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**jefferson101** · October 20, 2010, 18:43

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

One comment, and two observations.

Comment would be that you don't say if it's an 03, or an 03-A3. The earlier 03's had some issues with going KB with modern ammo, if the S/N is below about seven figures. Just to mention it.

Observations are as follows....

First, if it's been refurbished by Gibbs, it's not "Authentic" any longer. CMP does authentic USGI Arsenal reworks, which are all good for the chain of evidence, but I don't know what Gibbs uses to repair and refurbish them.

Second, that's way too expensive. I swapped my last 03 straight up for an 03-A3 in nearly mint condition because someone liked the six digit S/N a lot more than I did. I shoot them. And I don't need a bad early receiver ruining my day at the range.

You get a WWI or postwar production one? I'd go about $400, for G+ to VG conditioned one. But something that someone else has messed with?

YMMV, but for myself? I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole.

**BruceNRALife** · October 20, 2010, 20:31

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Jefferson 101, I was interested in getting a good shooter, not so much a collectible. I did not know 03 rifles had a history of blowing up. I had read that P17 Enfields have suspect heat treating and many are not safe to shoot. AIM has cheaper 03 Springfields with green or tan plastic stocks for under $500, but if there are safety issues with firing modern ammo through these, maybe I should just stick with modern newly made rifles that come with a factory warranty.

**jefferson101** · October 21, 2010, 14:52

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Originally posted by BruceNRALife View Post

Jefferson 101, I was interested in getting a good shooter, not so much a collectible. I did not know 03 rifles had a history of blowing up. I had read that P17 Enfields have suspect heat treating and many are not safe to shoot. AIM has cheaper 03 Springfields with green or tan plastic stocks for under $500, but if there are safety issues with firing modern ammo through these, maybe I should just stick with modern newly made rifles that come with a factory warranty.

As I said, it's the lower S/N ones, mostly pre WW1 production that had the issues. I used to know what the accepted cutoff was for which S/N's were considered safe, but I'm not coming up with it right off the top of my head.

I would suspect that any reputable dealer handling them would not be selling the ones that are potentially flawed, but I would still check the S/N against the list, just to be sure.

Even $500 seems a bit high to me. I run onto an 03 or 03A3 around here every once in a while, typically in G to G+ condition, and they typically are asking $300 or slightly less for them. I got one for $150 a few years ago that Bubba had put a sporting stock on, but Bubba hadn't messed with the metal. I was going to put an original stock back on it, but wound up trading it off for something I wanted worse.

**BruceNRALife** · October 21, 2010, 22:21

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Jefferson 101, $300 sounds a lot better than the $500 to $700 that AIM is asking for them. Sounds like I need to do some more detailed research on 03 type rifles and check around. Thank you for the info.

**CAMPYBOB** · October 22, 2010, 07:34

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

The Gibbs reworks are 1903A3 type rifles.

They are all WW2 vintage and safe to shoot.

There were thousands of genuine USGI replacement barrels on the market, so Gibbs 'may' use a USGI replacement pipe...or they may not. Ask AIM. They'll tell you. Or call Gibbs. Almost all of the USGI mil-surp barrels that I've seen for sale are of the 2-groove variety.

The stock will be a new Boyd�s 'C' type. Good to go. Not 'authentic', but like you, I�d rather have a new 'C' than a USGI scant or semi-pistol grip (fugly). The 'C' type full pistol grip stock is more comfortable to shoot for most shooters.

The price of the Gibbs rebuild is OK. It's not a great deal and it's not a rip-off IMHO. A decent, used CMP 1903A3 in my area would be priced at $600 and probably more. Toss in a metal refinish and a new stock and you're easily looking at $800 or more.

Many CMP 1903A3's are in great shape and not in need of refinishing. Keep that in mind. Additionally, I've muzzle gauged a whole lot of 1903A3 rifles at Camp Perry and most of them showed to have lots of life left in those original barrels.

Seeing that the CMP is currently sold out of 1903/1903A3 rifles and the prices I see on gun show tables, either the Gibbs option or buying a CMP re-sale via one of the firearm auction websites are the two options I�d be looking at if I wanted another '03A4.

