Rebarreling a springfield 1903

All done here, I used the 03A3 barrel, turned down to accept the collar and bedded nicely. Would have used an A3 barrel, but here (in Australia) I couldn't get a new one. Shoots beautifully and looks all the part. Cheers

Chuckindenver,
Could you PM about having a 1903 rebarreled? I just joined and I can't send a PM yet. Thanks!

I recommend chuckindenver. He rebarrelled my 03 receiver a few years ago. Great job. Cheap, too. He knows his stuff!

There is a crosspin on the bottom, near the front, which can be hard to see, as it is ground flush before parkerizing over it. There is no solder. There is also a lengthwise pin between the barrel and fixed sight base (collar), driven in before the assembly is put on the receiver. The fixed sight bases have a tendency to crack near this pin when removing the sight base, so care is in order. You also can't beat on the back of the fixed base to remove it, as it will bend easily. After removing the crosspin, I put a sacrificial moveable sight base on the fixed base, and beat on that with a brass drift and hammer to move the fixed base. You will have to turn the back of the 'A3' barrel down at two places to fit the fixed sight base, loosing the witness mark in the process. If you mark the shoulder of the barrel where it would abut the receiver to note the location of the original witness mark, you can make another witness mark at the same location after turning down the shoulder. You won't get the lengthwise pin back in, or succeed in drilling the barrel to match the hole - not to worry, Loctite works just as well. If you get the barrel indexed to the witness mark, you can use the ridge on the left side of the sight base as a witness mark to align that. If you use Loctite, and the alignment doesn't come out right, you can heat the base with a propane torch to soften the Loctie, drive it forward, and try again.

OlManDow

your aware this post is over 2 years old right?

Chuck - I have sent a PM
Thanks

Stoneflint on Gunbroker has '03 mint barrels for sale.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chuckindenver

if you look close, the line on the sight base, lines up with the witness mark on the barrel.
line those up and your ready to go, try and avoid using a 1903A3 barrel on a 1903, its just cheesy.
if your going to do it, do it right.

---

cheesy from a collectors standpoint or can you tell from afar its an 03A3 barrel on a M1903? i have a sportered M-1903 that was not D&T and im putting it back into mil config and i also have a new in wrap barrel that ive been told is a 03A3 barrel its an RA 7-44 groove barrel

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alex124485

can you tell from afar its an 03A3 barrel on a M1903?

---

Short answer, no. Right thing to do or not I don't know, but mine looked great and shot great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tbonesmith

All done here, I used the 03A3 barrel, turned down to accept the collar and bedded nicely. Would have used an A3 barrel, but here (in Australia) I couldn't get a new one. Shoots beautifully and looks all the part. Cheers

---

what is meant by "turned down"?