I'm thinking of replacing my remington 700 in .308 for building up a 1903a4 type rifle. The gun is used mostly out to 1000 yards msot the time I'm shooting in the 600-800 range. I really REALLY like the looks of the 1903a4's and am wondering about the gibbsrifle repro's. I was going to start using my rifle in tactical long range matches around my area and they usually consist of a two man team shooter and spotter. I will be partnered with my buddy who is on the local sheriff dept S.W.A.T. as a sniper/observer we will be switching roles as shooter/spotter. I'm wondering if one of these rifles will perform as well as my remington? What kind of accuracy can be expected of these rifles? How do the barrels hold up? I realize they are not of a real heavy contour but not a very light one either. I'm basically wondering if it's worth the trade of to have a rifle I think looks awesome. Also is there a way to put iron sights on the a4's to possibly shoot iron sited for fun every once and awhile?
- Thread starter chriso
- Start date
Re: 1903a4.
I searched and couldn't find anything but I did a google search and a old thread on here came up and they don't seem to be of very good quality. Guess it was to good to be true. Seemed like it would be a fun gun.
I searched and couldn't find anything but I did a google search and a old thread on here came up and they don't seem to be of very good quality. Guess it was to good to be true. Seemed like it would be a fun gun.
Re: 1903a4.
I think there are repro iron sites tht will fit the A4. I heard the gibbs rifles were pretty good. Most of the ones I have read about hold about an inch and a quarter. There are certain drawbacks with the 1903 action. There isnt a whole lot of machining you can do for blueprinting due to the lack of material. I dont see any tactical style stocks, nor many bases for scopes aside from standard 2pc weavers. Barrels are barrels, you can most likely get a heavy contour barrel done for it. Mcmillan would be a good start for a stock. I have seen universal picatinny rails that could be drilled and probably machined to add some MOA for your scope. I think it would be a cool project, but I think some $$$ and custm stuff will be in order. Good luck to ya.
And yes I did some research for a friend of mine who has a sporterized version. Its nice, but it has a 50's era 3x Bausch and Lomb scope that isnt worth the metal its made from, and the stock is cracked. Another friend of mine has a good repro that all of a sudden wornt chamber a round. Its like the chamber shrank and the round only goes half way. Make sure you check the rifle out good, bring a dummy round to check functionality, and give it a good visual.
I think there are repro iron sites tht will fit the A4. I heard the gibbs rifles were pretty good. Most of the ones I have read about hold about an inch and a quarter. There are certain drawbacks with the 1903 action. There isnt a whole lot of machining you can do for blueprinting due to the lack of material. I dont see any tactical style stocks, nor many bases for scopes aside from standard 2pc weavers. Barrels are barrels, you can most likely get a heavy contour barrel done for it. Mcmillan would be a good start for a stock. I have seen universal picatinny rails that could be drilled and probably machined to add some MOA for your scope. I think it would be a cool project, but I think some $$$ and custm stuff will be in order. Good luck to ya.
And yes I did some research for a friend of mine who has a sporterized version. Its nice, but it has a 50's era 3x Bausch and Lomb scope that isnt worth the metal its made from, and the stock is cracked. Another friend of mine has a good repro that all of a sudden wornt chamber a round. Its like the chamber shrank and the round only goes half way. Make sure you check the rifle out good, bring a dummy round to check functionality, and give it a good visual.
Re: 1903a4.
I don't think that the Gibbs reproductions are "bad" per se in comparison with the original rifles in terms of performance with proper ammo, etc., but people seem to get a misplaced idea that the original 03A4 rifles were in some way the holy grail of sniper rifles and that they were capable of astounding acts of accuracy, etc. Well...they were a big improvement over the service rifles of the time in terms of long-range accuracy, etc., but they were still service rifles, tuned slightly for duty as a sniper rifle and equiped with a scope. Not a major development or advancement in terms of abilities.
The original 03A4's were capable of approx. 2MOA accuracy or perhaps slightly better. The Gibbs reproductions I have seen were/are capable of about the same accuracy. The weak link of the Gibbs is the crappy reproduction scope.
Here are a couple different SH threads on the Gibbs rifles...
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1316906&page=1
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1287095&page=1
As to your question about performance at 1,000 (comparable to your Remington 700)...NO. While the 30-06 is more than capable of outstanding long-range accuracy...you aren't going to do it with an 03A4 reproduction rifle sporting a crappy chinese scope. Using it in "tactical matches" would be like showing up to your next IPSC even with a 45cal cap and ball black powder revolver. While the Gibbs and other 1903-type rifles are excellent for reenactments, period-correct bolt gun matches, etc., you won't be close to competitive with one in a modern tactical rifle match.
I don't think that the Gibbs reproductions are "bad" per se in comparison with the original rifles in terms of performance with proper ammo, etc., but people seem to get a misplaced idea that the original 03A4 rifles were in some way the holy grail of sniper rifles and that they were capable of astounding acts of accuracy, etc. Well...they were a big improvement over the service rifles of the time in terms of long-range accuracy, etc., but they were still service rifles, tuned slightly for duty as a sniper rifle and equiped with a scope. Not a major development or advancement in terms of abilities.
The original 03A4's were capable of approx. 2MOA accuracy or perhaps slightly better. The Gibbs reproductions I have seen were/are capable of about the same accuracy. The weak link of the Gibbs is the crappy reproduction scope.
Here are a couple different SH threads on the Gibbs rifles...
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1316906&page=1
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1287095&page=1
As to your question about performance at 1,000 (comparable to your Remington 700)...NO. While the 30-06 is more than capable of outstanding long-range accuracy...you aren't going to do it with an 03A4 reproduction rifle sporting a crappy chinese scope. Using it in "tactical matches" would be like showing up to your next IPSC even with a 45cal cap and ball black powder revolver. While the Gibbs and other 1903-type rifles are excellent for reenactments, period-correct bolt gun matches, etc., you won't be close to competitive with one in a modern tactical rifle match.
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