What to look for in a 1903a3

shocker998md · Apr 5, 2021

Looking for input from the guys doing this long than me. Since cmp no longer sells 1903a3s ive been Leary about dropping the coin on any ive found locally. I have a sporterized remington, but it was done pretty nice and want to leave it as is. Id rather find a solid 1903a3 rifle to get out and use.

So I found a very nice looking springfield locally, but with a price tag of 1500 bucks and the shop not having any info on it or being known for milsurp stuff I cant bring myself to that gamble.

Ive had some great encounters with some folks here, so is my train of thought of watching the cmp forum my best bet?

Now that i have an m1917, an hra m1, and a springfield m1a I want to round out the collection of rifles used by fellow Marines and pick up a decent shooter a3.

Thoughts?

ken792 · Apr 6, 2021

Condition is probably the number one thing to look out for. There were so many unused 03A3s that there’s no reason to buy one with any visible pitting in the bore or a worn one unless it’s very cheap.

The USMC is not known to have officially received any 03A3s, but they did manage to have about 800 of them to turn in to the Army in 1955. How or why they had they is still a mystery.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=249274

CMP still sells 03A3s, just not by mail order. Talledega is still open, but North and South Store are currently closed so they can catch up on mail orders and process 1911 applications.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=279248

CMP is currently still planning to have the Eastern Games at Camp Butner, NC. They’ll be hauling out a limited number of rifles to sell, which could include 03 and 03A3s.

https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/eastern-cmp-games-cmp-hp-rifle-matches/

atblis · Apr 6, 2021

When was the last time CMP had 1903A3s at Butner for sale (not drill rifles)? I think it's been quite a while.

ken792 · Apr 6, 2021

If you want a USMC rifle or likely USMC rifle, then it has to be an M1903 with USMC features or documented by serial number to be USMC.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=250996

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=172318

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=237217

atblis said:
When was the last time CMP had 1903A3s at Butner for sale (not drill rifles)? I think it's been quite a while.

Not sure, but since they’re hauling rifles out, there is a greater than zero chance

atblis · Apr 6, 2021

I think it's been several years.

Doco Overboard · Apr 6, 2021

atblis said:
I think it's been several years.

I cant remember from last time I was there, I was too busy humping out the WWII ammo cans from the front of the road tractor trailer packed with Loose M2 ball.
And then carrying off all the discount CBI barrels I bought from outside the trailer they didn't want to take back to the store.
I had to drive out to Bluefield WV right afterwards for work and dragging all that stuff around with me in a compact suv rental for a few days

JamesDong · Apr 6, 2021

I paid $810.00 for one 2 years ago in arsenal rebuild condition at Gettysburg, absolutely beautiful. At the time I thought I paid top dollar but now it looks like I bought Home Depot for 100 dollars a share. Better get em when you can.

noahhh · Apr 6, 2021

USMC didn't receive 1903A3's. M1903's and M1903A1's were used by the Marines until replacement by M1's. 03A3's never made it into their pipeline. (I know, never say never. But I have never seen a photograph of a Marine carrying an 03A3 either.) I bet no self respecting Marine would've tolerated a crude sheet metal M1903A3 anyway! They didn't want much of anything to do with 1903A4 Sniper rifles either. Not a heckuva lot of 03A3's saw combat in Army hands either, being relegated to MP units, guards, training camps, etc. - the bulk of them that made it overseas were funneled into the hands of Allies who were desperate for arms.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Apr 7, 2021

I've read that the Marines did receive at least some numbers of 1903A4 rifles...but reading that doesn't mean it actually happened. It could be they received them post-WWII. Even during WWII the Marines wanted Winchester Model 70s for sniping purposes but that was denied based upon logistical issues of injecting a non-standard rifle into combat areas without a spare parts and service net for it. It seems it was Vietnam before the Marines actually fielded the Model 70s taken from the shooting team inventory.

ken792 · Apr 7, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
I've read that the Marines did receive at least some numbers of 1903A4 rifles...but reading that doesn't mean it actually happened. It could be they received them post-WWII. Even during WWII the Marines wanted Winchester Model 70s for sniping purposes but that was denied based upon logistical issues of injecting a non-standard rifle into combat areas without a spare parts and service net for it. It seems it was Vietnam before the Marines actually fielded the Model 70s taken from the shooting team inventory.

They did and are also pictured using them.

https://usmcweaponry.com/usmc-national-match-m1903s-m1903a1-unertl-sniper-rifle/

Czechnologist · Apr 7, 2021

Some good info in this thread! I always wanted a nice 03A3, K98k and Enfield from this era. Who was it that said, the Americans had the target rifle, the Germans had the hunting rifle but, the Brits had the battle rifle? I'd still take an 03A3 over any of them.

What to look for in a 1903a3

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