03a4 repos

Any input on RR, James River 03a4's that are currently on market. Getting the itch again , to go shoot Vintage Sniper at Eastern Games with my father. The good, bad and ugly. May buy a complete rec, and build my own. All input works for me.

Tarheeler, I would build your own. I think you can come up with a better set up than the repros. Many of the repros are converted drill rifles. Look for a low dollar sporterized 03a3 that has been drilled for the scope and has the original length barrel if possible. They are getting harder to find because so many shooters want to do the same thing but I'm sure there are still some out there. Salt Flat

Tarheeler, Here's the one I built along with a 1933 1903 Springfield. The 03a3 has a Boyds repro C stock, 330 weaver scope, Redfield base. I didn't parkerize anything as it is not a big deal with me. I built this one years before the repros came out. Salt Flat

Moderator note: second pic posted deleted upon request of member.

Thanks for the picture, after thinking about it, probably will build my own, as there are enough pieces and partsout there, plus I have a smith who will work his magic on it. Thanks

one thing to watch out for if using someone else's sporter project. How easily will the holes for the their old scope base line up with the correct Redfield Jr (or copy) base?

Thought about that too. Thanks

I have a James River 03a4. Looks like a brand new rifle. With reloads is shoots sub moa. The leatherwood/Malcolm scope has modern glass and modern internals compared to one of the original scopes. I don't know how much better if at all except that there is a lot more internal adjustment on one of the repo scopes. Just about all the repos are now coming with Criterion barrels which is a plus. If I had the tools to do a rebarrel and chamber I would go with the build. For a one off I think a Creedmore of James River is more practical. The James River is worth what they are asking for one.

the james river one's from what I have heard use boyds stocks and the quality can be patchy I got a james river 03a4 from a shop here in ozzie land and the barrel was pushing against the side of the forend tip in the 3 o'clock position and not the bottom as it should have been, also the scope mount came loose so I coated the screws with some low strength locktite , the stock work took me about 3 hours of gently scraping and gluing in timber till I got the bedding right and now it shoots into an inch all day with hand loads, as I live in Australia I couldn't just take the rifle back to James river, and the shop where I bought it from new has a really slow turn around on work and since I setup my Smith and Corona (james river 03A3) with it's boyds C type stock stock it shoots into about 3.5 inches at 300meters so those criterion barrels are really good, and with the bedding setup properly they will shoot, both my actions are ex drill receivers, but I have read that Gibbs rifle company proof fired quite a few of these actions and none let go, so I am not worried about one exploding, OH !!! almost forgot I fitted an original M82 korean war scope and mounts to mine as the m73 hilux was clear and adjusted well , but was a load of crap to shoot with compared to an M82