1903 Sporter Question (pic heavy)

[Walsh]

Hi, went in a pwn shop today and was looking for an 03' rifle that was sporterize to be built into a custom rifle. I found one for $370, but I talked him down to $260. Thinking about buying it tomorrow. It is an Springfield Armory rifle serial number 429xxx that has been drilled for scope mounts, 3 up front, 2 rear. The bolt handle has been scalloped and the bolt has some shine to it. Trigger is a stock one. Fajen wood stock, 22" bare sporter barrel. This rifle will be used with iron sights only of that matters.

Is it worth it? Here are some pictures.

Like I said, this will be the last rifle for a very long, long time, so I need it to be a solid choice. Or would it just be better to buy a stripped reciever from AIMsurplus: http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.as...ion&groupid=12

Thanks ya'll,
Walsh

 

[n64atlas]

I believe that is what they call a low number Springfield. The receivers were not heat treated correctly.
Information On M1903 Receiver Failures

 

[mtrmn]

I consider it worth 260, but if your going to re-barrel and re-stock anyway then not so much. I just like the old rifles and seeing just how well I can get them to shoot without much modification.
I couldn't get the link to work for some reason. I did go to the website and found the receiver. I've never built nor had a rifle built, but 130 for that seemed reasonable to me. But I'll wager by the time you get one built you'll have a lot of money in it. Somebody a lot more educated than me will be along shortly I'm sure.

 

[Walsh]

I'm not getting it, the low number scares me to much, I don't feel like risking body parts for it.

Think I'm going to get the Remington Stripped reciever. Thanks ya'll!

 

[Peconga]

I'm not getting it, the low number scares me to much, I don't feel like risking body parts for it.

Think I'm going to get the Remington Stripped reciever. Thanks ya'll!

Good choice. Can't see the pictures but either a Remington 1903 or 1903-A3 receiver will make a great basis for either a sporter or retro-sniper. As a general rule I would advise against using a low-number Springfield (SN < 800000) or Rock Island (SN < 285000) to build a rifle for anything but a display piece or very occasional shooter with modest loads. Keep looking at those "Bubba" sporters and a good one will turn up eventually.

Also be alert to commercially made 1903-A3 rifles which show up occasionally, usually marked "Sante Fe" or "National Ordnance". These were made with investment cast receivers and have a horrible reputation for porosity and poor heat treatment. On the plus side they were assembled with surplus U.S.G.I. parts for everything else, so can be a good parts gun if bought cheaply enough.

As for barrels, you can still pick up brand-new 1903-A3 arsenal replacement barrels for $175 to $200 shipped on various collector boards. These will be 1943 or 1944 dated Remington manufacture, with a two-groove bore, still packed in original grease and wrapping paper. Very accurate and will time perfectly on just about any original un-modified 1903 or 1903-A3 receiver.