[duramax79]

i was givin a remington 03-a3 #4062907 today .....any advice on its( value) and if how to( maintain) or shooting it is safe?? this is my first rifle so im green !! haha.... seems to be stock and has (ra) stamped on the wood stock and tip if barrel along as well with (fja)on the stock..... and the( on/off) tab near the chamber seems like a "safety", but doesnt seem to lock it?? thank you, for any rough value estimates and advice is thankfull

 

[duramax79]

if my post needs more details for my requsted advice please ask..

im on arizona time ,i will check every few days for replys ! thank yu fellas and gals

 

[sputnik1988]

That stock has been sporterized so it does hurt the value a bit, you may be able to find another stock, beautiful rifle though.

I'm no expert for sure, but I've seen them for $700-$1000, it's not a cheap rifle.

Also, I can't really tell, but if the bolt handle is straight rather than swept back , it's ill-advised to shoot it, something about the early bolts being brittle.

 

[duramax79]

response

thank you, my grandfather left it behind for me. the lever is angled down versus strait? if that helps any,,also any advice on cost and quality of just range shooting bullets?

 

[duramax79]

not familair with term of sporterized? like damage or dings?

 

[Colby]

He means the gun has been changed to make it look less military and more like a sporting rifle - a hunting rifle like you would buy at a store. Most the changes are usually done to the stock - getting a more sleek look, etc.
This is a common thing done to military rifles.

I can't comment on your particular gun. I'm not familiar with it. But I like all old guns.

 

[sputnik1988]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. by 'straight bolt', I mean't bent at a 90 degree angle (1st pic) versus swept back as in the 2nd pic.

I Like the Prvi partizan (IIRC) ammo for fmjs, but I normally just buy 150 grain Federal at Walmart as it's easier. All 30-06 ammo is expensive ($0.60-$0.80 a round.)

Sporterized is a term meaning that the stock and or sights have been modified to be more like a sporting or hunting rifle rather than a military rifle.

 

[duramax79]

for colby

thank you friend,,i posted a few more pics to round off my questions about rifles and this one in general..any help would be great

 

[duramax79]

gotcha..your advice is helpfull, i posted more pics after your reply of bolt action to help you see better...and the on/off tab option that seems like a safety ,but doesnt seem to lock the trigger in my use? if you have spare time ,im about to purchace a taurus .45 cal 24/7 handgun in mint to only shot once condition with a few clips included this week for $250.00. would u say thats reasoable $ in your experiance?

 

[sputnik1988]

That looks like a swept bolt handle, I'd say it fine to shoot. Brown bear ammo is also available and somewhat cheaper if you don't intend to start reloading your spent casings

Taurus can make a good handgun, most people turn their noses up at them, but much of the bad publicity is unwarranted. $250 is very reasonable. and they shoot pretty well in my experience.

Also, it's a magazine, not a clip, common misconception.

This is a clip.

 

[duramax79]

mag is the word i was looking for...thx, the handgun shoots well cuz i was the one of few to shoot it when new, only concern was how loose the magazine feels upon firing it , almost like the stock mag. doesnt fill space tight enough ? its probably normal , reason i ask is of the glock does have same feel

 

[sputnik1988]

mag is the word i was looking for...thx, the handgun shoots well cuz i was the one of few to shoot it when new, only concern was how loose the magazine feels upon firing it , almost like the stock mag. doesnt fill space tight enough ? its probably normal , reason i ask is of the glock does have same feel

Most magazines will have a little wobble in them. In the gun world (to a certain extent) 'loose' means reliable, 'tight' means accurate, you need a balance between the two.

Taurus also has a lifetime warranty, so if there is an issue, they should take care of it.

 

[Colby]

mag is the word i was looking for...thx, the handgun shoots well cuz i was the one of few to shoot it when new, only concern was how loose the magazine feels upon firing it , almost like the stock mag. doesnt fill space tight enough ? its probably normal , reason i ask is of the glock does have same feel

A little off subject - but it is your thread...
It sounds like you have some history with this Taurus - perhaps you know the owner?
I'm just gonna throw this out there:
Taurus does have a generally not so shiny reputation with many gun people. Myself - this past year I bought a new Taurus semi-auto. It had many problems. I sold it off quickly. The problems were not limited to my handling of it - I had two friends use the gun, and both had the problems and both disliked the gun - one refused to shoot it anymore after one magazine.
The problems were failure to feed, jam, stovepipe, and ... it even ejected casing back towards your face hitting your forehead at times! Not only that, for it's caliber it had a harsher recoil than another brand that I went to.
It was not a 45, though.
I know this is not really what you want to hear... But, boy, I did not like that gun!

