Just got a sweet 1903A3

[SFC Higgins]

So, let me hazard a guess, this rifle left Remington sometime after 1942 and the barrel installed after 3-43 on it's receiver. Probably on a Service straight stock and it made it's way into an armory somewhere at some point. during it's life it needed a rebuild and it was given a "Keystone" C-stock and refinish possibly? After all that it made it's way back into service and no longer was needed and then sat unused for decades. The bore is fairly worn out, though it is shiny and no pitting at all. I have no bore gauge to actually measure it's wear but see were the rifling is very worn down.

[Daan Kemp]

Worn rifling? Needs thousands of rounds to cause that, meaning many worn parts on the rest of the rifle? Meaning lots of use?

[browningautorifle]

So, let me hazard a guess,

I don't know...it COULD be a range rifle I guess but as suggested, it should show comparable wear everywhere. I had a Lee Enfield once that showed an almost worn out commencement and the rest of the rifle was very good. See if you can get the bore gauges to check throat and muzzle wear? Curious...

[SFC Higgins]

Well maybe I need to put on my thinking cap. I don't remember sending any shot out barrels back to higher echelon repair after shooting tens of thousands rounds out of M16's back in the day while in the Marines. And come to think about this 03...it is rather nice to start with.

[browningautorifle]

I don't remember sending any shot out barrels back to higher echelon repair

Ours on the other hand, our rifle team would go through about 1000 rds per man per day of training during season. The rifles showed very distinct wear at commencement and were unmistakably worn and in need of replacement. Even a novice could tell. The exterior was overall very good. The Lee Enfield I had was the same, very distinct worn commencement. This one might not be so bad, shooting will tell.