Springfield '03A3 Calibre Options

Hi everyone.

This is just an idle thought at the moment, since I have some other stuff planned for the near future, but here goes. A couple years ago I picked up a sporterized Remington 1903A3 (pics will be added later, I'm writing this at the gym). It's not a pretty job but it's not the worst, and it's set up for a scope only with no provision for irons and no way to easily add them.

Since it needs a little cleanup and some work, I've been thinking about having it rechambered as well instead of keeping it .30-06 but I'm not sold on the idea. .35 Whelen seems the best option but is there something else? .333 Jeffery, maybe?

Thanks,
W.G.455

Building those actions in 308 Norma Mag was popular back in the day when folks were sporterizing them regularly.

Mekaniks said:

Building those actions in 308 Norma Mag was popular back in the day when folks were sporterizing them regularly.

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I was wanting to keep it pre-WWII at least, to stick with the overall vintage nature of most of my other guns, despite the rifle itself being a WWII one.

There's always the saying of "Go big or go home".
375RUGER and 416RUGER both fit in a 30-06 action.
Although not exactly a pre-WWII cartridge, it could be your next DG rifle.
As for a scope, add a 1-6x and you are all set!!!

338-06 makes good sense too. Or if you like the .323 bore, there is the 8mm-06. You will either be re barreling or reboring so the world is your oyster. Lots of great rounds to be had.

it would be 35 whelen for me, I have three right now. a ruger #1, a Remington 7600 and a custom 98 mauser. in the ruger and custom you can make a 225 gr bullet haul ass at over 2700 fps with a heavy load of H-4895

Well , you need to look at your Serial numbers on the gun and ask a Gunsmith to look up yours and see if it has the correct metal. I work in a Gunsmith shop part Time (supports my Addiction) and do allot of restoration and Smith work Currently I am building two of my own on this action. one was a 300 win mag with a bad barrel that a customer sold me. I bought a 35 barrel to go 35 Whelen but have decided to go .358 Norma Mag Instead. With The other action I am going for a bigger bore but still undecided. These actions are plenty strong as long as you are in the correct serial number sequence.
I am a retired Alaska Huning Guide and plan on taking it back for a Gen. Purpose Hunting Rifle.

I Guided with a .338 Win Mag on a Sako L61R action and absolutely loved it. Of Course Rifles are Like shoes and Boots. Why just have one when you can have more. I used my Mod 70 7mm Rem Mag for Everything else. If 7mm was not enough then the .338 went.
It picked up big Bear and Moved them a few feet up and a few Yards Back and completely put them Down and out End of Story.
But.. I am Older now' I like my Truck Engines bigger with more torque and Bullets with bigger Diameter and More Weight! Small Bullets start at 300 grains and Big bullets Start at 400 Grains for me.
The 7Mag is Mostly a shelf Gun and a Spare Rifle for the last few years. I bout it when I was very Young and can not Bear to Mothball it. It is certainly my Go to Gun if I have to Hit Something at Distance. Any ...Something at Any Distance. i do Like Solids for this. Lays Them in Tight. Shape is a consideration for B.C.

The .35 Whelen is on Parr with a .338 Win Mag at close range and similar Bullets. No Slouch here with the Whelen

THE Question IS:

What are you Gunning For? What does it Take To Do that? and at What Distance? (one Question)

Secondary Question IS:

What Bullets are AVAILABLE to Accomplish This SAFELY.

Third:

what does it Cost to do this?


Last:

What can YOU (or all Shooters ) Handle?

.35 Whelen is Hard to beat for all around work unless you are truly on Dangerous Game.

Then Bigger is better to a Point.

I am Looking for a .404 Jeffry for my Big Bore African Rifle( Not 03A3) and the 358 Norma for my small rifle(03A3).

I have Too Many Mauser Actions to build up yet. Too Soon Old, Too Late with Money Too Do it with.


Well if you post the series or look it up online you can find out if yours Qualifies for high pressure Rounds.



If it has not been customized yet...Better Check it out and then proceed.

If you don't Check it out? Stay Safe and go .35 Whelen

Or .338-06

Alaskabob said:

Well if you post the series or look it up online you can find out if yours Qualifies for high pressure Rounds.

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If you're talking about the single-heat-treated 1903s, this is from way after that, so I don't think that'll be an issue. Remington production, October 1943. Pics still incoming, haven't had a chance. It's already been customized (more or less).

Any Remington 1903 or Remington or Smith Corona 03A3 is of the later heat treat type and steels and completely safe for any sane load. Nothing to do with the early case hardened '03's by SA or Rock Island that were brittle.

If I were going to rebarrel an 03A3 I would look hard at the 9,3x62. For a re-chamber the .308 Norma would get the nod. I had a Springfield reworked to the Norma round several years ago and foolishly traded it off.

I agree with you on the 9.3x62. I keep forgetting that because it does not cross my path much. It certainly has advantages and bullet weight options. Thanks for bringing it up.

Strong enough but it's a good idea to fix the slow lock time on these old military rifles, Springfield, Enfield, etc.

BobT said:

If I were going to rebarrel an 03A3 I would look hard at the 9,3x62. For a re-chamber the .308 Norma would get the nod. I had a Springfield reworked to the Norma round several years ago and foolishly traded it off.

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Alaskabob said:

I agree with you on the 9.3x62. I keep forgetting that because it does not cross my path much. It certainly has advantages and bullet weight options. Thanks for bringing it up.

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As a matter of fact, as soon as I get a good Mauser 98 to build off, that's my next/current project focus. I'd rather do a German rifle in a German calibre, y'see, and use British/American for 1903s and Enfields.

The 308 Norma and 35 Whelen were the traditional conversions but I have a friend that inherited his father in laws O3A3 rebarreled to 25-06. It was obviously done in the 60’s by some local gunsmith. It’s still a very accurate rifle today.

Depending on the planned use, the 6.5-06 would also be an interesting rifle to own.

I'm not very fussy and kind of old fashioned. I had my '03-A3 converted to a 35 Whelen. While he was at it I had the "smith" install a Timney Trigger & Safety all stuck in a Boyd's Laminated stock. A properly loaded 35 Whelen doesn't leave very much on the table when compared to the Magnum rounds.

200 yard group(I pulled the one out on the right) with my custom 35 whelen with a 225 gr bullet with a heavy load of H-4895, built by vanpatton on a 98 mauser action.

As promised, here are some pics of the rifle I've got. It might not be easy to tell, but the rear receiver bridge has been partially removed with a replacement scope mount soldered/welded in place. I'm not sure how the one on the barrel is attached but it looks to be a ring around the barrel and probly soldered in place. Near as I can tell, they're for one of those long Unertl-style scopes like the USMC used on their sniper rifles. That funny looking thing at the muzzle is just a little sleeve someone pinned and welded over it, presumably to act as a sort of mild barrel weight.

Call me strange but why not just keep it as a 30-06 with a new barrel?

OK, you're strange.