Milsurp After Hours

This rare bird (in England) turned up at the range last weekend and the owner kindly let me shoot it and then photograph it. I was told there are only 4 in the UK and this particular example is featured in Martin Peglars book on sniper rifles.

You will have to bear with me on this one Gents as my knowledge of 03`s extremely is limited, please feel free to add comments or correct any mistakes on my part.

Two shots of the rifle itself, the stock is, i believe the "scant grip" model.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407034.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407033.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407032.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407028.jpg[/pic]

Lt. Col. Frank J. Atwood

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407027.jpg[/pic]

Dated 12-43

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407030.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407037.jpg[/pic]

Receiver marks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407036.jpg[/pic]

The M73B1 scope and Redfield mount

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407026.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407035.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407025.jpg[/pic]

Hand-etched serial number indicates an early production scope

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 407029.jpg[/pic]

I did`nt find the 2.5X M73B1 a particulary good scope, the sight picture was very dark and picking out the longer range targets hidden in the gorse bushes was a little difficult. Having said that i had just switched from shooting the Accuracy International .308 fitted with a "super duper you just cant miss at 1000yds scope" so perhaps i am being a little unfair.

I very much enjoyed the opportunity of shooting this very fine example of a classic and historic American rifle.

Joe

looks the mutznutz Joe. Very envious

Bloody good post as per usual Joe. Pics are great. Interestingly the barrel on my 03A3 is stamped 6-43 same year as that one. The rifle looks in good condition. I have never seen an A4 in the flesh, my mate told me he knew a guy that was selling one a couple of months ago and was looking for £2600 for it. I don't think it was in as good a condition as the one in your pics.

Regards

Ian

That is a fine looking sniper rifle Joe. Thanks for posting the pictures.

I've not seen one that nice over here!

John

You tell him about the rust in the front sight cut out? Tsk, tsk.

2600 Pounds is $5799Cdn. That's a bit high here. I doubt the guy would have any problem selling it for that kind of money Stateside. Given the condition. Some of our Southern cousins would go into apoplexy over shooting that one.

Paid $175Cdn for mine in the early 80's. No original scope though. Just the bases. Never had the money to spend on one. They ran about $200US when I bought the rifle. That was almost a week's pay then. The 2.5X to 8X I have on it works just fine. 168 grain match bullets with IMR4064 and regular large rifle primers produces one hole groups off a bench, if I do my part.

The barrel isn't correct.

You can tell from the wear pattern that the barrel in question has, at one point had a front sight assembly attached to it, as such, it's not an 04 barrel, but an 03-A3 replacement, if I'm not mistaken.

Here's a quick bit of 1903A4 info...

All Remington 1903A4 production was in 1943 and fell between serial numbers 3407088 and 4998320. Remington made all 29,964 Model 1903A4 rifles. 1903A4 receivers were all marked MODEL 03-A3, but the markings are offset to be readable when the Redfield Junior scope mount base is installed. Some but not all Remington 1903A4 serial numbers have a Z prefix. Model 1903A4 rifles fall in three serial number blocks: 3407088 to 34427087, 4992001 to 4999045, and Z4000000 to Z4002920. It is speculated but not verified that scrapped receivers which were recovered had a letter 'A' hand stamped before the serial number.

Am I blind, or is there MODEL 1903-A3 on the receiver?????????

Should that not be A4???????????????

No. They should be marked 1903A3, but the roll marks and serial numbers are moved slightly so they can both be read when the scope mount is in place.

No rifle was ever marked 1903A4.

Have checked the rest of my photos PB, unfortunately i dont have a pic of the s.n. The wear to the barrel never registered with me. Thats an interesting observation though, as the rifle has been examined my Martin Peglar, curator of the Royal Armouries, and he is considered an expert in the sniping field.

I will mention your points to the owner next time i see him and see what he says.

Do you think it has been rebarrelled?

Joe