03A3 needs new barrel

Ozzieman · March 3, 2013, 11:28 AM

A friend has an M1903A3 that’s in very good shape but the barrel is pitted.
Anyone know a good gunsmith in the north east that is well known for rebuilding 03’s and would have barrels.
I have found barrels for sale but can’t find any one with experience with 03’s

tobnpr · March 3, 2013, 01:10 PM

Any smith will be able to re-barrel the 03, there's nothing unique about the receiver or the barrel.

If he's OK with an aftermarket barrel, Criterion (and others, I'm sure) make short-chambered barrels that can be "DIY" installed with minimal skills and a reamer and "go" gauge. Reamers and gauges can be rented from places like 4D:

http://www.4-dproducts.com/index.php

Mobuck · March 5, 2013, 06:56 PM

Actually rebarrelling an 03A3 is nearly the same as for the older Win Model 70. The Spfld has a cutout for the extractor and a coned breach like the M70.
Mausers use a flat barrel face w/o extractor cut making them easier/cheaper to rebarrel. Spfld also has a different type of barrel thread. I've rebarrelled a couple using brand new replacement barrels that only required an action wrench and barrel vise. When tightened fully to place the extractor cut in the proper spot, the headspace was perfect. The replacements were setup to be installed in the field by unit armorers w/o need for a lathe or other tooling.

March 3, 2013, 11:28 AM	#1
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	03A3 needs new barrel A friend has an M1903A3 that’s in very good shape but the barrel is pitted. Anyone know a good gunsmith in the north east that is well known for rebuilding 03’s and would have barrels. I have found barrels for sale but can’t find any one with experience with 03’s __________________ It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe. Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe.

March 3, 2013, 01:10 PM	#2
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	Any smith will be able to re-barrel the 03, there's nothing unique about the receiver or the barrel. If he's OK with an aftermarket barrel, Criterion (and others, I'm sure) make short-chambered barrels that can be "DIY" installed with minimal skills and a reamer and "go" gauge. Reamers and gauges can be rented from places like 4D: http://www.4-dproducts.com/index.php __________________ Remington 700/Savage Rebarreling /Action Blueprinting 07 FFL /Mosin-Nagant Custom Shop/Bent Bolts Genuine Cerakote Applicator www.biggorillagunworks.com

March 5, 2013, 06:56 PM	#3
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Actually rebarrelling an 03A3 is nearly the same as for the older Win Model 70. The Spfld has a cutout for the extractor and a coned breach like the M70. Mausers use a flat barrel face w/o extractor cut making them easier/cheaper to rebarrel. Spfld also has a different type of barrel thread. I've rebarrelled a couple using brand new replacement barrels that only required an action wrench and barrel vise. When tightened fully to place the extractor cut in the proper spot, the headspace was perfect. The replacements were setup to be installed in the field by unit armorers w/o need for a lathe or other tooling.