AIM Surplus 03A4 clones

[Mike Haas]

maybe the quality will improve as they get better at making them. as far as i can tell, they are in great demand and on backorder so even if it turns out to be a POS it should be easy enough to resell.
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Goo? - Have you ever considered 'Ridelin' ...

[mack]

First, thanks to all who replied with your sincere and carefully thought-out responses. This is the kind of thread I would expect from the Springfield Board and I received good responses from all of you.

I didn't want or need some place to spend money on a repro rifle, but I was curious about anyone who had seen one of these rifles as they will certainly be entering the market in response to the demand for 03A4 rifles. Unfortunately, they will likely be touted as originals to the less-than-discerning buyers who aren't careful in their purchases.

I was happy to see ChuckinDenver's observations about quality and fit and finish. Thank you for your taking your time to relay your thoughts on these rifles. Your observations are significant in light of your particular skills and are about what I expected, as repro rifles are often meant to be seen from a distance and not shot or handled.

Call me a coward or whatever you like, but I am deathly afraid of reclaimed receivers from Drill Rifles. I am sure that many good rifles have been made in drill pieces, but some, I fear, went that way because someone knew they were bad or problem rifles and sent them to conversion for a reason that we will never know. I look over all 03A3's I see for sale and put the drill pieces back on the shelf or the table without comment. They won't be going home with me. Call me crazy, if you like, but......

I have never been a fan of Gibbs rifles and this is simply another example of one of their continuing list of conversions that leave me wondering why I would spend my money for that? Maybe some are good, but they don't hold much interest to me. Their 45-70 Enfields may be good, but the prices rivaled buying a Marlin (almost) in the same caliber.

Well, enough of my ranting, but, seriously, thanks to all who responded. Another issue I am afraid we have not heard the last of by any means though. 'Night all!

[PeteDavis]

Just build your own! It's an adventure.

PD

[goo]

Goo? - Have you ever considered 'Ridelin' ...

...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/...2d502c89e9.jpg

[Mike Haas]

...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/...2d502c89e9.jpg

Goo - OK..Maybe you should get your Viagra first!! Ridelin 2nd!

[Embalmer]

lol love the bumbadier pic

[Mike Haas]

lol love the bumbadier pic

Matt..That was priceless!! Lends a whole new meaning to a "one liner"..

[mangda]

I got mine Tuesday. The scope has the windage and elevation knobs on wrong. The windage knob is on the elevation. I called Gibbs, and they said all the scopes came like that.Should have taken it back then, Gibbs claims they got a bunch of A3 receivers and turned down bolts when they Bought out Parker Hale in the 90's. The barrels are aftermarket with Gibbs 09 for a date. They do have 4 groove barrels. The stock is so so, with a gap of 1/8th inch at the back of the receiver. Every screw on mine was only hand tight. The base, the rings, the barrel bands every screw was loose.
also, both sling swivels and the stacking swivel were bent. Every time I look at it, I find something else wrong. I'm used to 03's,and milled parts, so all the stamped stuff looks cheap to me, but thats why they made the 03A3.
I,m going to refinish the stock to make it look more "origional". I think i'm going to put a real m73b1 scope on it. At least I'll have a place to display the scope. I've heard people say they used drill rifle receivers but I can't see any welding or cutting marks. The sight base says Gibbs instead of Redfield.
The bolt isn't near as smooth operating as my 03.
I had to back the eyepiece out a little over a half inch to get it to focus. the sight is clear and in focus now, but I havn't had it out to the range yet. Is it worth a grand? I'll be happy if it doesn't blow up! Oh yeah, If you turn it sideways, you can see all the way through between the stock and the butt plate. One posative thing. It,s a Remington receiver and it has mostly Remington parts. Little R's every place.
If you have a grand laying around, and you can't think of anything to do with it ,buy one. If not save your money.

Mangda

[Calif-Steve]

With no doubt, this things are Drill Rifle receivers. They are going off to a machine shop for weld repair. Black oxide finish will cover up the welds. They did get a pile of '03 bolts from Parker-Hale perhaps 20 years ago. None of the bolts are correct. None are true 03-A4 as Gibbs is having them made into low handle style. Take that rifle to a Gunshow and tell the dealers you lost your job and need to sell it. See if anybody will offer $450.00. That is probably their true value. Finally, I do not wish a blow-up to anyone. I think the guys who supplied those receivers to Gibbs will likely end up a party to any lawsuits from blow-ups. Good luck to all.

[Vi Shooter]

Well, there's one of my pet peeves: improper nomenclature.

"Furniture" is something that you add to something that is already usable to make it more usable.

A house is a usable shelter even if it's just an empty shell. "House furniture" (furnishings) make it more usable.

A horse is somewhat usable as is. Years ago "tack" was called "horse furniture." Adding a saddle and bridle makes the already usable horse more usable.

Muzzle loaders often had patch boxes and metal thimbles (to hold a ramrod) added to the stock. The phrase "stock furniture" refers to such add-ons that made the already usable stock more usable.

A rifle with a stock is usable; a rifle without a stock usually isn't. Therefore a stock isn't furniture but scopes, slings, BUI's, handgrips, lights, lasers, rangefinders, etc are furniture. A rifle is a lock and a stock and a barrel; take any one away and it isn't a rifle anymore.

So what is "beautiful walnut stock furniture?" Must be some add-on to the stock that is made of walnut and makes it "more usable." Anything else is false advertising.