Remington 03-A3 .. shoot ot not?

[Les Hamley]

I am new to the forum, but not to shooting and reloading. I got a Reminginton 03-A3 from a friend in Alaska that is in almost unfired condition. It was his dad's rifle and he said that his dad never fired it and he only put about 10 rounds through it. It has a 4 million serial number and is stamped as made in 1943. There is no wear on the bolt and it has the original military sling. I'm torn on whether to shoot it or just keep it as new. I would love to sight it in with the peep sight on it, as it wouldn't hurt the value or wear on the gun. That way I could shoot it and not worry about keeping it new. An 06 with 220 grain round nose are good bear fodder here in southeast Alaska.

Information

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[Emri]

Look at this link, (it is a sticky from the top of the M1903 page) and determine if your rifle really is "as new, as manufactured" or if it may be "as new, arsenal refinished". If re-finished, I say shoot it all you want. If truely "as new as manufactured" maybe not, it will have to be your decision. I personally will shoot any of my rifles I want to, if careful not to physically damage them, shooting really won't hurt them any. That said, I do have one that is still in cosmoline and has not been issued. It will stay that way as I would hurt the value by cleaning and shooting it.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=19134

HTH,

Emri

[John Beard]

I second what Emri says. But, I'll go a step further.

An '03-A3 in new condition is worth in excess of $1,000. About the first 150 rounds you put through it will cost you about $1 each in wear and tear on your rifle. Succeeding rounds will cost you about $0.50 per round. The first few dings and scratches in the stock will cost you about $100. Run the numbers. Then decide if you would be wise to shoot it.

A wiser approach would be to buy a rifle in used condition or one in nice condition that has been arsenal-overhauled. Such a rifle would run you about $600. The less-expensive wear and tear from shooting it would be offset by the increase in value. So, you could shoot it for free.

The choice is yours.

J.B.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Les,
I agree with John and Emri 100%. If you have one in 'as new' condition, I'd not use it as a regular shooter or hunting rifle.

From what I understand, there quite a few 1903-A3's that saw no service at all and were just stored away.
If you have one that made it all these years remaining in new, as manufactured condition, it deserves to be preserved now. (And pampered!)

Please let us know.

~ Harlan

[Thaine]

While none of my Springfields are in this catagory, I happen to have a NIB Remington 720 Sec. Navy Trophy Rifle I won in '72. I also have a used Rem 720 that was one of the first 200 produced. I shoot and hunt with the old one. While I am not too concerned about value of the NIB one (figure I will be dead when that is decided) I believe we have a certain amount of responsibility to preserve history as much as possible. If I was in posession of a high condition Springfield that had surrvived a World War and conflicts for the last 70 or so years, I would lean heavily on the preservaton aspect and treat it accordingly. I also have a Navy marked slide Colt 1911 from the production run in 1912 that went to the USS New York that I bought in the 70s for $50 and proceeded to have made into a hardball target gun without checking what I had. I regret that to this day, but in the ignorance of youth and pre "computer world" technology, I just thought it was another old Colt without much finish. I still have it and have considered restoration, but it isn't the same as origional. Just my .02

[mercman]

I also have what I believe to be an unfired 03A3 that in addition to all the correct cartouches and coloration has an 'OG' cartouche on the butt stock. My understanding is that many O3A3's were sent to the Ogden arsenal to be stored and there received the 'OG' inspection stamp. Would this add more value, take value away or be value neutral?

[TDH]

Ahhhhhhh the age old question to shoot or not to shoot! Me personally I would shoot it but I'm not a collector. I can see their point and don't disagree totally. But I will shoot anything I got. Nothing is worth more than 2 grand to begin withand to me that's like buying a 58 Vette with 200 miles on it and not driving it. Or getting a 80 grand bass boat and never go fishing on it. But I'm a cantankous old buzzard pushing 60 and I want to play with my toys.

[musketshooter]

Owning and not using a nice rifle is like buying seat covers for your new car. Do you realy care about preserving either for the next owner when you get no benefit from ownership? Shoot the rifle and sit on the seats.

[John Beard]

I also have what I believe to be an unfired 03A3 that in addition to all the correct cartouches and coloration has an 'OG' cartouche on the butt stock. My understanding is that many O3A3's were sent to the Ogden arsenal to be stored and there received the 'OG' inspection stamp. Would this add more value, take value away or be value neutral?

Value neutral.

J.B.