Purchase of 03A3 Riflles Through the NRA-1960

[ArtPahl]

A recent post got me thinking back. While thumbing through some 1960 issues of the American Rifleman, I ran across the announcement of 03A3 rifles for sale @ $14.50 in the Sept. issue. I also found in the Jan., 1961 issue a note that 83,000 purchase requests had been received with 60,000 having been processed.

I was 22 years old when I got that 1960 issue and immediately sent in a purchase request. I told the three guys I hunted with to apply, also. The rifle I got is a Remington with a 4-groove barrel that appeared un-issued. The serial number indicated manufacture in 8/43. The one my brother received is a 2-groove Remington made in 12/43, also in like new condition. Charles got a Smith Corona and Dave also got a SC but his had a 6-groove barrel. We bought these rifles to use as hunting rifles with no thought that they would ever be collectable. I had a good Gunsmith nearby so the rifles were left with me for the conversion work. I had mine re-chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum, a popular conversion, and Charles had his re-barreled by Flaig's to .25/06, still a wildcat at the time. We, of course, ditched the stocks replaced the stamped trigger guards with milled 03's, forged the bolt handles, replaced the safeties, drilled and tapped for scope bases, and re-stocked. This all took some time and 2+ years passed when I saw another notice in an American Rifleman that A3's were still available. I sent in another request and this time got a SC with a 2-groove Rem. barrel. This one has a bolt that is not the square safety lug SC bolt and the stock had a rack number painted on it.

Over the years, after Dave died, I lost track of the 6-groove SC, but Charles left me his rifle in his will and I bought my brother's rifle from his estate. So I have 4 of the origional rifles we got in the early 1960's. They are all beautiful sporters and I still shoot them on a regular basis.

I thought forum members might be interested in hearing from a guy who was in on the ground floor of the 03-A3 program.

Information

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[RASelkirk]

Cool story! I was 7 then, pretty much ignorant of real-world "stuff" but we never failed to play "war games" behind the school. I never realized the power of "independence" (guns) until later in life, after kids, and yet (hopefully) before it's too late...

Russ

[xring3]

Thinking back on purchases that were should have, could have, reminds me of a saying my mother used to say.......if wishes were horses, the beggars would ride.

[RCS]

I had a old shooting friend (since died) who was a Army dentist during WW2. Around the 1961 to 1963 time period, he would got to the
Great Lakes Naval Base retail store once a month to buy 1903A3 barreled actions for $10 each, also 1903 barrels were $3 each. A lot of
nice sporters were made from these 1903A3 barreled actions

[BEAR]

In 1970 I purchased an M1903A3 from an Army 1st Lt. He had purchased this from the NRA and had never fired it. He really wanted a Remington 700 so he sold it to me for $60.00. Quite a large sum for an 18 year old working part time for $1.69 Hr. When I got it home-and inspected it I thought I had been cheated, I couldn't even see down the barrel. My dad got a cleaning rod and pushed it down the barrel and pulled out cosmoline. After stripping the rifle down I realized that there was cosmoline everywhere, only the outside of the rifle had been cleaned. Still have today (with a different stock).

[enbloc8]

My father bought an 03-A3 through this program around that time. It was a Remington made in early '43, that had seen little if any use. While clearing out their house, I found all the original paperwork that came with it. Still have both.

[TDH]

And my tale of woe. About 25 years ago my uncle passed away and left me his "deer" rifle. Well only being around 10 or 11 in the early sixties I did remember a different uncle offer to get surplus rifles through the NRA and the Issac Walton Leauge. I know my dad considered a carbine and passed so in my fogged brain I was under the impression the one offered was a carbine and at that time I had no use for one so I passed it to my cousin who's dad was the one that got them. Several years later at a family reunion I asked him if he had shot it yet. He said no but it wasn't a carbine he said it was an 03. over the ensuing years I would ask him if he had shot it yet and the last time he said no but now that he got sights for it he might. I asked about sights and he said it didn't have any just scope mounts Yes I let an 04 slip through my greedy fingers and I didn't have the heat to tell him he took a $2500 rifle into a $500 rifle. I'm still kicking myself.