IA Born Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Two-groove rifling was common in the WWII rifles. In 1942, Smith Corona went to 2-groove rifling to speed up production. I believe Remington followed suit shortly after. Accuracy was not supposed to be affected, which would be obvious in the 1903A4 sniper variation (all/most 2-groove). Just send the first half of the SN (X,XXX,000). Not that I'll do anything with your info, but I just don't like seeing whole SNs flying around the web. Never know who is watching for what and I can tell you what year it is based on those first 5 numbers. I'll look for your PM and get you the year of manufacture as soon as I get a chance. I hope someone jumps on this deal! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scooter Report post Posted November 5, 2013 My milsurp education continues... Thanks IA Born!!! Sadly, I think I know more about Russian and Eastern euro milsurps than I do about the guns our side used!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 If you look on the bottom of the barrel lug you might see a stamped S on it, if it does you have a "sniper" series barrel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted November 6, 2013 />My milsurp education continues... Thanks IA Born!!! Sadly, I think I know more about Russian and Eastern euro milsurps than I do about the guns our side used!!! No worries! All my buddies love ARs abd AKs, but I love the classics. The original 1000-yard, open sight rifles! The .30-06 history has been an infatuation of mine for a long time! And to correct myself, Smith Corona didn't start production until 1943, so Remington started with the 2-groove rifles in 1942. Either way, somebody buy this awesome rifle!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRYCE CANYON Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Two-groove rifling was common in the WWII rifles. In 1942, Smith Corona went to 2-groove rifling to speed up production. I believe Remington followed suit shortly after. Accuracy was not supposed to be affected, which would be obvious in the 1903A4 sniper variation (all/most 2-groove). Just send the first half of the SN (X,XXX,000). Not that I'll do anything with your info, but I just don't like seeing whole SNs flying around the web. Never know who is watching for what and I can tell you what year it is based on those first 5 numbers. I'll look for your PM and get you the year of manufacture as soon as I get a chance. I hope someone jumps on this deal! If I send you the numbers on my 03A3 can you tell me more about it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted November 6, 2013 If I send you the numbers on my 03A3 can you tell me more about it? Glad to! I brought my book in with me to look up the year of manufacture for Chopshop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Chopshop, based on the SN you provided me, you have a Remington Arms Springfield 1903A3 manufactured in 1942, specifically late 1942. You would obviously have to verify, but it suggests that it is a 2-groove barrel, which would go along with the Dec 1943 barrel stamp. As I said earlier, the 2-groove barrels were supposed to have no difference in accuracy from the 4-groove barrels. In its original configuration, it would have had a receiver mounted aperture sight just like on an M1-Garand. Being a late-1942 manufacture suggests that this rifle was made from stamped parts, not milled parts. If it was milled, there would be an "R" stamped on all of the metal parts. This was a way to speed up production, but the quality of stamped parts was not any less than those from milled parts. There was a real good reason that soldiers came back from WWI and WWII and grabbed surplus 1903s to be sporterized for hunting. Civilians caught on as they borrowed rifles from their veteran friends. I seriously doubt my wife will say yes, but I will ask her about this rifle. I want a sporterized 1903 in my collection to go with my 1918-manufacture 1903 (original condition). If not, I truly hope someone grabs it up. Its a great deal on one of the best rifles ever made!! GOOD LUCK! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chopshop Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks for the info IA Born. At the end of the day, if I have no takers, I won't be too heartbroken. I'd like to sell it to use the proceeds for a new set of binos. Thanks again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRYCE CANYON Report post Posted November 7, 2013 Sorry to highjack your thread Chopshop but maybe we can get you some more "views" on the sale of your gun. Unfortunately my gun has been sporterized and is not as nice as yours but Iowa is right, old school is cool. They don't make them like that any more. I think you should sell a different gun and keep your 03. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted November 8, 2013 That's a beauty, Bryce! When I just sent you my PM, I didn't see your entire post and that it has a completely aftermarket stock. That's a beauty! Chopshop, here's another bump for you, but I kind of agree with Bryce. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
