Correct bolt for 3.2 million Remington 03

[twh]

What would be the correct bolt for a 3.2 million Remington 03 and does anyone have a picture of said bolt by any chance?

Thomas

[Merc]

The size of the gas escape hole was one way tell the difference between a bolt from a ‘03 and an 03A3.

0F6B573A-6C63-4D39-9313-B9797F8E5184.jpg

The hole was made larger for the 03A3. Otherwise, they look identical and are interchangeable.

3.2 M S/N would be an 03A3 made in late ‘42.

[Rick the Librarian]

The size of the gas escape hole was one way tell the difference between a bolt from a ‘03 and an 03A3.

0F6B573A-6C63-4D39-9313-B9797F8E5184.jpg

The hole was made larger for the 03A3. Otherwise, they look identical and are interchangeable.

3.2 M S/N would be an 03A3 made in late ‘42.

The earliest verified M1903A3 was in the 3,320,000 range and a relatively bare handful of those were made. They don't seem to be relatively common until the 3,360,000 range.

Remington M1903s are common until the same range (3,360,000) as well. M1903s and M1903A3s were produced at the same time between about Nov., 1942 and early 1943.

[Merc]

My error. I found other more complete lists on S/Ns that show blocks of numbers given to each mfr.

[Merc]

F12DB3DF-E6C6-40F0-8E09-A1D31DE6D237.jpg

Here’s a photo comparing ‘03 bolt handles that might be useful.

[John Beard]

What would be the correct bolt for a 3.2 million Remington 03 and does anyone have a picture of said bolt by any chance?

Thomas

The correct bolt for your rifle would have a very small "R" stamped beneath the handle, undercutting along the bolt body, a stamped extractor collar marked with a small encircled "R", a large gas escape hole, and the bottom of the ejector slot would be rounded. The bolt may also have a small "42" stamped beneath the handle if your rifle is in the upper serial range.

Good Luck!

J.B.

[twh]

Thank you for all the help.

[Randy A]

The size of the gas escape hole was one way tell the difference between a bolt from a ‘03 and an 03A3.

0F6B573A-6C63-4D39-9313-B9797F8E5184.jpg

The hole was made larger for the 03A3. Otherwise, they look identical and are interchangeable.

3.2 M S/N would be an 03A3 made in late ‘42.

The vent hole is not a reliable identification, they were enlarged in the 30's. There are a number of differences between 03 and A3, general milling of the bolt body is different, (recess adjacent to safety lug and around front lugs) the detents are absent from the A3 and for the trained eye, no A3 handle was the same as any 03 bolt handle. Even the early A3 bolt handle that was longer than all the rest (R 42). It was short lived, after that the rear curve to the handle was a forged dogleg.
I'll take a look, I might have a spare R 42.

[twh]

If you find an extra let me know.

[fguffey]

I have at least 30 03A3 bolts, I also have a couple of unfinished bolts that that were made for a different purpose. And then I have access to a few hundred more. When it comes to matching bolts to rifles I match bolts to chambers. I want to know the effect the bolt has on the length of the chamber from the shoulder of the chamber to the bolt face.

F. Guffey