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1903 Springfield Rifle question?

Rebel_James
What's the difference in:

a 1903 Springfield Rifle and a 1903A3 Springfield Rifle?

What does the 'A3' after the 1903 mean?


Thanks,

James





"If they won't give us good terms, come back and we'll fight it out."
-- Gen. James Longstreet
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    The A3 refers to the 3rd major modification of the original design. The '03A3 incorporated changes to make manufacture easier, cheaper, and faster. The '03's complicated barrel-mounted sight was changed to a receiver peep sight, the stock was changed, and much of the furniture like barrel bands, magazine floorplate and trigger guard, etc. were changed from milled parts to stamped parts.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Sights, minor stock diferance, cost of production.
    The designator (A3) denotes a modification to the origional standard 1903.


    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • Contender Man
    also believe that almost all of the contract manufacturers changed to 2 groove rifleing, which had little effect on accuracy.

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • Rebel_James
    Thanks for the quick answers. Is one any better than the other quality wise?

    Thanks again.

    James

    "If they won't give us good terms, come back and we'll fight it out."
    -- Gen. James Longstreet
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  • jonk
    Well quality depends. For accuracy, function, etc. not really, but the very early plain 03s had problems with poor heat treatment of steels.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • mark christian
    Well quality wise the 1903 is much better built than the 03A3 with fit and finish far superior to the later rifles produced by Remington and Smith Corona. In my own opinion the finest exampes of the M1903 service rifles (we are not talking about match rifles, we are talking service rifles) are those from Springfield Armory which have the double heat treated receivers. This double heat treatment was very costly and time consuming but yeilded a remarkably hard wearing surface on the receiver, but still retained inner receiver core which would "stretch" and not shatter like the low numbered receivers. The later nickel steel receivers gave good service, but they lack the very smooth action of the double heat treated examples.

    Mark T. Christian
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  • Der Gebirgsjager
    The answer to this question is one of perception and opinion. The '03s originally had some metalurgy problems resulting in some receivers being brittle. These are referred to as "low number Springfields". These problems were worked out, but it was never a problem with the '03A3s. On the other hand, if you prefer milled furniture, the true '03A3 never had them. As for actual shooting, both perform equally as well. The late World War II sniper rifle was based on the '03A3, but probably because that was the version then in production. I own a couple of examples of each, personally prefer the '03, but just because I like the way it looks and have no logical reason for the preference.
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  • duckhunter
    I LIKE THE O3A3 BECAUSE I CAN USE THE PEEP SITES BETTER THAN THE FOREARM OPEN SITE. I THINK IT IS CALLED "AGE"

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • Oklahomabound
    Just traded off a m1903... really liked the old site arrangement... like the way the rifle handled... look out for the low serial numbers; the comments regarding the receiver heat treatment was an issue... look the parts over really carefully. Several info sites available, dedicated to the m1903.
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  • Contender Man
    If it is an early model 03 get it checked out to make sure it was re-worked to handle higher pressures. Aside from that it is the difference in workmanship and milled versus stamped parts.

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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