Springfield M1903 & 1903A3, what’s the difference?

[@Blin240]

I prefer the 1903 in the original variant. It looks much better to me

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Agreed

[@jeremymendoza1465]

Most guns that were around WW1 generally were nicer like 1903, 1911, BAR, Thompson but WW2 because of production needs had to be made cheaper, faster

[@JM-lk6wo]

Appearance wise, yes. The aperture rear sight on the A3 is more accurate in shooting.

[@itsmrmo809]

agreed, if i wanted something that looked even remotely like the aa3 variant I would just get a 1917 enfield

[@JM-lk6wo]

@Alien_with_a_shotgun arguably, that rifle was a better 'battle rifle' than the 1903. Better, easier to use sights, more rugged than the 1903. But, the US Army, just like the British, couldn't get rid of the P17/P14 fast enough after WW-I.

[@kevinrice7663]

Good looking rifle's

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Thanks!

[@kmatford]

I would personally go for the a3 because the sights are easier to read

[@ptownrat3811]

Cheaper...but actually more accurate in the troops' hands. Peep was easier to grasp and longer sight radius.

[@azbag1906]

I love my 41 Springfield it’s got the ladders sights. The actions are amazing and they are very accurate.

[@ItchyPilauBoto]

Does yours have the semi pistol grip stock? My 1942 Remington M1903 does.. Its the best bolt action out of the couple dozen i own by far, way better than the a3

[@vicv7075]

Both great looking rifles i think the perfect version of these would be the A3 with blueing instead or parkerizing and with the older furniture also. Small changes but i think it would look amazing.

[@aleatricgaming5424]

the 1903a3 actually shoots very nice i have one that belonged to my great grandfather

[@1001CP]

Springfield and Remington made parkerized 1903 rifles for the Marines with the ladder sights, the scant stock and then semi pistol grip stock, gas vent hole and proper heat treatment. Love my matching 11/41 Remington 1903. Great short and basic overview of the 1903.A3 that included sniper rifles. Garands went to the Army first.

[@TheDailyKnife009]

My grandpa has one that was made around 1927-1929. It’s a good rifle despite its sporterized state

[@Raccoon12008]

I love this gun in enlisted its the starting rifle and one of the best

[@samy7013]

Ahh, the Springfield 1903, aka the US Mauser. 😉

[@JeremyS86]

these aren't cheap to find these days either. at least here

[@adamparris8353]

I have a 1931 manufactured m1903, but it has the 1903a3's stamped trigger guard/magazine, barrel band and nose cap. I hate that i love it.

[@user-wx6sf5sx4h]

Me personally, I would choose the 1903. I like it when rifles have finger grooves in the stocks like the Arisaka, Mosin, etc. I’m also much more used to using ladder sights.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

It is definitely a much nicer feeling rifle to hold, though I do personally prefer the A3 sights

[@user-rk4zm3nb5f]

My M1903 has a scant stock, no finger grooves, ladder sights.

[@sammartinez8084]

This is a great gun 👏👏👏👏

[@michaelpierson7256]

While i have the 1903-A1 & 1903-A3, i like the sights on the A3 a lot more, i would like to see an 03-A2 its a subcaliber gun for artillery training. It fits in the breech.

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

I’d certainly like to get my hands on one and try it out

[@twentypdrparrott694]

There is a difference in the steel of the action and barrel from what I understand.

[@Redneckvirginia]

Thanks for it

[@danielcotts8673]

IIRC The 03A3 had a two groove barrel. In late 1950s cost $15 brand new through NRA? program.

[@jaylockwood8701]

not to mention bad number i believe under 300,000

[@mafirearmsafety]

I have the 1903-A1

[@Kamal_AL-Hinai]

Top or bottom?

[@clydemarshall8095]

What about the barrels and front sights?

[@ItchyPilauBoto]

I have 2 1903a3s, one by rock island and one from Remington.. I also have a Remington M1903 from 1942 and it also has a “scant stock” or semi pistol grip stock, no finger grooves and the flip up leaf sights like the one you have on top… The 1903 is by far the best/smoothest bolt action i own, 2nd will be my VZ24 and 3rd will be my brno kar98, which is smoother than my russian capture Kar98k… Mosins can suck it and 4 of my Arisakas feel the same as the Kar98s 1903 for the win in my opinion.. Does anyone know why some have scant stocks and others dont?

