AIM Surplus 03A4 clones

[Chuckindenver]

they are paint finish receievers, that covers up the drill rifle welds easy enough.
bad paint jobs though.

[Wolley]

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.

What is the stinking deal with the irrational hatred of former drill receivers?
They are not compromised in any way unless someone has tried to re-heat treat them because of some silly fear of a small tack weld.
Yeesh, get over it already. Gibbs wouldn't be selling them if their was a potential problem. In this day and age with our overly litigious mentality?
Yep I think they're over priced for no more pride than was put into their assembly.
BTW I have been shooting a recovered SC as my hunting rifle for years. Headspace is still perfect. Lots of fairly warm hunting loads as well as suffering through my first foray into reloading 30 years ago when I was under 20. You know how teenagers can be with the more power syndrome.

[Lancebear]

Chuck,

Bought the last copy of Guns & Ammo's latest surplus magazine Friday evening from the local newstand.

The Gibbs rifle is on the cover and the first article is about it, written by Garry James. A firearms expert that I respect, remember "Tales of The Gun". Watched every episode...more than once. He has an amazing collection and had a very good short lived magazine a while ago featuring many original antique firearms and extras.

Well the article is several pages long and tells the story of the 03A4 and only really gets to the real deal about the Gibbs rifles in the last few paragraphs.

A shoot with amazing results after dialing in the rifle. It is mentioned that Gibbs reclaimed Remington receivers etc. And the fact that Pedersoli made the four groove barrels. And the hardwood stock is walnut "Finished". Chinese mystery wood.

Guess Gibbs snafued him or maybe on the hook along with Guns & Ammo? Don't waste your ten bucks on this book...they ran outa' ideas and have several articles about obscure, to us, antique European arms...could hardly read it. Even used two large articles from Garry's old magazine.

Think the crew here could do a hundred page magazine just on surplus '03's and people would eat it up.

Chinese Junk...it's not just a ship anymore.

Death to Chinese cr%p, and the lying that goes along with it,

Lancebear

[Johnny Peppers]

Some of you may remember the article in Guns and Ammo almost 15 years back when they featured the "Million Dollar Luger". The pistol was one of the .45 caliber Lugers sent to Springfield Armory for testing when Ordnance was looking to change to an automatic pistol from the revolver. The .45 Luger in the article, by Garry James, was proclaimed to be the only one in existence. Since this was the days of snail mail, I sent a letter to Mr. James letting him know that another .45 Luger was in the Norton Gallery in Shreveport, Louisiana, and had been for a long time. I never received a reply, so assumed that maybe the letter wasn't delivered and sent another. Same results. I guess it would have blown the cover story if they had to make it know that another .45 Luger existed. Turns out that the supposed owner of the .45 Luger in G&A wasn't the owner at all, and the same guy did time over helping scam a wealthy collector.
So much for objectivity in G&A articles.

[Liam]

I can't help myself every year when the Guns & Ammo surplus issue comes out. I have to buy it. I read the article on the Gibbs rifle, but reread it with "new eyes" after following this forum discussion. Omissions? Perhaps mere failure to recognize just what might be of importance to "Surplus Folks." Either way, it appears the article will not convince many on this board. That same money would buy a CMP-put-together Garand with new barrel and Boyds stock. AND...having been assembled by CMP personnel, I would not fear shooting the thing. In the end I am opting to buy the Bira Gun advertised on the back cover. Better get started loading for it. See you at the range!

[Chuckindenver]

i gave my review and my opinon on the GIBBS repro A4, and was as honest as i could be with out flaming the company or the rifle.
as for recovered drill rifles??nothing wrong with them if done right, and when sold, the seller says {BUILT FROM A RECOVERED DRILL RIFLE} so the new owner shelling out cash will know exacly what he is getting.
i have recoevered a few Drill rifles, and when done and sold, i list on the sale tag, recoved drill rifle and when asked i tell them what and how it was done.
some didnt care, some did.
but i can look myself in the mirror every morning, and smile:}

[ppknut]

AIM also advertises an 03A3:

"Original US manufactured model M1903A3 Springfield 30.06 caliber bolt action rifles. These beautiful rifles have been professionally restored and refinished. They feature original, unissued US barrels and new Military Spec. walnut stocks."

Does anyone know about these pieces?