Remington 03-A4 Sniper 1903A4 .30-06 Sprg. 24″ Bolt Action Rifle 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $5375
LSB#: 210419MB67
Make: Remington
Model: 1903A4. Sniper Version of the 1903A3
Serial Number: 3418378
Year of Manufacture: 1943 (page 375 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition) Barrel Date: July, 1943
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “U.S. / REMINGTON / MODEL 03-A3” and the right side is marked “3418378”. The top of the barrel is marked “R A / flaming bomb / 7- 43”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “P”. The safety is marked “SAFE READY” and the magazine cutoff is marked “ON OFF”. The magazine cutoff, front sling loop, stacking loop, rear sling loop base, underside of the bolt handle, right of the nosecap, rear of the safety, extractor collar, and right rear of the bolt are all stamped “R” for Remington. The bottom of the grip is marked with a “circled P” proof. The left side of the stock above the trigger is marked with “RA”, crossed cannon cartouche, and “FJA” in box. There are a few stampings on the bottom of the stock in front of the bottom metal. There is a stamped “S” in the trench block cut of the stock.
The adjustment plate of the scope is marked “MODEL 330 / PATS. PEND. / W.R. WEAVER CO. / EL PASO, TEX., U.S.A.”. The right side of the scope at the rear has been hand inscribed “TELESCOPE M73B / SERIAL NO. 9783”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front and rear sights have been removed to use the scope. The top rear of the receiver has an integral male dovetail. A one-piece Redfield Jr. scope mount is secured to the integral base and screwed to the receiver. The mount has two scope rings attached. The rings & base show a couple of scuffs, spots of mottled thinning, and oil stains. The screws show light use. Overall the rings and one-piece base are in about Very Good condition. The rings hold a Weaver Model 330 scope. The scope has some scattered nicks, scratches, and spots of oxidation. There is thinning on the edge. The most noticeable marks are on the top at the front and on the right side at the rear. The edge of the objective lens housing is bent. The scope has a fine crosshair and the glass is clear, in about Very Good condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two-piece oil-stained hardwood stock has a pistol grip, metal nosecap, stacking loop, two barrel bands, two sling loops, two through bolts, cutout for the bolt handle, scallop under the magazine cutoff, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. The cutout for the bolt handle is slightly swept to the rear to match the 1903A4’s modified bolt handle. There are a couple of scattered compressions and draglines. There are a couple of marks through the finish, the most noticeable is on the handguard behind the rear barrel band. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some light finish loss, a few scabs, and a few minor scratches. The stock rates in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The two grooved bore is bright with sharp rifling. There are scattered spots of very shallow surface erosion. The bore shows an M.E. of 0.8.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 94% of its metal finish. The bottom metal shows some light thinning on the edges, little scratches, and spots of oxidation. The receiver has light handling wear and a couple of small oil marks. The barrel shows some scuffs, little scratches, and some oil marks. The reprofiled bolt has some mottled thinning and light discoloration on the handle. There are some light scuffs on the cocking piece and standard operational wear on the bolt. There are a few light handling marks on the remaining metal. The screwheads show use with lightly worn slots. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety lever works but does not turn past the rear of the scope. This is a design flaw due to the expedited implementation of the 03-A4 Sniper Rifle during war time. This condition is common for 03-A4 Rifles and not unique to this rifle. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a scope assembly; see above. Also included is a CMP case.
Our Assessment: This Remington Model 1903A4 Sniper is a Nice example of a WWII Military contract sniper rifle. The rifle is in the correct 1903A4 sniper configuration and has the correct serial number to fall within the 1903A4 serial number range (see page 357 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition). It has lots of Remington marked metal parts and its receiver markings are offset to read them with a scope base installed. The handle is slightly bent and excess metal has been trimmed away to allow the bolt handle to fully open with the scope mounted (page 205-206). The rifle has a nice metal finish, strong bright bore and a stock with nice markings. This rifle has a 2 grooved bore, according to page 352 to 353 of “The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations 3rd Edition” by Joe Poyer, Remington sniper rifles were made with 2 and 4 groove barrels depending on availability. This one has a nice Weaver scope with clear glass and a crosshair reticle, it has a good bore and will make for an excellent addition to your collection. This rifle is one well worth collecting. Please see our photos and good luck!