New to me: Remington M1903-A3

[WebSmithEddy]

I got my first Garand a few months ago. I picked up this Remington 03-A3 (1942 or '43) while on a vacation road trip a couple of weeks ago. Now I just need an M1917 to complete my 30-06 American milsurp family. (I know, I should get a regular M1903, too, but for now the 03-A3 will have to represent.)

My wife and I went on a cross-country driving trip from Louisiana to Oregon to visit some of her family and friends. I took advantage of the situation by looking up and calling gun and pawn shops located in the towns we were passing through. My wife would make the calls sometimes when I was driving and she got good at the terminology (M1903, 03-A3, M1917 “non-sporterized”, etc.)

We hit a lot of dry holes on the way. Any milsurp rifles they had in stock were sporterized to the point of being unrecognizable. There were a couple of exceptions. In a Cabela’s “Gun Library” they had a few that they were way too proud of. Another gun shop had a very large selection of milsurp guns. When I told him that I was looking for a reasonably priced shooter, he pointed me toward his “beater” guns (his term). Except for a couple of parts guns, they were all over $1,000, so I thanked him for his time and left.

Long story short, I found a Remington 03-A3 in a town near Portland for what was a little toward the high end of what I was thinking of as a reasonable price. But, the fact that Oregon doesn’t charge any sales tax was a bonus!

There was a nail place next door to the gun shop, so my wife was happy getting her nails done while I negotiated and waited on the background check.

Pictures

Comments or insights as to what I have are welcome, especially regarding the stamps and markings.

• Serial# 3922XXX.
• --Oldguns.net puts that as 1942 manufacture
• --Vishooter.net puts it at August, 1943.
• Barrel date: 6-43
• Lots of cute little Rs on everything.
• The barrel has “IRM” stamped on it and a lot of other marks that I don’t know what they mean (such as a little heart and what may or may not be a tomahawk).
• Lots of stamps on the side of and underneath the receiver.
• The firing pin rod has a “1” stamped on the side opposite the “R” stamp.
• What appear to be the ordinance wheel and FJA cartouches on the stock are faint.
• It has the circle-P with a “2” underneath
• Four other marks on the stock in front of the magazine.
• Note that the sling wasn't part of the deal. I picked that up for a couple of bucks at a flea market on our drive back. The gun shop did throw in a used soft case for the rifle.

Before I shot it, I took it apart, cleaned, greased it, and documented the parts. At the range, my 50-yard groupings were much larger than my M-1 groups. I blame the fact that I had trouble seeing the front sight against the black “splatterburst” targets that I was using. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.) I’m going to try painting the back of the sight blade white and try again.

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]

Nice looking rifle, and the equipment display too...

[Rick the Librarian]

Oldguns is incorrect - the table that you checked has been discredited, even by the webowners. ViShooter is correct.

[Calfed]

Nice rifle and nicely posed with period gear.

[WebSmithEddy]

Thanks, Jim and Calfed. I did something similar with my M1, but got a little carried away and I think the photo is too busy.

Nice looking rifle, and the equipment display too...

---------- Post added at 03:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Thanks, Rick. Also, the chart on the Remington Society of America web site matches ViShooter. Which, I misread. The correct date of production on the receiver should be September, 1943. A nice companion to my M1 which is from December, 1942 with a '46 barrel.

Oldguns is incorrect - the table that you checked has been discredited, even by the webowners. ViShooter is correct.

[browningautorifle]

I think the photo is too busy.

Not really, now we have an idea of some of your stuff...which we like to look at too. You need a correct 1907 sling though. That Uncle Mikes has to go...

[garrettbragg12]

Thanks, Jim and Calfed. I did something similar with my M1, but got a little carried away and I think the photo is too busy.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tcucrq3r-1.jpg



---------- Post added at 03:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Thanks, Rick. Also, the chart on the Remington Society of America web site matches ViShooter. Which, I misread. The correct date of production on the receiver should be September, 1943. A nice companion to my M1 which is from December, 1942 with a '46 barrel.

Love this pic! I try to do allot of equipment based photos myself. Love the rack numbers. Really add character!

[WebSmithEddy]

Since I took that photo, it has gone, replaced by a web sling that I found hiding at the bottom of my box o' web gear. The leather sling in the photo was attached to my 30-30 for about 20 years and has since returned to it.

The leather sling in the 03-A3 photo came from a flea market and is missing a keeper, so I really need two 1907 slings. (Three if I ever come across a decent M1917.)

By the way, the M3 trench knife in the bottom right of the M1 photo was my dad's (MSGT-USAF, WWII, Korea). So is the canteen and cover on the left. The backdrop is his old pup tent, but reason it's wadded up is that something got into it and ate big holes in it. The rest of the stuff are things that I've acquired over the years, many from when I was a kid, "playing Army".

You need a correct 1907 sling though. That Uncle Mikes has to go...

[WebSmithEddy]

It was hanging on the wall behind the counter at a gun shop, and at first glance I didn't like the looks of it with the rack numbers, but it didn't take me long to fall in love with it. It shoots great, too.

Love the rack numbers. Really add character!

[browningautorifle]

I really need two 1907 slings.

Too bad you're so far, I have two to go. Thing is, you can probably get them cheaper down where you are...than these.