Smith Corona 03a3, .308 caliber

[Blue Ridge Ranger]

I recently came into possesion of a 03A3 rifle. The specs are:
1. on receiver: U. S. Smith-Corona, model 03A3, 3704085
2. Top of barrel, below front site: S C, bomb burst symbol, 5 43
3. Bolt: number 4085 engraved on top of bolt
4. Right side of stock back: stamped into wood #4085
5. Left side of stock back: stamped into wood RIA EB in a square
6. Underside of stock, behind trigger guard: 3 stamps, all are P's, two in circles and one in a square
7. The stock in straight
8. Sights are peep on the rear, not the ladder type
9. The barrel appears to have 4 grooves, but not sure

I received this rifle packed heavily in cosmolin. After cleaning I noted the barrel was clean and shinney like a mirror. Not sure if it had been shot.
Based on the cosmolin, throughtout the rilfe, it appears to have been packed by the military.

It is possible a plug of some kind was put into the chamber to re-configure the rifle for the shorter .308 round vs. a 30-06. (not sure about this)

Can anyone give me any information on this rifle and why it may have been re-configured?

Thanks for the help.

Blue Ridge Ranger

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Calif-Steve]

You may well be looking at a Drill Rifle. Photo will help.

[Blue Ridge Ranger]

I'll get one asap, as soon as I figure out how. Thanks.
Not sure if a drill rifle as so filled with cosmolin and why rechamber for a drill rifle. But then I have no knowledge of the 03A3. Thanks again, and pic will come soon.
Blue Ridge Ranger

[Calif-Steve]

A 5-43 barrel should be .30-'06. A photo or two, please.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I'll get one asap, as soon as I figure out how. Thanks.
Not sure if a drill rifle as so filled with cosmolin and why rechamber for a drill rifle. But then I have no knowledge of the 03A3. Thanks again, and pic will come soon.
Blue Ridge Ranger

Welcome to the site Blue Ridge Ranger

I'd like to see it too. Instruction for both of the means of posting photos are in the 'sticky' section above the threads here.
They're made from screen prints to make them easier to follow.

[Neal Myers]

Not a definitive answer, but-----we can tell this from the information you provided:
---A proof P was stamped after manufacture, & every time there was a US arsenal rebuild; so, it was rebuilt at least twice.
---RIA/EB = Rock Island Arsenal/Elmer Bjerke
---4 digits of the SN would only have been scribed/stamped by a FOREIGN military armory, never a US arsenal.
---All Greek lendlease return rifles sold by CMP about 10-15 years ago were packed in grease.
---Chamber adaptors were readily available commercially for many years; a gunsmith can readily confirm that's what you have with a borescope, & he can also easily remove it with broken case extractor if it is stuck.
---Peep sight is the most obvious change in the 1903A3 from the 1903.

[Chuckindenver]

you can convert it to .308 with a new barrel...but.why? not not gaining anything, other then spending 300.00 to turn a 700.00 into a 300.00 rifle..
buy a Remington 700 or a Model 70 thats already chambered in .308 ...save the headache, poor feeding, ect.
personally i love the .308, but your not gaining anything, ammo isntl cheaper anymore, if anything it costs more, just never understood the whole convert a 30-06 to 308 thing..

[maxim]

.308 chamber insert in 30.06 chamber to fire .308 blanks? The insert can be removed with an extraction tool.

[Chuckindenver]

the OP asked if you can convert the 1903A3 to fire .308 win, nothing about blanks, nothing about it being a drill rifle, plugged ect...everyone got side tracked..
the .308 case is fatter then the 30-06. yes...an insert will work, but like i said...why... just buy a rifle thats already in that cal, youll have a load of feed issues with the rifle,
if it were just an action, or a recovered drill rifle i can see that...but why re envent the wheel.?
years ago, they did this conversion do to the military .308 being a lot cheaper, thats not the case,...308 cost a little more then the 06...so i dont see the advatage.

[Emri]

the OP asked if you can convert the 1903A3 to fire .308 win, nothing about blanks, nothing about it being a drill rifle, plugged ect...everyone got side tracked..
the .308 case is fatter then the 30-06. yes...an insert will work, but like i said...why... just buy a rifle thats already in that cal, youll have a load of feed issues with the rifle,
if it were just an action, or a recovered drill rifle i can see that...but why re envent the wheel.?
years ago, they did this conversion do to the military .308 being a lot cheaper, thats not the case,...308 cost a little more then the 06...so i dont see the advatage.

Hey Chuck,

Re-read it again. The OP didn't ask if it could be done, he asked why it would be done.

Quote : "It is possible a plug of some kind was put into the chamber to re-configure the rifle for the shorter .308 round vs. a 30-06. (not sure about this) Can anyone give me any information on this rifle and why it may have been re-configured?" : Un-Quote.

From his description he seems to have a Greek return rifle and can't chamber a round. He didn't describe what it is or is not doing so a reason for it not chambering would have to wait for more information from the OP.

FWIW,

Emri