Estimated value of this rifle?

[smcnally]

I've been pondering either selling or trading my 1903A3 to put towards either something More affordable to shoot, or another 1903 that is more original. This rifle was rechambered years ago for .300 Win Mag and has an inexpensive Simmons 3-9 x 32 scope on it. The date of manufacture was March,1943. I'm just looking for a rough estimate because I have no idea of it's value.

Information

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[Alvin Linden]

If by affordable you mean gun pricewise, I suggest you just get a new Marlin XL-7 [I HAVE ONE AS A TRUCK GUN SHOOTS .5 MOA AND HAS A GREAT TRIGGER and my preference!] or a Stevens 200 [I have had them, accurate as hell, but you get either a fair trigger or a horrible one] both can be had under $300 at big stores. If you mean cheap ammo, 30/06 is the only way to go... it's always on sale...closeouts...clearance...discontinued and with the foreign entries Sellier and Belliot...Wolf...Fiocchi[...PMC [can be found but, import may be discontinued] sometimes a box of 30/06 soft points at Sportsman's Guide can be had for less than $8 !!!! WITH A $5 OFF SHIPPING COUPON [SENT BY S.G. OFTEN, WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR INTERNET SPECIALS] AN $8 BOX OF FEDERAL .270 OR 30/06 SOFT POINTS HAS ARRIVED HERE AT HOME MANY A TIME FOR AROUND $10 TOTAL!!!!!!! Hell it cost that in gas now, to go and pick it up at Wally World! As to your guns value, we say a gun is only worth what someone will pay for it; that being said your rifle has no value other than what a buyer will pay. IMHO on a good day if the parts are of some intrinsic value then maybe $300-$400, if not then more like $250. The bolt face, feeding ramp, and rails were altered, so it has to stay a magnum. Probably better to keep it until you find someone who WANTS A MAGNUM ON A SPRINGFIELD ACTION! Good Luck!!!! Jerry

[AKA Hugh Uno]

well for hunting, the 300WM is fine for almost anything from WHitetail on up. In this respect, unless you are dove hunting with the thing, the cost of ammo compared to the other costs of hunting (scheesh! 100 bucks for fish and hunting and deer! per year!) isn't significant. Also, this puppy has got to HURT when you shoot it off the bench of prone. If you need plinking ammo, heck you can get a Lee Hand Press and some some neck sizing dies for about 50 bucks, and you can reload the thing for about 25 - 50 cents per rounnd if you stick with modestly priced bullets.

Oh, forgot to mention, value is not likely to exceed 300-350.

[Doug Rammel]

Around here in SW Ohio, sporterized 03's go for 200 to 250 tops.

[Jeff L]

At least the barrel wasn't cut off.

-Jeff L

[smcnally]

Well that's a bummer! Especially since I've paid more than $200 cleaning it up
And, yes, Hugh, it practically tears my shoulder off every time I fire it!
Oh well...Maybe I'll still sell it to someone that could use it for hunting. I don't hunt anymore and using it for target practice would be a waste of it (and my shoulder), IMO.

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it!

[Chuckindenver]

rebarrel, and rebolt the rifle, in 30-06 and keep it.

[Cosine26]

For chuckindenver:
Your suggestion that the rifle in question be reconverted to 30-06 is a good one. I do not know what your experience has been in this field; however, I was active in the era when a lot of these conversions were made and in many cases when the 03 or the 03A3 were converted to Magnum calibers, the receiver rails and other receiver modifications were required. Many of the gunsmithing books of the era provided instructions on how to do this. With the 300 H&H the magazine box had to be lengthened to allow loading and feeding from the magazine. The Shorter Magnums, such as the 300 Win Mag, are much wider at the shoulders than the 30-06 and required widening of the receiver rails. Without examining the particular receiver, it is not possible to determine if it is feasible to reconfigure the action. Many gunsmiths just rechambered for the Magnum calibers using the original 30-06; a somewhat questionable practice according to the experts of the day. These receiver mods may preclude reconversion.
You know better than I on the subject.
Just some thoughts.

[smcnally]

I'm concerned about putting a lot of money into the rifle though unless it's value goes up with it. If I were to bring it back to .30-06 then would it be less expensive to just get a comple receiver/barrel assembly?

[Curt]

It seems in NE ohio even clean 03's non-sporter (nothing special ones) bring $300-$500 and not much more ever.