M1903 vintage sporter build/ find

[supercub]

It is a excellent example of the era of sporters and you would be well ahead to keep it as is. Lacking a star gauge is likely a blessing as you can simply enjoy it as a classic sporter. The sporters have been making a comeback of late, probably due to being passed on from the generation that held them for many, many years. You have a very nice example!

[Doco overboard]

Super Cub, would you venture to put a dollar figure on it? I wanted a shooter and liked the fact that it really didn't need anything for me to do except check the head space for safety, or adding additional measures to the bedding to suit me after relieving the wood a little at the tang to prevent a split and fitting a spacer at the rear guard. Only if it strings or throws a flyer of course. I found it for just over the cost of a CBI barrel with shipping and couldn't stand the thought of the receiver ring getting a bubba D&T. it was just something about it when I checked it out. If you don't care to say I understand. I know its not issue any longer, and may be taboo for some on this forum maybe but if it wont print I'll save that stock and drop it into a scant or something just to move some lead and have fun with the option to return it the way I found for the reasons you have stated. I'll have it out this weekend Thanks for your insight, Brian

[supercub]

Value as we all know is in the eyes of the beholder....or is that beauty? Either way, a hard number is seldom acceptable across the board. There are folks that have a difficult time with the sporters, most did not live through those years. Today, there isn't a good reason to sporterized one that is original or arsenal rebuilt, that's today though. Then there are those that have an appreciation for these kind of like a fine old car. There is something about them that the new guns just don't have. They shoot as well in most cases, sometimes much better. Plastic stocks?...gads, I don't have one and won't.

That said, there are good examples as well as poor or crudely done. If you can find the two books by Michael Petrov, you will get a fantastic look into the custom sporters and can judge all others by those he so beautifully photographed and researched. He was and probably always will be the one and only expert on these.
As far as value, you can safely say they are at least worth $350. That's a good shoot able rifle in decent condition with decent sights of one kind or another. Deduct for corrosion, sloppy drill holes, bad barrels and stocks. Some are simply not worth anything. On the up side, add for better optics, period as well as higher end. Stock condition, checkering, finish and fit.
Your particular rifle is a good example with some interesting features such as the sights. The Lyman 48 on the back is worth anywhere from $150 to $200 all by itself. Stocks like yours have been going for north of $125 lately. The rest of the gun, receiver, bolt, barrel, misc. parts, add another $200. As you can see, it adds up but you would also have the time and expense of selling all the parts if that was the intent and you have a narrow market, ie someone usually restoring or improving on dads gun handed down. I did that with my dads salt water trashed barrel a number of years ago. A sporterized Rem 03 I helped him bed when I was 10. I found a barrel, blued off a sporter that restored the gun back to how it was. Worth every dime to the brothers and myself...someone else??
Here are three sporters I've picked up over the years. I have picked up a couple more since. The top one is kind of special in that it has a heavier profile Springfield developmental barrel from 1945 on it. How it got there is unknown. It has all kinds of markings on the underside. The second one down is a Sp Mark 1, nice light rifle that shoots well. The third is a sporter made by some gi's for their retiring colonel. A bit crude in some area's, a bit unique in others. I also have a 1941 vinyl rifle case that came with it. All shoot well and I wouldn't hesitate to go hunting with any of them.



I hope this helps.

Kurt

[Bustachip3]

Interesting, all three look unique, but I like the one on top the best...nice "loopold" scope too. How do these rifles group compared to a regular military configured rifle?

Regards,

[Doco overboard]

Same groups, hopefully just a little Smaller!

[supercub]

[QUOTE]

[quote=Bustachip3;354671]Interesting, all three look unique, but I like the one on top the best...nice "loopold" scope too. How do these rifles group compared to a regular military configured rifle?

It's not an easy comparison when you're shooting iron sights compared to scopes. The top rifle has a 3-9 Leopold, the second one a 4 power Bear Cub and the bottom a Weaver 330 in 2.5 power. The Bear cub actually came with the top rifle so will always go with that one. I can shoot 3/4 or less at 110 yards with all of them and have shot 1/2 in groups a number of times. The best group I have had out of those three is the bottom one at 85 yards, one 3 shot hole. Seems odd a times how well the 2.5 power scopes shoot.
I have several 03's and A3's in military dress and can shoot all of them at 1- 1 1/5" groups with iron sights Most of those are two groove, these 3 are all 4 groove from the early 40's. Doco has it right on, just a little smaller. My 03A3 target gun on the other hand, 1/4" groups all day long...lol.
The top one is my choice for load development as the barrel is heavier and doesn't heat up nearly as fast as the others.

Kurt

[Bustachip3]

That's some purdy good shooting!

I would love to see a pic of that "03A3 target gun" that shoots 1/4" groups, it don't get much better than that, that's pretty much one hole.

Regards,

[supercub]

That's some purdy good shooting!

I would love to see a pic of that "03A3 target gun" that shoots 1/4" groups, it don't get much better than that, that's pretty much one hole.

Regards,

Here's the gun.





Kurt

[Bustachip3]

Thanks for the pic!

I think I saw that gun in your build post? For some reason I was thinking you were talking about a military 03A3..LOL. Anyway, that a nice rifle, it could be your "sniper rifle".
The big bull barrel means business, I guess you hooked up the trigger as well. Thanks again.

Regards,

[supercub]

Here's my military 03 with a Lyman sight. It shoots nice 3/4 groups and maybe better with younger eyes than mine. A lot like the OP sporter but retains the ladder sight and original Parkerizing. I have a couple different front sights I can use on it.



Kurt