Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Remington 03-A3 same as Springfield?

Hi all, need an expert opinion here, I'm looking at getting a sport stock for my Rem. 03-A3 military (shortened barrel) 30-06. The seller says it will fit the remington built 03-A3 springfield, Are they the same gun? Mine says nothing about Springfield, When I looked up the S.N. on mine I believe it was 1940's, Thanx in advance, Vern.

The 1903 Springfield is the designation of the design of the standard issue military rifle. The A3 is a later version in which an aperture sight replaced the ladder sight.

During the war, this model rifle was manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal, Winchester, Springfield Armory, etc. Your rifle may not say "Springfield" (the place of manufacture), but it is a 1903 Springfield, and all the parts and stocks fit it.

Awesome, Thanx Lee, Pretty sure mine is the later version since it has aperture sight, it's never been shot, I guess I should shoot it before I go buying goodies for it, Vern.

Any Sporter stock that will fit the M1903 weather built by Springfield, Rock Island Arsenal, Or Remington, will also fit the M1903A3 weather built by Remington or Smith Corona.
Depending on aftermarket barrel contours you may have to do some inletting. HTH
Rob

1903 Springfield Tribute Page
A tribute to the 1903 Springfield and the men who carried it in the World Wars

http://www.m1-garand.com/1903_Springfield.htm

During the war, this model rifle was manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal, Winchester, Springfield Armory, etc. Your rifle may not say "Springfield" (the place of manufacture), but it is a 1903 Springfield, and all the parts and stocks fit it.

Trying not to confuse the issue, the Model 1903 was made by the Springfield Armory, the Rock Island Arsenal, and also by Remington. The Model 1903A3 was made by Remington and also by Smith Corona.

There are a few subtle differences in the 1903 and the 1903A3 rifles that could make a difference in the stock. The main difference is in the shape of the cutoff housing and the general shape of the tang. In general it usually works to put a 1903A3 in a stock that was originally inleted for a Model 1903 but the reverse can often leave gaps in the stock along the metal in the two areas mentioned. Sometimes the barrel channels can be a bit different also in a sporter stock because of the different rear sight arrangement between the two as has been mentioned.

If the stock you plan to use was originally inleted or semi-inleted for a Remington 1903A3 you should have no problem. I have had problems though when I tried to put a Remington 1903 into a stock that was originally made for a Remington 1903A3. It does help to know for sure what you are dealing with especially when you hear the phrase "Springfield made by Remington".