Thread: Questions about 1903 Sporterized 30-06

I have been looking into getting one and the chance came around recently. I spotted 2 of them for sale. One is a rock island armory and one is the actual Springfield both are in good condition and look the same to me but the rock island is cheaper is there a reason or is it just because its not a stamped Springfield? Is there any diffrence between the two that i am un aware of?

appreciate any info .

thanks

JP

There are so many variables here its impossible to give you an answer.

Are both rifles of the samebasic model? M1903 or O3-A3

Are either rifle of the Low serial number range? for Springfield receivers below 800,000 for Rock Island 286506 (do a search for Springfield low serial numbers to read the warnings)

Have both rifles been modified at the same level? do both have the original sights removed and drilled for a scope (this will totally ruin the military collectablity of the rifle)

Are both stocks the same?

Both have the same sights/optic's

Condition

And don't forget one seller thinks his is worth more then the others

Just for a start.

I have a M1903 Spring field made in 1918 the just barely falls into the low serial number range (more collectable less safe to shoot) its stock is just the military stock cut down and the middle band. It has had NO metal modification (except for the removal of the mid and upper bands) no holes drilled in it nothing that will keep me from returning it to military condition. I paid only $125.00 for it and got 2 boxes of ammo to boot. Yet to a collector its worth 3-4 times that and once the proper stock and the missing metal is put on it it will be $600.00 + rifle.

So as you see there are so many variables to a Springfield rifle that trying to judge value based on as little as you have given us is quite the challenge.

Originally Posted by Mark W.

There are so many variables here its impossible to give you an answer.

Are both rifles of the samebasic model? M1903 or O3-A3

They both appear to be m1903's

Are either rifle of the Low serial number range? for Springfield receivers below 800,000 for Rock Island 286506 (do a search for Springfield low serial numbers to read the warnings)

both are in the high SN range and should be safe to shoot from what ive read.

Have both rifles been modified at the same level? do both have the original sights removed and drilled for a scope (this will totally ruin the military collectablity of the rifle)

Not sure if they have both been modified to the same level, but both have had original rear sights removed and one says its been drilled and tapped (Springfield) where as the rock island armory one says it has a scope mount is that pretty much the same thing then? I am not buying them for military value and dont plan to ever try and resell them for such I just wanted a good shooting cheap 30/06 that i could target and hunting with.



Are both stocks the same?
Both appear the same.

Both have the same sights/optic's

Condition

And don't forget one seller thinks his is worth more then the others
Yeah the RIA is 50 cheaper than the Springfield armory one.


Just for a start.

I have a M1903 Spring field made in 1918 the just barely falls into the low serial number range (more collectable less safe to shoot) its stock is just the military stock cut down and the middle band. It has had NO metal modification (except for the removal of the mid and upper bands) no holes drilled in it nothing that will keep me from returning it to military condition. I paid only $125.00 for it and got 2 boxes of ammo to boot. Yet to a collector its worth 3-4 times that and once the proper stock and the missing metal is put on it it will be $600.00 + rifle.

So as you see there are so many variables to a Springfield rifle that trying to judge value based on as little as you have given us is quite the challenge.

LoL my intent wasn't to challenge i was just wondering if they was any major dif between Rock island armory and Springfield armory mainly that would be worth putting the extra 50 dollars into when buying a sported version. I will pm you with details so you can see the dif and let me know if you'd like.

also wanted to say thanks for the info so far.

JP