What Caliber should I Re-Barrel to?

[amlevin]

Many years ago my Dad purchased a 1903A3 from the Government. A nice "High Number" Remington built rifle in excellent condition. He had it sporterized back in 1950 and shot it very little, maybe 20 rounds after he got it back. It sat in storage from the time of his death in 1962 until a few years ago.

The barrel is a 4-groove dated 10-42 and still shoots remarkably well even though the bore is somewhat "frosted" from the muzzle, back about 10-12" from lack of proper care.

The Action is almost pristine save the work the Gunsmith did when sporterizing it. I'm interested in rebarreling it in a new caliber that I can have some fun with, shooting some long range targets.

I'm looking for a recommendations that would not require a bolt change and would feed well from the existing magazine/rails. Something nice and fast, perhaps?

What say you all?

 

[GSPV]

I think that you'd spend more money updating it than buying a used, ready-to-shoot Savage or Remington.

If it was me, I'd clean it up, and keep it for the memories.

 

[amlevin]

I think that you'd spend more money updating it than buying a used, ready-to-shoot Savage or Remington.

If it was me, I'd clean it up, and keep it for the memories.

Already did that with a 5-R Milspec. I like projects and since I don't spend money on Booze, Smokes, or Wild Women, what else am I going to waste money on??? 8) 8)

BTW, the old modified stock is gone. The barrel and action now reside in a Custom Stock I hand made over a two year period of time. The barrel is the last item I want to address.

 

[Longshooter70]

I'm a big fan of the old '06. It will shoot a wide variety of bullet weights and can be made into a long range hammer. Easy to find brass, easy to load for, huge bullet selection. If you want to plink with factory ammo, it can be found anywhere. That's just my 2 cents... Good Luck on your endeavor!

John

 

[K22]

The 30-06 is probably one of the greatest cartridges ever developed.

With that said, if target shooting is your purpose, I'd personally opt for something with less recoil thus more pleasant to shoot.

For a long action rifle, perhaps the 25-06 would meet your needs for a long range informal target shooting. Very accurate cartridge, easy to load and components readily available.

If recoil doesn't bother you, the old 30 06 would work just fine for your purposes especially if you are already set up to reload this cartridge. Match bullets a plenty are also availble for this cartridge which is another advantage.

 

[Steve Blair]

If you don't like the wonderful .30-'06, go with one of the derivatives. Like: .280, .270, 6.5-'06, .25-'06. A .280 just won the F-Class Nationals in David Bailey's hands and any of these cartridges can shoot very well. Sticking with the basic case size will eliminate any potential feeding or magazine issues.

 

[MrMajestic]

Don't ask German as we already know the answer! My vote would be for the .280AI although just because it is a long action doesn't mean you can't go for a long throated shorter cartridge. The .280AI with a fast twist would be the "Cat's Pajamas" for the new 195(?) grain Berger. JMHO

 

[jonbearman]

I think it would be a shame not to rebarrel it to 30-06. In the long run,how much do you plan on shooting it? If it were my dads,it would go back the way it was.There are 03-a3 barrels to be had,and if it is a 2 groove or 4 groove it doesnt matter.I have a 2 groove that has a couple pits in it and it is a hammer for sure.I would sell you mine butI cant let it go right now.By the way,I have a custom sporter in a walnut aaaa stock with the best checkering I have seen and it has the original barrel all polished . I love the thing,and will never sell it.

 

[wapiti25]

6.5-06 would be a good choice.

 

[WyleWD]

6.5-06 would be a good choice.

IF you want to change calibers, I'll definately second the motion for 6.5-06. Fantastic round and inherently accurate.

The first "varmint"rifle I bought with my own money ($65.00) was a Remington 03-A3. It sits above my fireplace now after many years of service. I just couldn't bring myself to change it. : WD

 

[amlevin]

6.5-06 would be a good choice.

IF you want to change calibers, I'll definately second the motion for 6.5-06. Fantastic round and inherently accurate.

The first "varmint"rifle I bought with my own money ($65.00) was a Remington 03-A3. It sits above my fireplace now after many years of service. I just couldn't bring myself to change it. : WD

If it wasn't so "changed" so much already I'd go for the "Mantle Hanger" suggestions.

The 6.5 and .280 suggestions have already been considered. Of the two, what are the pro's/con's of each?

 

[jonbearman]

The pro for the .280 is you can buy the ammo or brass.The cons with the 6.5 is forming and fire forming otherwise if you are really wanting to change from 30-06 one of my favs then either one would be acceptable. Both bullets seem very accurate to strat with but the .280 wont need custom or special dies to load them. One last note,you can AI the .280 and get a case that wont grow much as with all AI cases. Have them chamber it to a reamer length so when forming .280 lapua and you can use lapua 30-06 brass which after forming is slightly shorter than factory brass.Ask expiper on this site what he thinks of his .280AI.Just drop him a note and he will fill you in on what to do.

 

[WyleWD]

The 6.5-06 does not need to be fireformed. Just run 25-06 through the resizing die, load and shoot. IMHO either those two would be a good choice. I chose the 6.5 because of lower recoil, accuracy, and a flat tragectory.

If you have a ballistics program, run some theoretical and compare both to each other using a 120 or 140gr bullet. Then watch what happens to each after 300 yds. WD

 

[pdhntr]

Or.........just load the 25-06 cases with 25 caliber bullets and shoot. 8)

Jim

 

[GSPV]

You have the entire 308 family to work with in addition to the 30-06.

I'm having a long-action M70 Winchester rebarreled in 260 Remington. The long action will allow me to use the full 260 case with VLD bullets.

 

[dogdude]

amelvin, I personally would stick with the 30-06, my favorite fun gun to shoot steel informally with, just love the BANG-CLANG sound. if a different cartridge is the way your going the 6.5-06, 25-06, you've got the brass!!if you need info for the 6.5-06, check out Bob Pastor at BR central, he has as much info on the 6.5-06 as anyone on the planet. all best dogdude

 

[ebb]

If I had an 03A3 action I would seriously consider building a vintage sniper rifle with it. There are alot of competitions and intrest in the WW1, WW2 and Korean sniper rifles. There is a heading on the rifles and someone always post a list of competitons at Snipers Hide. They can be any thing that was a sniper rifle in the past (enfield, M-N, Garand, 03 ,Mauser,ect), check it out and see what you think.

 

[Trapper243]

I had the same question a few months ago and ended up re-barreling to the 30-06. First rifle I ever competed with. One of my first hunting cartridges. My dad and my grandfather went all the way across France, Belgium, and into Germany packing the 30-06. My wife's Grandfather used one in Korea, and on just about everything there is to hunt in Alaska. Worked then, Works now, and is a pleasure to reload for. Life is to short to not have at least one 30-06.