Seeing as I bought an all matching and nearly mint Remington 03A3 in Pennsylvania for 650 after tax and transfer, I'd say that's your best bet for a starter. Absolutely fantastic rifle for the price.
Can I be adopted?
Please, Dad?
I would love to get the name of the PA shops that do good business. Why would I choose an 03 vs an 03A3? It will be a range gun, not a wall ornament.
03a3 has the rear peep. easier to sight and tends to be more accurate to shoot.
I would love to get the name of the PA shops that do good business. Why would I choose an 03 vs an 03A3? It will be a range gun, not a wall ornament.
In general, and I am not an expert, having recently acquired my first '03, but some really basic background on the '03 that may be helpful in your search
The '03 is basically the rifle used pre WW2 , Starting 1942, the 03A3 was an "upgrade", Same barrels, but different rear sights, and some parts stamped instead of milled. Although the M1 Garand became the standard infantry rifle in 1937, 03 and 03A3's were used throughout WW2, with the 03A4 (sniper version) coming out I think sometime around 1942/43, (rear aperture sight removed and scope mounts added).
The 03's were made by Springfield (mostly) and RIA. Early rifles (referred to as low number 03's) had questionable metal heat treating techniques (heat treated by "eye") and are considered by some to be possibly unsafe to fire. A search will tell you the serial number range of the "suspect" rifles (below about 800,000 for Remington and 250,500 for RIA). I don't think any A3's are in that unless maybe they were arsenal refurbished with early receivers.
I found it interesting the the "battle sight" for the 03 was set for 570 yards!
My son wants a 1903 Springfield for Christmas. Who doesn't.
It does not have to be a beauty queen, but it has to be safe to shoot.
Where do I start, and how do I not get ripped off?