Recent arrivals: RIA M1903 1908 & SC M1903A3 1943

[Roy]

Nice, decent M1903's are hard to find in NZ. I imported some receivers and made two 'parts correctish' WW1 era RIA's

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[fernleaf]

Nice, decent M1903's are hard to find in NZ

Agreed.

One of the old time collectors in my neck of the woods once told me there are virtually no original M1903s in NZ - most are made up from parts....

By buying these two rifles, I was hoping to break that mold and ensure I had something a bit more original than what is available in the small pool of M1903s here.

[Roy]

By The time most M1903's got to NZ in WW2 they had been though some sort of refurbishment, then the ravages of post war use mean they often in average condition. I have never seen an 'as first manufactured' SA or RIA in NZ, and actively seek them out even just to inspect them.

[TDH]

You will love that SC. I know for a fact my shoots better than me. A few years back I let a young fella with good eyes and the patience of Job sit down at 100 yards and four of his five shot string could be covered with an American dime (approx. 17 mm) and his flier took him out to a nickel (22mm?}

[fernleaf]

You will love that SC. I know for a fact my shoots better than me.

I do enjoy owning the SC. My biggest problem with shooting it accurately (and the same problem I have - or had - with shooting an L1A1, or the 0-200 sight on an AR15) is I feel the rear sight aperture is far too big and my almost middle aged eyes have a difficult time putting the front sight in a consistent place in relation to the centre of the aperture.

[c1a1]

Nice SC. I prefer the 1903A3 rear sight. Good 1903A3's are hard to find in Canada also.

[fernleaf]

Coaxed this nice little (a side from the flyer that I no doubt caused) group out of the 03A3 this morning. 168gn Hornady HPBT over moderate load of AR2206H...

[browningautorifle]

I'll bet they will even shoot better with 150gr flat base bullets like the original M2. I prefer a spitzer or spire point, 150 or 165 gr. Never mind the flyer.