WWII Remington 1903A3 CMP U.S. 03-A3 .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle 1943 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1375

LSB#: 220222TR003

Make: Remington

Model: 1903A3 (03-A3)

Serial Number: 4199074

Year of Manufacture: 1943 (page 375 of Joe Poyer’s book, The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition).
No Barrel Date

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine

Markings: The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. / REMINGTON / MODEL 03-A3 / 4199074”. The safety is marked “SAFE READY” and the magazine cutoff is marked “ON OFF”. The underside of the bolt handle, rear of the bolt assembly (twice) and the magazine cutoff are marked “R” for Remington. The barrel band is marked “U”. The left side of the stock, above the trigger, is marked “C.M.P. in a box.”

Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a pinned blade. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight marked from “2-8” on the top and “0” with hash marks on the rear.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The new production hardwood stock was made and marked by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). It has a pistol grip, metal nose cap with bayonet lug, stacking loop, 2 barrel bands, 2 sling loops, 2 through bolts, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. The buttplate shows scrapes. The wood shows scrapes, scratches and compression marks. The most prominent marks are next to the front though bolt; both sides. The LOP measures 12 7/8 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original to CMP Rebuild

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The grooves near the muzzle are semi bright due to fouling. The fouling should clean up some. The rifling is deep. There is no erosion. The bore shows an M.E. of -0.2 (negative 0.2).

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its metal finish. The metal shows scattered scuffs, light scrapes, and small scratches. There are more prominent marks on the trigger guard and front sight. The receiver and bolt show operational wear. The screw heads show moderate use. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: None

Our Assessment:  When the US Army was looking for a rifle design to replace the 1898 Krag rifle, they looked directly at the Spanish Model 1893 Mauser. This was due to the fact that the performance of the Model 1893 Mauser was far superior than that of the 1898 Krag during the Spanish-American War. The Model 1903 is basically a redesigned Mauser clone. A U.S. Patent Court eventually found that the U.S. Army had violated Mauser’s patents and required the U.S. Army to pay the German Mauser manufacturers patent royalties. Payments were stopped once WWI started. The 1903 has a strong reliable action that served the Army for over thirty years in two world wars. The 1903A3 is an improved version of the 1903 rifle that was introduced in 1942. The most significant change was the switch to a receiver bridge-mounted rear aperture sight.

This Remington Model 1903-A3 has been rebuilt by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). THe receiver and bolt and small metal parts are USGI parts. The barrel and stock are new production items that were added by the CMP. The rifle has deep Remington markings on the receiver and little “R” stamps on some of the metal parts.This is a good looking rifle with a strong & bright bore. It will add to your collection and should do well at the range. Good luck.

WWII Remington 1903A3 CMP U.S. 03-A3 .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle 1943 C&R
WWII Remington 1903A3 CMP U.S. 03-A3 .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle 1943 C&R