The price you are dealing for is good, though ... if you can get the company to make the gun function well for you.
But you may be haunted by Taurus reputation - if it is your intent to keep it for only a short time and try to sell afterwards.

 

[c3shooter]

Regarding your rifle- as said, having been modified, has lost a LARGE chunk of the value. That WAS about an $800-$900 rifle.

The On-OFF is not a safety- it is the magazine cutoff. In the off position it is a single shot. See HERE for more info- http://www.surplusrifle.com/03a3/operations.asp

Regarding safety- it would be prudent to have it checked by a gunsmith. SOME early 03s had a heat treatment problem- this is from the Civilian Marksmanship Program:

WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS

M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.

To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.

In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.

Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles.

A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes).

CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.

CMP ALSO DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE, REGARDLESS OF SERIAL NUMBER, WITH A SINGLE HEAT-TREATED “LOW NUMBER” BOLT. SUCH BOLTS, WHILE HISTORICALLY CORRECT FOR DISPLAY WITH A RIFLE OF WWI OR EARLIER VINTAGE, MAY BE DANGEROUS TO USE FOR SHOOTING.

You may be able to find the parts to return your rifle to it's military state- will not be cheap, and will not restore the full value of an original rifle.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufac...d1903A3-42095/PartsList-42071.htm?results=All

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufac...gfield1903A3-42095/StocksHandguards-42072.htm

Regarding ammo- your rifle is capable of shooting any standard 30-06 cartridge. The M1 Garand has limitations on ammo since it is gas operated. Your rifle does not.

 

[duramax79]

Reply for colby

Yep..my buddys new gun we fired as new from box!! Im considering to buy it from him for the price he got it, or too high from a gun show booth(dealer) we questioned if was reasonalble $,, asking for advice if was a good deal before i invest..i really enjoy holding ,that gun as it was mine in my question, i guess? Ha

 

[duramax79]

Yep

most magazines will have a little wobble in them. In the gun world (to a certain extent) 'loose' means reliable, 'tight' means accurate, you need a balance between the two.

Taurus also has a lifetime warranty, so if there is an issue, they should take care of it.

im new to the gun owner club,always been out hunting and shooting off friends guns forever it seems, no vetran but beyond safe buddys, so the terms i use are off point vetran terms...i will take your good helpful advice , but i will say, most would take the same adviceas semi insulting . From the way it reads back, but no harm no foul bud ...im learning everyday, help from replies like yours are great...thank you

 

[duramax79]

most magazines will have a little wobble in them. In the gun world (to a certain extent) 'loose' means reliable, 'tight' means accurate, you need a balance between the two.

Taurus also has a lifetime warranty, so if there is an issue, they should take care of it.

, im thankfull for your help , i just needed to mention your advice is professional as i hoped..... But as a friendly suggestion it could be taken negative by some in that context ....,well i can't say (thx enough !) enjoy your monday and keep the advice going for rook's like me !!

 

[DrumJunkie]

gotcha..your advice is helpfull, i posted more pics after your reply of bolt action to help you see better...and the on/off tab option that seems like a safety ,but doesnt seem to lock the trigger in my use? if you have spare time ,im about to purchace a taurus .45 cal 24/7 handgun in mint to only shot once condition with a few clips included this week for $250.00. would u say thats reasoable $ in your experiance?

The On Off tab deals with the mag. They where designed to allow a full loaded mag to no tallow rounds to feed from the mag dependent on the position of the switch. This was an ammo saving thing mad up by higher ups. You could load the mag then chamber a round and loading it like a single shot unless you needed to fire faster.

Fantastic rifles by the way. They can get shoot at some impressive ranges.

 

[locutus]

The hard receivers were on early 1903 Springfields, NOT 1903A3s.

ALL 1903 A3 rifles are safe to shoot if in good condition!

The 1903 has an open sight. The 1903 A3 has a receiver (peep) sight.

The rifle in the picture is a 1903A3.

 

[303tom]

Here is all I can tell you, don`t know if it will help or not but I have seen em go unmolested for as much as 2500 bucks, now read this & ask yourself, is it safe ? Yes they are SAFE...............