[@j.ongman5512]

Nice mausers

[@USAFREEDOM]

I got ww2 with bayonet

[@scottemmert3845]

Not 100% accurate. I have a 1903, Remington made in 1942. It is made just like the WW1 model. It was part of the ramp up to produce rifles seeing the pending entry of the US in WW2. These rifles were built prior to the approval of the cost cutting steps and the labor reduction measures.

[@josegarcia-mn8ci]

Which out of the two would you Recommend?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

For actual use the 03A3, mostly because the sight configuration is such an improvement (this is an opinion of course, but it is pretty widely agreed on) the original 1903 is a lot more polished and nicer but the A3 is just more practical.

[@josegarcia-mn8ci]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry thanks for the input, I’m in the market for one, I’m a big fan of the older style rifle but I had a feeling the sight would be better on the a3

[@cecilguinard7828]

Lol mine looks like both at the same time 🤔

[@aninverse]

Nice mate. Do you know when the stock became more like a pistol grip?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

That’s primarily a feature of the A1 variant by my understanding, dunno the date off the top of my head

[@aninverse]

Thank you!@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry

[@5695q]

Did they have an A1 and A2 or did they hold off and combine those changes and call it the A3?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Just the A3, I’ve heard people refer to the early M1903 as an A1 but not commonly

[@Rocketsong]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry 1903A1 was a 1903 with a pistol grip stock, but the army did not re-mark the receiver. A2 was a subcaliber gun for artillery spotting.

[@MusicSoundPlayer]

Could the stocks be swapped?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Theoretically yes, except for the handguard

[@cameronchristensen984]

Anybody know where I can get my hands on the A3 model?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

It completely depends on where you are, I know a few places that have them in Oregon but if you live anywhere in the US you can check GunBroker, outside of that just check any local gun shops and pawnshops that sell used firearms

[@cameronchristensen984]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry sounds good thanks

[@jakeadair8292]

Isnt there a serial number range to look out for as they may explode when firing? Or was that a myth? Thanks, looking at them now👍

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

I have heard that before, I’m not sure what ones. I honestly thunk it came up somewhere in the comments section

[@jakeadair8292]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry thanks👍🤙

[@rslover65]

Pre 800,000 springfields are the one's to be concerned about.

[@jakeadair8292]

@@rslover65 thankyou for the reply!

[@chris.3711]

If a gun as going to blow up, they've had over 100 years to do it. You're good now.

[@doa_824]

Why does the original 1903 Springfield look newer than the 1903A3? It’s like they downgraded it 😂🤦‍♂️

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

They basically did, the sights were improved but the originals were of much nicer quality

[@diuhai541]

00:01

[@NgJackal1990]

Which one is better to buy tho?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Completely depends on what you are more interested in, the value is very similar. I, for example, find WWI to be fascinating so I went for the M1903 first, but I find the sights on the 03A3 to be better.

[@NgJackal1990]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry wouldn't ww1 barrels be like total wrecked?

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

@NgJackal1990 totally depends, a lot of them barely saw any use as they only made it to Europe a month or two before the war ended. Plus many were reissued for WWII and given new barrels, but in my experience the guns sent to the Pacific Theater in WWII are often the most beat up of them all

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

It’s all on a case by case basis in my experience, some of each model are brutalized and some are in near flawless condition

[@NgJackal1990]

@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry I see, thanks.

[@adamhauskins6407]

A1 1st class all the way A3 second class

[@Burningwhisky96]

the 1903 seems more durable quality wise

[@newedgegt7435]

People say the same about the Chinese SKS, they did the same stuff to make it cheaper but performance was never downgraded because of it. Both are great

[@matthewlyness8161]

Yeah but the 03A3 would out shoot that Springfield

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

Maybe, but not necessarily. I’ll grant that the 03A3 sights are easier to get used to, but it really just boils down to the shooter (and of course how shot out the barrel is in either rifle)

[@thxkur_sahab]

First Comment 💕

[@lancehurley9743]

Smelly mark 3 enfield is probably better rifle..jussayin

[@GreatNorthwestWeaponry]

In some ways yes, namely mag capacity and rate of fire, but I find both varieties of the Springfield to be far more accurate. And I’d still take the M1917 over either of them