remington 03 question

[chainsawrich]

My question is on my rem.03 with the bolt closed and no round in the chamber, the bolt moves back and forth ( front to back) ever so slightly. Is that play normal for that weapon. No mauser does that. I would like to shoot it but was not sure if that movemnt is ok.

[mjb]

03

Hi, you better have a gunsmith check the rifle's headspace, if the bolt or receiver have too much wear to them, you might have too much room in there and the cartridge is not fully supported in the chamber. Sometimes swapping out the bolt might correct this, play it safe, have it checked out. mjb

[Rich Pouncey]

My '03A-1 is loose like you mentioned until the bolt is worked cocking the piece. Then it's as tight as my 98k's. You might try cocking it to see if that takes the looseness out. If it doesn't, then I'd have it checked out.

[chainsawrich]

My '03A-1 is loose like you mentioned until the bolt is worked cocking the piece. Then it's as tight as my 98k's. You might try cocking it to see if that takes the looseness out. If it doesn't, then I'd have it checked out.

Rich, Yes its tight when cocked. Its just loose when its not. So then I take it that this play is normal for the .03 ?

[Justen_Wilson]

mine also does this

[Johnnie]

"Normal " is only normal if the headspce is within specs. Any competent gunsmith can check the headspace with a guage in about 30 seconds. I recommend you have the check done just to be sure.

Johnnie

[chainsawrich]

"Normal " is only normal if the headspce is within specs. Any competent gunsmith can check the headspace with a guage in about 30 seconds. I recommend you have the check done just to be sure.

Johnnie

Yes that would be the safest way to go. Thanks all......

[gew98]

The 1903 and the 03A3 are quite over rated substandard combat rifles. Get and M1 or a US M1917 rifle and let some fool play with the 03 on the range. Never had a 17 or an M1 give me greif , but have had three incidents with 03's that were none too user friendly to include two firing pins launched rearward from peirced primers that made the cockpeice and rod a projectile...one went through my sleeve and the other time it smashed my younger brother in the face. The thrid incident was a minty smith corona 03A3 that continually had the rear sight fall off in live fire and then had the receiver audibly crack ( ping sound ) while being shot.

[chainsawrich]

I took the rifle to a guy who knows 03's and he said the bolt was wrong. It was from a earlier model so he switched it to the correct one and headspacing was good. At 100 meters it was cutting the same hole bench rested. At two hundred meters, with my eyes anyhow all but for a few flyers in the black. I put 40 rounds through it flawlessly.