[Vaquero]

http://www.odcmp.com/

you can get a surplus M1 garand here...(I got mine there)

you use to be able to get a 1903 or and 03A3....look it up.

[rickomatic]

Why do you want a “new” one? You should be able to find good CMP Springfields at lots of gun shows and or shops. I'm pretty sure CMP is out of them, but there are literally 10’s of thousdands of very good ones out there to be had. Even if you find one that's shot out, you could always have it rebarrelled.

[JRandomFreeper]

First, build a time machine..... ;)

/johnny

[Blood of Tyrants]

Reconsider that new M1903. It will only go down in value for many years to come. If you get an original M1903 (I would get the M1903A3 variant because it has better sights), it is still quite shootable and accurate. Many, many tens of thousands were rebuilt after WWII and then put into long term storage or loaned to allies. Some of the ones that came from the CMP a few years ago had brand new barrels and parts on them. Also, the low serial number M1903s are not considered to be safe to shoot.

[smokingfrog]

Make sure you don’t get one of the earlier made ones. The receivers were not properly heat treated and could fail.

http://m1903.com/

http://oldguns.net/cat_fa_old_us_long.htm

[norton]

Do yourself a favor and check out any good 1917 Enfield pattern US rifle.

Same caliber and much nicer to shoot, more accurate, much less shoulder aches after.

[Holen1]

Aim has the Gibbs refurbished..

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F3GR1903A3

[Dogbert41]

The 03’s are pretty. Steve McQueen slung one around expertly in “The Sand Pebble”.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Outside of collecting, why on earth would you want to go backwards in technology?

The ‘03 was at the end of an era. A much better design came out in the closed bolt and firing pin,(better protected) found in the Remington and Winchester bolt action designs.

At the same time, the military decided to upgrade the ability of the infantry to fire consecutive rounds faster and with less difficulty, which is why they went with the M1 Garand and the carbine. It's one of the reasons we won World War 2.

The ‘03 is quite crude and also is prone to contamination getting into the bolt and firing pin assembly through the cocking piece on the back of the bolt.

The Mauser style extractor is a plus, but any good Mauser 98 or better yet, a Model 70 Winchester pre-64, or one of the new remake versions are by far a better choice.

If you are out for accuracy, why not a good Remington 700 BDL? (custom barreled of course) This is the design you will mostly find in the top ten at the National bench rest tournament consistently every year and has been for the last 35 years.

[redbaiter]

Very interesting, I have some things to think about. Thanks everyone!

[Tijeras_Slim]

The greatest rifle match ever.

http://www.bobrohrer.com/sea_stories/end_of_an_era.pdf

Read this and you will understand the reverence for the 1903.