I met with WWIIDigger on Friday and was able to pick up a late 1942 Remington 03A3 that had been converted to a drill rifle. Between John and I, we were able to scrounge up enough parts to put together a decent looking dummy rifle for display. John supplied the stock and rear sight and I already had the handguard and rear triggerguard screw. The stock is an Ogden rebuild that has no other cartouches left than the OG rebuild stamp. I initially thought that it might be a Smith Corona stock due to the shape of the band spring inlet (slightly dinged and looks round rather than square), but the interior of the stock is stamped RA so it is definitely a Remington piece. The stock has a couple repaired cracks in the tang area so I didn't feel too guilty about sticking it on a wall hanger. Unfortunately the rifle has been demilled rather than deactivated so it will never be anything more than an oversized paperweight. I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking...
As purchased, with fiberglass drill stock, missing rear sight, and incorrect allen head machine screw in the triggerguard. As usual the cutoff has been welded along with the bolt face.
After pulling the stock...
Try not to cry. Someone really went to town on this rifle. Cutoff and bolt face are welded as previously mentioned, receiver has been cut, barrel welded, and chamber filled with lead. A large amount of drill rifles are only deactivated by welding the cutoff, bolt face, and barrel to the receiver ring and plugging the barrel. Those rifles can be reactivated by removing and reinstalling a new barrel, bolt body, and cutoff.
Rear sight installed and rear triggerguard screw replaced.
All finished. Gave the barreled receiver a quick shower to get rid of all the grime and metal shavings followed by a Ballistol treatment. Stock metal was removed from the fiberglass stock, cleaned and installed on the replacement wood stock. I still need to give the stock a fresh coat of pure tung oil.
As purchased, with fiberglass drill stock, missing rear sight, and incorrect allen head machine screw in the triggerguard. As usual the cutoff has been welded along with the bolt face.
After pulling the stock...
Try not to cry. Someone really went to town on this rifle. Cutoff and bolt face are welded as previously mentioned, receiver has been cut, barrel welded, and chamber filled with lead. A large amount of drill rifles are only deactivated by welding the cutoff, bolt face, and barrel to the receiver ring and plugging the barrel. Those rifles can be reactivated by removing and reinstalling a new barrel, bolt body, and cutoff.
Rear sight installed and rear triggerguard screw replaced.
All finished. Gave the barreled receiver a quick shower to get rid of all the grime and metal shavings followed by a Ballistol treatment. Stock metal was removed from the fiberglass stock, cleaned and installed on the replacement wood stock. I still need to give the stock a fresh coat of pure tung oil.
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I rarely shoot any of my 30.06 or 7.62x54R bolt rifles anymore without wearing a Past field recoil pad. No more sore shoulder and the field pad is thin enough that it doesn't mess with your length of pull.
