National Ordinance

Can anyone tell me about the quality of a National Ordinance 03-A3. I have heard that the recivers were not made by Remington but most of the parts are such as bolt and barrel are. I have a chance to pick one up cheap to be used as a shooter.

Skeet1

National Ordnance receivers were made from cast steel for the civilian market, not by Remington or any other military manufacturer. They were mated with surplus military parts and sold commerically in the late 1950s or early 1960s for about $10 more than the going rate for M1903s/03A3s at the time.

Until recently, they were assumed to be safe, decent shooters. However, there have been some reports of receiver failures, including by some members of this forum. I'm sure they will fill you in.

They are very good parts kits. If you have a nice real receiver go for it. Beware there are piles of Drill rifle receivers floating around, avoid them.

let the pictures do the talking.

I know of a Nat. Ord. M1 carbine that streched its receiver enough that it won't fire unless a round accidentally gets caught under the extractor claw. Scary looking, too! Good thing it quit working.

Ordinance - A law passed by a local government.

Ordnance - A division within the US Army responsible for the development of Weapon Systems.

PersaronallyI I would stay far away. I had one. It wouldnt feed right, and was a dog. Also, the receiver I think is indeed cast.

I have one for over 35 years, excellent shooter. No problems.

no National Ord, or Santa Fe arms made 1903A3 should ever, ever, be fired.
they are NOT safe, and will fail, just a matter of time.
they made less then 2500 of them, and i know of 5 that have failed, 4 in the Denver area alone, thats not good odds.
one that failed is pictured above, shot with factory ammo.
shooter fired less then 80 rounds, and didnt know the guns past history.
trust your eyes, it will fail..maybe today, next week, next year, but it will fail.

With the terrible odds of failure Chuck has seen first hand and he also demonstrated with photos, I don't understand why anyone would ever fire a high powered round through one of these poor cast receivers.
Chuck is not one to say this sort of thing without knowledge and genuine concern.

Is a sub-standard, cast, aftermarket substitute, from a long ago demised venture worth risking your eyes, face, or even life?

Why keep something this dangerous around in this configuration even as a 'wall hangar'?
Somewhere along the way someone else will probably try to shoot it. Maybe your grandson shooting "Grandpa's old gun" -

They used barrels at $.99, wood cost them $2.00 and odd parts ran up to around $6.00. Do you honestly think they spent real money for a cast receiver? Even by 1964 standards these things were cheap. Does anybody know what 2-3 days with your physician will cost? Nat Ord's are nice parts kits, that's all.

I get a kick out of seeing them priced at 600 dollars at gun shows.:rofl:
+1 on what calif-steve said.:super: