Looking for a 1903A3

[Jim Oliver]

Looking for a 1903A3 for CMP Matches. Please see WTB post.

Thanks,
Jim

Information

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[Wulf]

I believe I just saw one with a C stock on GB with a couple days to go and no bids.

[Kirk]

Jim:

Be aware that a number of 1903/A3 offered for sale today are converted from a "Drill Rifle". The Army converted many 1,000s 1903/A3s into Drill Rifles by: welding the barrel to the receiver; the weld is on the bottom, near where the guard screw fits; driving a steel rod into the chamber; cutting a hole into the chamber, also on the bottom of the barrel; welding the magazine cut off shut so that the bolt may not be removed; welding closed the striker hole in the bolt face and grinding off the tip of, or removing the striker.

The CMP sold Drill Rifles and many have been "recovered" to make them fireable again by grinding off the welds, replacing barrels, bolts & mag cut offs. You can spot such a recovered rifle by examining the bottom of the receiver ring & the mag cut off area. Any sign of welding there means it's a Drill Rifle. Pay particular attention if the rifle is newly refinished. The welds on the receivers I've seen appear to be stainless steel & do not take a finish well. Welding may have weakened the receiver, making it unsafe to fire. Many sellers do not mention they are selling a recovered Drill Rifle. Insist on a 3-day inspection period for any rifle you get and then have a1903-competent gunsmith check it out.

[Jim Oliver]

Kirk,

Thanks for the heads up on this. The presence of any of those examples of butchery would end the inspection. I knew that there were many drill rifles out there, but had not seen these illustrations.

[Calif-Steve]

Jim where are you at? I was at the Vallejo Show yesterday abd saw 2 nice keepers. California was nice 03A3's.

[Chuckindenver]

i have a nice Remington A3 FS...contact me, ill be happy to shoot you some info.....

[Chuckindenver]

nothing wrong with shooting a recovered drill rifle, if done correctly.
i have an issue with false advertising...Sarco, Gibbs, Old Western Scrounger all do this.
my personal shooter is a DP rifle, shoots better then any of the other 03,s in my safe..
if i sold it, it would be sold as such.