Old 03a3/ 1917 Question

[Oldcars]

I just bought two "sporterized" bolt actions from a local friend for $100 each. My original plan was to use them as trading stock or re-sell them, because the way he described them they sounded like old mousers or something. When I picked up the guns, I didn't realize what they were at first (I'm only 26, still learning) but uppon removing the scope bases to find marks We discovered that I had some military classics;

Remington 03a3 ser # 4047xxx with RA, 6-43 on the barrel

Winchester 1917 ser# 480xxx with 11-18 on the barrel

Both rifles have had the sights removed and scope mounts fitted, and aftermarket stocks and the 1917 is re-chambered to 300 win mag. Can the rifle handle that magnum? its in good shape and looks fine.

any help would be apriciated, thanks

[surbat6]

The 1917 has often been rebarreled to the .300 Win. Mag. (and other magnum cartridges). It should work just fine (assuming the action is sound and headspace is correct). IIRC, the Winchester-made 1917's did not have any issues with faulty receiver heat treatments (like some Eddystone rifles).
The Remington-made 1903 and all 1903A3 rifles do not have the problem of brittle receivers like low-number Springfield and Rock Island 1903's, so, again, if the action is sound and headspace is within spec, your '03A3 should also be a good shooter.
Sad to say, it's not likely your rifles would be considered military classics by any collector after losing their original stocks, handguards and barrel bands, buttplates and bayonet lugs and having their receivers drilled for scope mounts. In their present state, they're probably best described as hunting rifles.
However, the price paid was very good for a sporterized 1903A3 and 1917 model (in decent condition). IMO, you did well.

[Tailgunner]

The P-14 (303 British) and M-1917 (30-06) have been built into some of the biggest & baddest calibers out there (mine is in 375 H&H, and the A-Square company used those receivers for everything up to and including the 577 T-Rex). The 300Win Mag won't even make one blink.

What you have are a couple of nice sporterized hunting rifles.

[Oldcars]

Thanks for the info guys, originaly bought both to re-sell but I am leaning twards keeping at least one of them, I know that because they are modified they are not worth much to collectors, but I still see them as military classics. I like having unique things and this way I can ad them to my collection and not only aquire the military history but also the history of the talented machinest whe did the work (well done) and the huntimg history. with out spending a fortune. The "sporterized" military rifle to me represents a creative time in America, when most people could not afford to plunk down the money for a new hunting rifle, so they bought surplus and crafted thier own. Kind of like the original hot rod movement right after the war, returning GI's wanted a new sports car but didnt have the money, so they found a 32 ford and bought a torch!!! any way, didnt mean to ramble. Thanks for the advise, I will test fire them soon and find some glass for at least one of them, any other info greatly apriciated.

[ksthom]

The Eddystone rifles never had a problem with heat treatment. The problem (all 1917's) was that some were assembled with the Bbl. screwed in so tightly that during a rebuild,unscrewing the Bb. sometimes cracked the reciever. You might want to have it checked befor firing.