Now, for the best part of the story...

1903A3's are great shooters and the 2-groove barrels are often found to be more accurate than the 4-groove and 5-groove pipes. 2-groove pipes are reported to shoot-out faster. While that is logical, I've never known anyone to actually shoot one out of life and one of my neighbors is using his to shoot groundhogs. The sights are easy to use. While lacking the micrometer-like utility of the 1903 type sight, the 1903A3 sight offers a longer sight radius and the aperture style is easier for older shooters (read: failing eyesight!) to use accurately. Target acquisition is also faster.

I shoot a pair of Remington 1903A3's in competition and they are my all-time favorite military match rifles. I prefer them to my Swiss K-31's and Swedish M96 Mausers. They are absolutely better shooters than I can hold them.

**Roughneck Jase** · October 22, 2010, 18:19

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

If I had the money (since the Australian Dollar is on par with the US Dollar in the exchange rates recently), I would definately buy one of these rifles and have it imported to Australia.

**Roughneck Jase** · October 22, 2010, 18:25

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Originally posted by BruceNRALife View Post

Jefferson 101, I was interested in getting a good shooter, not so much a collectible. I did not know 03 rifles had a history of blowing up. I had read that P17 Enfields have suspect heat treating and many are not safe to shoot. AIM has cheaper 03 Springfields with green or tan plastic stocks for under $500, but if there are safety issues with firing modern ammo through these, maybe I should just stick with modern newly made rifles that come with a factory warranty.

BruceNRALife,

I saw those M1903A3 rifles that were fitted with green and desert tan plastic stocks over on the AIM Surplus website and I thought they looked pretty cool.

If Springfield Armory could put the M1903 and M1903A3 rifles back into production for the civilian gun market, it would be a good thing.

**Tread Head** · October 22, 2010, 19:04

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

I would like somehitng like those 1903A3 only I would like to see similar in .308 cal. Its easier to find the .308ammo than 30.06. Plus I havea good stock on the .308! LOL!

Tread

**ironlung** · October 22, 2010, 19:42

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Treadhead, two words : Israeli Mauser 7.62x51 IF you can find one ...

**BruceNRALife** · October 22, 2010, 21:27

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Okay, Campy, Roughneck, Treadhead, Iron Lung, the AIM 03A3's are sounding kind of interesting again.

**LEE7.62** · November 8, 2010, 15:08

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

I got in one of the "desert tan" stocked 03-A3s for a friend of mine who's son is coming back from 'Stan in December. It was reparked black and the stock is a plastic stock with a bed-liner looking spatter finished tan with dark brown spots. It feels good and easy to hold onto. I don't remember if it was a scant-C or a straight one. He said he was going to shoot the mess out of it to "break it in for his boy" but I haven't heard back from him. Gibbs did a nice job on it- it doesn't look like a drill rifle that they refinished. Don't know where they got them. The 03-A4s with the repro scopes look nice but up close they could have done better. Metal to wood fit could have been nicer and the scope wasn't very clear.

**CAMPYBOB** · November 8, 2010, 18:39

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Metal to wood fit could have been nicer and the scope wasn't very clear.

Boyd's lumber?

I heard the scopes were Chinese clones. Pretty authentic as the real McCoys are usually yellow, have the weird pointer reticle and allow little light thru due to the small tube/lenses.

I wonder how much money it would take to get Weaver/Leupold to do a re-make?

**Tanklet** · November 22, 2010, 14:05

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Do they have a gripping groove stock? Do they use stripper clips? Thank you in advance.

**CAMPYBOB** · November 22, 2010, 20:17

Re: Gibbs Refurbished 1903 Springfields

Having an original USGI receiver, they will use stripper clips.

Pictures from AIM show a 'C' stock that lacks the grasping grooves. This would be correct for a post-war type 'C' pistol grip stock.

There are a myriad of one, two or no recoil bolt combinations, grasping grooves v. no grasping grooves and straight, scant and pistol grip lumber for my old brain to properly keep track of! Same goes for handguards...and don't get the real experts started on correct blue v. parkerized parts, stamped v. forged/milled pieces, etc.