Looking at 1903A4 as next project. School me.

As it states I just finished my no4mk1 T sniper rifle. Which is my fav but I kind of have an itch to start learning about these rifles and look for a real one. Let me know what to look for how to spot a fake etc. it's about time I finally add a US gun to my collection.
I've come across some things as far as the 2 groove vs 4 groove barrel years. Serial number on receiver off to the left side as to be read with the scope on the rifle. Should be parkerized over where the front sites should be. That's about all I've found so far so please teach me. This students ready to learn lol. Thx guys.

A help to me was "The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle" by Joe Poyer.

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Originally Posted by Z28addiction

This students ready to learn lol.

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There are entire books written about this...you better buy a couple first. Then come back and we can clarify a couple of things.

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Originally Posted by Z28addiction

As it states I just finished my no4mk1 T sniper rifle. Which is my fav but I kind of have an itch to start learning about these rifles and look for a real one. Let me know what to look for how to spot a fake etc. it's about time I finally add a US gun to my collection.
I've come across some things as far as the 2 groove vs 4 groove barrel years. Serial number on receiver off to the left side as to be read with the scope on the rifle. Should be parkerized over where the front sites should be. That's about all I've found so far so please teach me. This students ready to learn lol. Thx guys.

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While its unlikely you will ever see one like this you might come close. This just starts your learning curve.

1903-A4 Remington UNISSUED rifle 8-43 barrel : WW1 & WW2 Collectibles at GunBroker.com

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

This just starts your learning curve.

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At over $15,000 US...

Your best single source of information on the M1903A4 snipers rifle is an article by Bill Hansen entitled "Snipers, Snarls and Snafus" published in the journal of the Remington Society of America in the Fall of 2004.

There is a link to Mr. Hansen's serial number table in the sticky section of this forum.
The same table appears in Vishooters website but without the very useful explanatory notes that are included in the Remington site.
The Remington Society of America (Remington 03, 03A3, 03-A4 Serial Numbers)
Vi Shooter's Web Pages - Extensive Information on M1903 & Variants - Military Surplus Collectors Forums


There are also links in the sticky section to TM9-270 which describes the operation of the Telescopic sight on the A4 and to TM9-1270 which is the 1944 update of the whole '03 family including the A4.
TM9-270 U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1903a4 (Sniper's) Characteristics and Operation
TM 9-1270 U.S. Rifles, Cal .30, M1903, M1903A1, M1903A3, M1903A4 Sniper

This link will take you to the minutes of the ordnance committee which wrote the specifications for the A4.
http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PD...ber%201942.pdf

This should give you a good start.

Regards,

Jim

Joe Poyer's book has several errors. While it has some good features, I wouldn't recommend it if you're new to this subject.

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Originally Posted by JGaynor

Your best single source of information on the M1903A4 snipers rifle is an article by Bill Hansen entitled "Snipers, Snarls and Snafus" published in the journal of the Remington Society of America in the Fall of 2004.

There is a link to Mr. Hansen's serial number table in the sticky section of this forum.
The same table appears in Vishooters website but without the very useful explanatory notes that are included in the Remington site.
The Remington Society of America (Remington 03, 03A3, 03-A4 Serial Numbers)
Vi Shooter's Web Pages - Extensive Information on M1903 & Variants - Military Surplus Collectors Forums


There are also links in the sticky section to TM9-270 which describes the operation of the Telescopic sight on the A4 and to TM9-1270 which is the 1944 update of the whole '03 family including the A4.
TM9-270 U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1903a4 (Sniper's) Characteristics and Operation
TM 9-1270 U.S. Rifles, Cal .30, M1903, M1903A1, M1903A3, M1903A4 Sniper

This link will take you to the minutes of the ordnance committee which wrote the specifications for the A4.
http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PD...ber%201942.pdf

This should give you a good start.

Regards,

Jim

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Thx for these links! I appreciate when others still take the time to help educate others rather than brushing them off with some dumb comment bc there too lazy to help.

So, you're going to get some books then? As suggested?

Another good reference is Clark Campbells "The 03 Springfield Era" (2003). This book may be a little hard to find as I believe it was privately published and may no longer be in print. Keep an eye out for it at the gunshots.

Another thing you can do is to log on to these forums and do searches on "M1903A4" or "SNIPER" This forum is a good one - also Culvers shooting page, Gunboards, Snipers Hide and of course the CMP forum.

If your so adiment on books.. which personally I love. What are some truly good books to purchase on these rifles?

That's about what I thought...Jim Gaynor has listed them, almost all of them... There's also the section here dealing with 1903 rifles and ilk, there's entire picture heavy threads showing the good and bad and discussing markings and even color. They go as far as to describe which screw should be staked. Again, as Jim stated... We're just not going to start from square one here.