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[pondcreekfarm]

I am new to the forum and looking for information on my Granpa's gun (as I see many of us are). This is a Remington 03-A3. It bears the mark RA 243 on the end of the barel with a flame emblem. The serial number is 3458999. My Grandpa was a machinist on the home front during the war and so this was acquired after. It is in origninal condition except as a Marine ROTC cadet I hand-rubbed the walnut stock with 800 paper and linseed oil for use in drill team. I have fired it a few times, but not for the past 20 years.

I am interested in what I can learn about this weapon. I will not sell it, bit would like to know its value, generally. I was considering putting the action into a sport stock with a scope so I can use the wealon on deer on our farm. I would only do this if I could do so without altering the action and thereby destroying its historic significance. I really apprecaite all of the knowledge here and really wnat to learn.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

Sport stocks of many varieties exist for these rifles. You can get one quite reasonably to drop the action into without alteration. If you find you want to scope it, you can get B-square mounts for these rifles from Brownells and they don't modify the rifle by drilling holes. They go on existing spots like rear sight mounts. Therefore you retain the collectors value.

Manufacture dates will be stated by the next man along here I'm sure. Welcome to the forum.

[Rick the Librarian]

Welcome to the forum!! Your receiver dates to about March, 1943 and the barrel is probably original. If you can post some pictures, we can most likely tell you much more. It is an early M1903A3 and they (after hard service) were often overhauled.

[John Beard]

I am new to the forum and looking for information on my Granpa's gun (as I see many of us are). This is a Remington 03-A3. It bears the mark RA 243 on the end of the barel with a flame emblem. The serial number is 3458999. My Grandpa was a machinist on the home front during the war and so this was acquired after. It is in origninal condition except as a Marine ROTC cadet I hand-rubbed the walnut stock with 800 paper and linseed oil for use in drill team. I have fired it a few times, but not for the past 20 years.

I am interested in what I can learn about this weapon. I will not sell it, bit would like to know its value, generally. I was considering putting the action into a sport stock with a scope so I can use the wealon on deer on our farm. I would only do this if I could do so without altering the action and thereby destroying its historic significance. I really apprecaite all of the knowledge here and really wnat to learn.

Your rifle was manufactured at Remington Arms during WWII. The M'03-A3 represented a wartime improvement over the original M1903 design by moving the rear sight closer to the shooter's eyes and simplifying rifle manufacture. Your rifle was probably sold through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship as military surplus during the late 1950's or early 1960's, at which time your grandfather bought it. Your rifle's serial number and barrel date match, indicating that your rifle still has its original barrel.

I strongly discourage you from altering the rifle in any way, especially by drilling and tapping the rifle for a telescope. I estimate your rifle's value at about $800. If you spend several hundred dollars mounting a scope and re-stocking it, you will end up with a $250 rifle. Not wise. Not wise at all. The numbers don't lie.

If you want a hunting rifle with a scope, watch the online gun auctions or go to a gun show. You can pick up a sporterized military rifle cheap.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

J.B.

p.s.,

Although you may replace the stock with the best of intentions, the original stock will invariably become misplaced and your heirs will not know where to find it. The historical significance will be forever lost.

[Randy A]

Same thing John said, even if you get one of the "no drill" scope mounts,, simply removing the rear sight will make a mess of the rifle (I haven't seen one that didn't require the rear sight removed). Most of those were staked (heavily) in place, most people end up damaging the rear sight by trying to take it off. Removing any of the screws causes the screw slots to get damaged etc. As innocent as your intentions are, your rifle "will" sustain a degree of damage,,, as collectors go.

[Rick the Librarian]

There are scope mounts you can obtain (S&K comes to mind) that allow you to use a scope without drilling and tapping the receiver. Other than that clarification (which you mentioned in your post), I'm in agreement with John.

[mannparks]

dittos on what mr. john Beard said .leave the rifle the way she is.

[browningautorifle]

Take a breath fellas...he did the one post and ran. He hasn't been back.

[pondcreekfarm]

Thanks for the advice. The rifle is at my father's house as we are in the process of moving right now. I have asked that he take some photographs of it and email them to me for posting. I askied that he pay special attential to any mark or number. I really do not want to screw it up, and I had not thought about the possibility of losing the original stock. That is a very good point. I used the rifle a lot when I was young to learn how to drill (it was the best balanced weapon I ever used). I will stay away from messing with it, but I still want you all to see it. By the way, should I not shoot it?

[mannparks]

pond, shoot away.

desclaimer: oh yea you better have a qualified gun smith look at it first.