Replacement barrels

[Calfed]

I recently purchased a replacement NIW 03A3 barrel (RA 2/44) and a replacement NOS 1903 barrel (HS, 5/44). The 03A3 barrel is in the cheesecloth


The 1903 is not in the wrap, but looks unused. It has a front sight base, but no rear sight base. Where the rear sight base would be is a ring of bare metal.


Is this the way HS replacement barrels came or did someone remove the rear sight base?

Also, I've seen SA replacement 03 barrels dated in the 40's and HS replacement 03 barrels. I have never seen RA 03 replacement barrels. Did Remington make replacement barrels for the M1903's. Were their any other 1903 replacement barrel makers?

Thanks

Information

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[Tom in N.J.]

Avis made replacement '03 barrels around WWI. M1903 barrels left the factory with both front and rear sight bases. They were installed prior to finish, so if you remove the base the white barrel shows. Remington did make replacement '03 barrels and they were very common a few years back. Sedgley also made replacement barrels. HTH

[Calif-Steve]

I think this question has been covered before. If I recall correctly, the '03 barrels indeed should have both bases installed. However, they are found without the bases. Not common, but it did happen.

[John Beard]

I recently purchased a replacement NIW 03A3 barrel (RA 2/44) and a replacement NOS 1903 barrel (HS, 5/44). The 03A3 barrel is in the cheesecloth
The 1903 is not in the wrap, but looks unused. It has a front sight base, but no rear sight base. Where the rear sight base would be is a ring of bare metal.

Is this the way HS replacement barrels came or did someone remove the rear sight base?

Also, I've seen SA replacement 03 barrels dated in the 40's and HS replacement 03 barrels. I have never seen RA 03 replacement barrels. Did Remington make replacement barrels for the M1903's. Were their any other 1903 replacement barrel makers?

Thanks

(1) Someone removed the rear sight base.

(2) Yes.

(3) Yes, Sedgley.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Cosine26]

Replacement barrels
During the period when replacement parts were available thru the DCM, I bought ten 03 barrels and six 03A3 barrels.
The 03 barrels all came with both sight bases. Nine were SA dated between 3/42 and 12/42 and were all 4 groove and one was a HS barrel dated 5/45, also with 4 grooves. I used a couple of these to rebarrel Mausers – one in 30/06 and one in 7.62 NATO.
I used the HS barrel on an 03 and shot several ‘possibles’ at both 600 and a 1000 yards using a match load of Hivel #2 and 180 gr Western boat tail match bullets. I never saw a Remington replacement 03 barrel. Traded away the HS barreled rifle a long time ago.
Of the 03A3 barrels: three were RA two groove (dates unknown) and three were SC 3/43 four groove dated 3/43. All came with front sight bases but no sight blades.
Of the three RA 03A3 barrels I traded two of them for low number 03 receivers which I exchanged for high number 03 receivers through the DCM. I still have one of these still wrapped in cosmoline so cannot tell the date.
Of the SC barrels I traded a couple away but still have one. One of the best deals I ever got three SC four groove barrels for $0.99 each. I stil have one.
FWIW.

[Calfed]

Replacement barrels
During the period when replacement parts were available thru the DCM, I bought ten 03 barrels and six 03A3 barrels.
The 03 barrels all came with both sight bases. Nine were SA dated between 3/42 and 12/42 and were all 4 groove and one was a HS barrel dated 5/45, also with 4 grooves. I used a couple of these to rebarrel Mausers – one in 30/06 and one in 7.62 NATO.
I used the HS barrel on an 03 and shot several ‘possibles’ at both 600 and a 1000 yards using a match load of Hivel #2 and 180 gr Western boat tail match bullets. I never saw a Remington replacement 03 barrel. Traded away the HS barreled rifle a long time ago.
Of the 03A3 barrels: three were RA two groove (dates unknown) and three were SC 3/43 four groove dated 3/43. All came with front sight bases but no sight blades.
Of the three RA 03A3 barrels I traded two of them for low number 03 receivers which I exchanged for high number 03 receivers through the DCM. I still have one of these still wrapped in cosmoline so cannot tell the date.
Of the SC barrels I traded a couple away but still have one. One of the best deals I ever got three SC four groove barrels for $0.99 each. I stil have one.
FWIW.

That does sound like a great deal.

I paid $100 for the RA 03A3 replacement barrel and $120 for the HS M1903 barrel. Sounds like barrels out performed the stock market, real estate and gold as an investment over the long haul.

[Calif-Steve]

I bought many 2 groove barrels from the DCM while in college. If I recall they were $.98 each, but you could only order 2 barrels a year. I only saw RA barrels, only 2 groove. But in the grease and the price was right.

[Cosine26]

The date on the HS barrel should have beeb 5/44 not 5/45 as stated in my original post.
I do not know if there was a limit in the 50's or 60's. There may have been but I was ordering through a gun club and there was no limit as far as I know. By the time the two per year limit was imposed in the 70's I was no longer orderig M903/03A3 parts.