Somebody gave me an 03-A3 about 35 years ago. It had been partially "sporterized" by his father, with what appeared to be pocket-knife checkering.

I finished the job by adding a Fajen stock, having it drilled and tapped for a scope, added a low-swing safety, and bent the bolt handle.

It has an original 2-groove barrel with the "flaming bomb" ordnance mark and dated 9-43.

The barrel has a long throat but it shoots both the Sierra 165-grain HPBT and the Hornady 190-grain BTSP pretty well.


Keep your gun-hand ready and your eyes peeled.