A few years ago, I realized the rifle I bought a few years back for a $100,was actually an A4, not an A3 like it said on the rifle. Verified by serial number, curved bolt, US Remington, and serial number on the side. Bad news was that someone had put a sporterized half stock from Herter on it. Thankfully they left all the metal alone, so I only need the wooden parts. Also have the scope mount. I have been trying to source a stock, but I may have to settle for a repro. One comment on your stock, based on my research, is that it may be an early version “c” stock. After a short time they begin using what was called a “ scant stock, which had much less of a pistol grip shape. Very good article.
Thank you for the information! Also good for you on that find! I have wanted a Real 1903a4 for a very long time however they are very expensive. Thank you for watching the video!
I have some of the original 330 scopes and have one on my Remy 41 1903. They are just a ball to shoot super accurate and just plain cool. Apparently there were not all that many 330 scopes at the factory and the story goes that many gun shops and mostly hardware stores (that back then sold EVERYTHING! Our hardware store in town in the 50s 6os had the guns, scopes, and parts for your car and tractor) were visited by military personnel and the scopes there purchased and put right on the rifles until the military designation could be put on them going out of the factory. There were two model 330s-One with small screw driver, dime adjustment turrets and the second a large tactile click adjustable wheel turret ( that became the standard for the scope produced at the factory. Some had the cross reticle and others had the single post. Yours has the later one, as you said, more for the Garand Sniper which had the cross/post reticle. BUT it is a fact that there were ones made in the field and probably factory with both scopes just to get them into the field since at the beginning especially the US HAD no sniper program! NOT even talking about the USMC scope on their produced rifles that actually slid backwards when fired! Just an overview, not detailed addition of my two cents. Really nice review of a terrific rifle. Maybe NOT the THE ONE but close enough to ping ta quite a ways away for fun for all of us with them. Those lucky enough to have the real thing COOOOL!!! Im a collector now for the last heading on 20 years or so years and passed one up for a different rifle a few years back. By backside stays sore from me kicking myself every time I think about that!!! Take care and be safe my friend!
Thank you so much for this comment. I apologize for not responding sooner as I am not very savy with the youtube. However, Thank you again and I am glad you are able to enjoy this wonderful piece of history as well!
Interesting video; thank you for posting. Question: You state the A4 was outfitted with match grade quality/air gaged barrels, can you tell me the source of this info.
Absolutely, and thank you for watching. It is listed in many books relating to US sniper rifles one to mention is US Marine Corps Scout Sniper. However there are many more that mention this.
I finally got my hands on one however idk if you had this problem but I had 2 of them. 1. My bolt was super stiff, like not impossible to open but it does have its strain. 2. My scope is a Alaskan Lyman 2.5 power scope. For some reason no matter what I do my crosshairs are like impossible to see. Yes I did turn the rear eye piece but all it does is kinda make the crosshairs appear. I also noticed dead center of the crosshairs there is a black dot. It’s very tiny and I’m thinking it’s a target reticle. Overall it’s a fantastic weapon, I have not fired it yet however with the scope being the way it is I wouldn’t be able to use the scope. It’s like as if the crosshairs are almost non existent so it feels like I’m just looking through a weak magnifying glass.
Congratulations on getting one of these beauties! Sometimes these old scopes are just worn out... Unfortunately that happens. On the bright side there is a few companies out there that make great reproduction optic. Try looking at Hi-lux if you haven't yet. Thanks for watching!
@@mitchell3042 I bought a red field scope that has a 1.5-4x magnification it may not be the Same scope but the looks and the ability to zoom in 4x is nice. I just went shooting with my personal own handload 3006 and got a .75 moa out of it
I thought that they had to have 3 stock cross pins, or whatever they are called. And a bent back bolt arm.. ? Mine has the same looking sling. Would have liked to see the butt cap or shoulder end of the stock. Thanks for your video
I was lucky enough to find the mount with the screws. Try ebay or vintage optic searches online. There are a few companies that sell old mounts and screws. Maybe numrich?
first you need a professional gunsmith because a milling machine is required. Second, why would you modify the receiver of an original rifle when there are plenty of the 1903-A3's out there for cheap?
@@BillyReed68 There are also the no tap mounts that sorta wedge in ant tighten between the sight block and forward receiver and looks a lot like the tap model. I have the style that you remove the magazine cutoff and it screws and locks down on there. Definitely not authentic, but works well and easily restored in two minutes.
@@1001CP Mine is as it was in WWII. 1903-A3 Tapped modified rail. I can still take the Ring Rail off and mount the original iron sights Not the 2nd modified no tap version of "Saving Private Ryan" fame. Do you still have the original optic?
Wow.... You need to go back and read up on this rifle some more. The Remington 1903 (03 A4) .30-06 Springfield was a 1903 (03 A3) with a scope mounted to it. The rear site was removed and the receiver dovetail was utilized with two holes drilled into the top of the receiver to accept the mounting rail. A Weaver 7/8" ring set and x2.5 optic were mounted. This rifle was made pre-WWI (hence the designation 1903), NOT during or for WWII. It was part of an old stock pile of weapons that was utilized in the opening stages of WWII and modified for the optic and handed over to sharpshooters (later to be designated as "Snipers"). This helped alleviate the pressure on the roll out of the new M1 Garand during the early stages of WWII. And I know this because I have a real one! Stock stamped FJA. Re-barreled IN 1943 (post 700k serial #) and it shoots like a Cadillac at 1000 yrds.
You are correct I never said anything you didn't. The 03-a4 was in fact built off a 1903 a3. However the 03 A3 was not produced in WW1. Also the barrels for the 03A4 were hand selected. Production of the 03A4 took place during ww2
M1903 production was discontinued in favor of the M1903A3. The most noticeable visual difference in the M1903A3 was the replacement of the barrel-mounted rear sight with a smaller, simpler aperture rear sight mounted on the rear of the receiver; it was primarily adopted in order to speed familiarization by soldiers already trained on the M1 Garand, which had a similar sighting system. However, the leaf spring providing tension to the elevation adjustment on the new aperture sight tended to weaken with continued use over time, causing the rifle to lose its preset range elevation setting.[18] Other modifications included a new stamped cartridge follower; ironically, the rounded edges of the new design largely alleviated the 'fourth-round jam' complaints of the earlier machined part.[18] All stock furniture was also redesigned in stamped metal.
@@BillyReed68 we are both talking about the same thing. I was just talking about the different model of the 1903. It's called the 1903 because that's when it was designed obviously.
@@mitchell3042 your rifle is fine, will work just fine for the vintage sniper class, i personally dont care for the scope mounted forward, one picture in a manual has them this way, now everyone thinks its correct, its not lol. as for the comments.. yes, its looks just like a genuine A4, the orginal scope would have been a M73B1, but, they did use the M81 and M82, both were just Lyman Alaskans, then the M84 and lastly the K460B, enjoy your rifle. i own a few real ones,
