1903 to 1903a3 Interchangable Parts

I just acquired a sporterized Remington 1903a3 and have been looking at parts I need to return it to a semblance of its original condition. Bought it to shoot, so I does not have to be 100% original to make me happy; that said, I would prefer original US Mil parts over Chinese repos. So, considering they appear to be more readily available, I would like to know if milled 1903 lower and upper barrel bands would fit in place of 1903a3 upper barrel band, bayonet lug band, and stacking swivel band. A good source of 03a3 parts would be appreciated. My attempts to find the original parts I need have not met with much success. Really appreciate any help you guys can give.

Regards, Shepp

Email boomeric@netnitco.net.
He is great to deal with, and has quality, honestly described parts.
Ed

Ed, thanks for the input.

Shepp

I have a Remington 1903A3 on which I installed all milled 03 parts just because I dislike the A3 stamped parts, they fit just fine.

Isn't the M1903 and M1903A Stocks interchangeable except for the handguard??

jimmyj,
The stock for the 1903A3 is interchangeable with the 1903. But the reverse is not true because of the inlet for the handguard ring that holds the handguard in place is not present.

The 03A3 stocks are not inletted for the 03 rear site sleave

M1903A3 stocks ARE inletted for the M1903 rear sight sleeve.

The M1903 had a profiling cut on the front of the recoil lug. The M1903 stock was inletted to accommodate this. The M03A3 did not have this profiling cut and the 03A3 stock was not cut with the profiling cut. The M1903 stock would not fit the 03A3 unless this inletting was opened up.
For 03A3 rifles produced by Remington and Smith-Corona, there was no reason to inlet the stock of the rifle for the FRSB, an extra step that was omitted. The specifications for the 03A3 were such as to reduce any and all unnecessary operations for speed of production and reduction of cost. I do not believe that 03A3 stocks produced by the two prime manufacturers were inletted for the FRSB. The later "contract" stocks, particularly those by Keystone, were inletted for both the barrel ring (required by the 03A3) and the FRSB (required by the M1903) inletting and could be used as a replacement on either the M1903 and the 03A3.
Perhaps John Beard or Rick the Librarian, who have viewed more M1903's and 03A3's than I can confirm this.
FWIW

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...... so I guess I'll shoot my mouth off with a picture.
The right and center rifles are 1903s. The left rifle is an 03A3.
Right rifle is in a 03 stock. Center rifle is in a 03A3 stock (Note the inletting). The left rifle shows why there is inletting in the 03A3 stock.
Attachment 73161

The center rifle is obviously a rebuild as witnessed by the slide on the rear sight which is a contract item not an SA product. Later contract stocks were inletted for both the 03 and the 03A3. According to both Brophy and Campbell, all 03A3 stocks were inletted for the FRSB. I know that Keystone stocks were a contract item that was inletted for both 03 and 03A3 as I mentioned previously. I cannot read the S/N of the center rifle but the lettering looks fairly early , maybe even SHT, a number of which were rebuilt, issued used during WWII. Note the difference between the elevation slides on the left hand rifle and the center rifle. .
FWIW

I stand corrected about the rear site inletting, I was looking at my sporter stock and did not look at the military stock, my memory isn't what it used to be.