Yesterday I purchased for $125 (plus $100 for a trade-in gun) a Springfield 1903A3. This gun has a butler creek stock, a Smith-Corona action, and a barrel with no markings that looks like it needs bluing. Obviously, I should take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out. But then what? I am nervous about a barrel that has no markings. Will the gunsmith be able to tell me if it is safe to shoot? I guess I could get it rebarreled. But then what caliber should I choose? I would like a gun that has mild recoil so I can go to the range and shoot 50 rounds. But also one I could take hunting deer in Washington or California. Right now I have a 300 Win that I think kicks a little to hard to shoot much for fun. I would love to hear your opinions of what to do and what caliber to rebarrel to if I take that option.

Thanks!
Ben

Hey there,
Glad to hear another 03 story. Take it in and have a gunsmith check it over. If the barrel is not shootable, which I doubt, I would have it rebarreled back to 06. I have one that I love to shoot, and the 06 can be loaded to hunt any game in NA. I will go through 50-100 round at time at the range with it, without any discomfort. I hope you enjoy you new toy!

Ben; I just had an 03A3 rebarreled to 9.3x62. Makes a fun toy and definately the only one on the block. How about a 257 Roberts?

Ben:
If you dont have a good smith in mind try Shawn Thomason, Craigmont, Idaho. (208) 924 5335.
He barreled a number of rifles for me and is honest & good work. Pete

Build a scout gun. I picked up sporterized, very high serial number O3 and turned it into an 18" 35 whelen scout/guide gun. I just need to get a new stock and figure out how to get a forward scope mount to work. It's really fun to shoot 6 shots fast and load another 5 from a stripper clip!

[ 06-11-2002, 10:43: Message edited by: Shoowallagager ]

Ben, I'll second that recomendation for Shawn Thomason (Diamond T rifle shop), He does excelent work, is very familiar with 03s, and is extremely reasonable. The shop is not too far from you, and half the places around town you take things to send it to him anyhow.

So how is life on the hill? I have not been back since I got my degree but sure miss the place at times...

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the great advice. I will give the gunsmith a call and see what I can arrange. I was thinking of going to Lolo�s in Lewiston before you mentioned Shawn Thomason. Lewiston is a much shorter drive for me. Life at WSU is good right now. Except for the last weekend it has been a beautiful Palouse summer. Most of the students left Pullman a little over a month ago so traffic is light, the town is quiet, and parking is plentiful. I�ll let you know what happens.

Oh, I looked at the barrel more closely. It has four grooves. Does that mean it is original?

Ben

Did you double check the serial number on this rifle to make sure it was properly heat treated. Otherwise it may be unsafe to shoot. Springfields up to 800,000 were considered suspect to the heat treating problems.

here's an idea: if the serial number is high, get a barrel and chamber it in .458 Win Mag . Gotta keep the neighborhood safe from rogue elephants you know

I believe 03A3 actions had 2 groove barrels on them . So your rifle may have been re barreled. Possibly with a surplus 03 barrel , which were 4 groove .

If so , you may have a very good barrel already ........

Well, I called Shawn Thomason today and I think I will be driving the gun down to him in the next week or so. The cost of a new barrel is more than I paid for the gun so I am hoping that the current barrel will be accurate enough to use. Now, should I mount a scope on the gun, or keep the military sights that it has now?

You don't have to worry about serial number range with a 1903A3.

1903a3? ahh, don't do anything.. it's junk... email me, and I'll send the address of the JUNK PILE.. JUST JOKING

man, you've got to love those things. if you want a neat combo, make it a 338-06, and have no feed problems!!
good hunting
jeffe