national ordnance '03-A3

23 May 2003, 01:11

anyone have any experiance with the national- ordnance '03-A3 rifle? i am assuming they are rebuilds, are they any good? can they be trusted? are they a decent deal at $350?

23 May 2003, 07:45

<eldeguello>

A friend of mine bought one of these in the mid-1960's. It had an investment-cast receiver with little machine work, was ugly/rough as hell. It had GI parts other than the receiver, including a GI barrel (2-groove). We never fired anything but factory ammo in it, but it shot OK. It did not blow up, as some people allege!! [Wink]

I would NOT PAY $350.00 for one if I could get a Venezuelan M24 FN Mauser for that same price!!

[ 05-22-2003, 22:46: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

23 May 2003, 09:50

gutpile

i noticed the reciever looked rough, compared to the barrel, which was a 2 groove remington barrel. i was tempted (only briefly) to trade a super slick no.4 enfield in on it, but common sense took hold and i didnt offer the trade. i know that in even condition the '03 would be worth more than an enfield, but not in the condition this tired old relic was in, i'll keep my eyes open for a better one, thanks for the info.

23 May 2003, 12:25

redial

Egad! To sorta answer your questions - yes, no, no, no. Emphasis on the no's.

There's a reason they went outta business more'n once.

Redial

24 May 2003, 14:57

xring3

quote:
Originally posted by gutpile:
anyone have any experiance with the national- ordnance '03-A3 rifle? i am assuming they are rebuilds, are they any good? can they be trusted? are they a decent deal at $350?

24 May 2003, 15:19

gutpile

hey xring, you wouldnt be the same xring that built the .220 swooft rifle that shot so well in tulsa would you????

27 May 2003, 13:57

craigster

If you're wantin' a Springfield don't waste your bucks on one of these. Save your money and buy yourself a real one. You won't be disappointed.

30 May 2003, 01:24

Borealis Bob

Pass on it !!

Years ago when I was a kid I scraped my lawn-mowing money together and had Dad order one for me. Dad insisted we have a local & reliable 'smith check it out first. Good thing...the headspacing was way off.

30 May 2003, 01:42

<JBelk>

National Ordinance, Golden State, Sante Fe Arms, et al are best known as grenades camoflaged as rifles.

Actual failures are rare but VERY spectacular when they occur. Most were cast in Mexico and looks it.

I'd offer $35 for parts.

30 May 2003, 23:39

Steve Malinverni

350 bucks for a 03-A3?
This make me get [Mad]

To have one of them Ipaid 1350$ here in Italy.... I put on it a C stock, and for 4 years I used it in old military rifle match. It was made by Remington in 1943, July.
I used it also for hunting boars, but I never saw one when I was hunting with it.
I had it in condition new and it really looked new. I sold it for a K31.

bye

31 May 2003, 02:34

Orion 1

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
350 bucks for a 03-A3?
This make me get To have one of them Ipaid 1350$ here in Italy.... I put on it a C stock, and for 4 years I used it in old military rifle match. It was made by Remington in 1943, July.
I used it also for hunting boars, but I never saw one when I was hunting with it.
I had it in condition new and it really looked new. I sold it for a K31.

bye

Stefano, don't get pissed about it. The rifle those guys are talking about for $350 is a piece of shit fake made of inferior metal cast from old, crushed tin cans. It is NOT a US Government issue rifle.

Why would anyone bother paying $350 for a piece of shit fake, when for $100 more the US Government will sell you the REAL thing, is beyond my understanding.

[ 05-30-2003, 17:36: Message edited by: Orion 1 ]