuilt by the armory. Not sure if this is true for your 03a3 or not.

mine was built in 42 I am a over the rd trucker so don't have the serial # handy but I will look into it if the rifle was blued I will restore it the best that I can. I will just buy a hack job springfield sporter to do my retro build. There are plenty of them around and I won't have any guilt. thanks for the help!

As to the suggestions about building on a 98 my last project was a mex mauser in 7x57 and now I have an itch for 35w built on a springfield. I won't be happy until I scratch it. Sometimes common sense has nothing to do with it

Wetdog:

Here I can give you solid advice, as I have considerable experience with the GREAT 35 Whelen.

The Springfield or another "longer" action suits the Whelen a little better than the 98 Mauser. The Mauser's magazine box is just a little short, if you want or need to extend the bullets out near the rifling. My shooting buddy built a Whelen on a Mauser, and he had the throat cut "short" so he could seat the bullets to function the cartridges in the magazine, and still get close enough to the lands to adjust his seating depth for best accuracy. By the way, both our Whelen's shoot under an inch @ 100yds. And man do they thump an elk.

Another note, I am long winded, if you use ER Shaw, good choice for a Whelen, or another Smith or barreler who dosen't or can't use custom throaters, use one of the longer actions.

Regards

Jerry

Unless you are yourself a military collector, I see no harm in converting it. It was made to be used, not to become a closet queen.

If you don't convert it, what have YOU gained? Will your kids or wife pawn it or sell it at a garage sale when you are gone? Will you get the earnest thanks of some "devout" collector every year at your gravesite? Or will you just have given some shark a windfall profit?

Everything in this world passes on, and that includes relics of the past. No big deal. If YOU enjoy collecting, then it is useful for that. If you enjoy hunting it can be made even more useful for that.

Personally, I don't believe it likely God put you here primarily as a curator. I suspect he had a more active purpose for you. But, only you will know for sure.

Just don't feel one whit of guilt for using the rifle however you are directed by your inner self.

It is your rifle and your life. Enjoy them both as best you can.

I'll throw my opinion in here as well. The 03a3 with its peep sight makes a good rifle for NRA High Power shooting, but its stamped bottom metal makes it less than desirable for a custom rifle. The 03 Springfield with machined bottom metal but a ladder rear sight make it a good choice for a custom rifle but a poor choice for target shooting (the receiver around the mag cutoff is also nicer on the 03). If only the stock has been butchered then trade the 03a3 for an 03 that has already been drilled and tapped. Let someone who wants an 03a3 put it back in the right stock and be preserved as a piece of history. An 03 Springfield (high number with proper heat treat) will be a better starting point for your custom, and you will probably come out a few bucks better off on the trade.

86thecat I think that your on the right track. I am on the lookout for a butchered 03 there are plenty of them around. I will scrounge the parts and restore the smith corona. Gives me the excuse to hit the gun shows. Thanks for all the advice.

I got the lower rifle, a 35 Whelen built on a double heat treat 03 for $200.00. I know that is a bargin.

The 03A3 below was built from a drill rifle receiver. I had an extra barrel, needed only a couple of parts, bought an aftermarket stock, and I am certain it is worth more than the 35 Whelen.

If you have a correct barreled receiver, no scope mount holes, you can buy all the parts needed to bring it back to original military configuration. And it will be worth $500.00 or more.

If you take that action, put $500-600 dollars converting it to a nice 35 Whelen, you will have a nice $300 rifle.