1903 springfield a3

thank you everyone for the helpful information! The guy who had it previously had taken it to a gunsmith and made sure everything was in order, but I will definitely take it again for a second opinion. I was doing a bit of research for oils for the gun, but where I am at I could only find remoil. I was wanting to buy MilCommTW25B to clean and corrosionx to lube/protect, is this a good idea? and out of curiosity, how much do enfields go for? Thanks again!
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just look for some safariland CLP(cleaner, lubricant and preservative). it's good stuff I use it on all my rifles, old and new.

enfields usually go for anywhere from $300 to $450 in good original condition. the number 5 jungle carbines and number 4 MKII(post war period) generally command higher prices.
 
Another positive,it has a 4 groove bbl.Very nice 03A3.You have done very well.
I suggest you look to see if the pull through/oiler/combination tool are in the butt trap.A "nice to have",though I would not rely on the pull through.Rather a problem if the string breaks.I suggest a one piece 30 cal cleaning rod,steel.Clean from the breech.

Either a 1907 leather sling or a web sling will be a very good idea.They are part of learning to shoot it.

While not essential,and not cheap,a bayonet might be on the list if you are so inclined.

Another accessory you might find scrounging around is stripper clips.I have heard the ones for Swedish mausers work well in a Springfield.Original Springfield ones are available,but the little folding tabs break off.
 
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I had actually read into stipper clips, and ended up getting some from champion's choice. I am not sure if i am loading it right or not, but it seems like every time i eject the rounds the third or fourth one gets stuck. I could hand load them all the way to the back, but some how they get stuck against the front by the third one. I think the spring for the internal magazine may be getting weak. I dont think the pull through is in it.
 
did you clean the underside of the receiver and follower spring and magazine follower to make sure those are not also covered in cosmoline? cosmo can gum up and impede even minor functions in rifle design.

also there is no real wrong way to load a springfield stripper clip as it is a non rimmed cartridge. rimmed cartridges have a special way of having to be loaded into strippers but not 30-06.

what direction are you pointing the muzzle when loading front strippers? I haven't seen this with springfields though I have seen it with other mauser derived designs but if you point the muzzle down while loading from strippers as the rounds strip from the clip they want to follow gravity and slowly slide forward as they ride down the magazine. try holding the rifle fairly level with the muzzle slightly elevated.

if those don't fixe the problem perhaps it is an issue with the ejector not liking having to jack out unspent cartridges? normal function may act differently.
 
Sign me up on the envious list. That's a fantastic buy at $150. Would've been a great buy at $500. Beautiful.

Mineral spirits or kerosene and some scrubbing will take the cosmoline off.

On the stripper clip function, make sure you've got everything out of the mag and receiver. Any chunks left in there, and old cosmoline can get almost petrified, can screw up the feeding.

Definitely look for a CMP match in your area. The guys shooting there can give you some great information and tips on your rifle.
 
I think there is some confusion on what is meant by "Enfield". The British Rifles No. 1, No.4, and No. 5 (Jungle Carbine) are in .303 British caliber and the rimmed cartridge makes it necessary to load the clip in an exact way. The U.S. Rifle, Cal. 30, Model of 1917, commonly called the "American Enfield", is in .30-'06 and uses the same clip as the M1903. The .30-'06 is rimless and presents no problems in clip loading.

In loading the British Enfield clip, the rims (seen from the side, clip on the bottom) should be:
_-_-_
_clip_

Incidentally, with one exception (the Russian rifles), the clip, once the rounds are stripped into the magazine, is pushed out by the bolt going forward; there is no need to remove the clip manually, unless of course you want to make sure to save the clip, something that soldiers in combat didn't worry about.

Boomer,

Yes, I know. The FBI woke me up this morning and NSA came along with copies of my posting as evidence of insufficient love for our NOBLE PRESIDENT, a new crime in case you don't know. Then BATFE came later (they were hung over from partying with their old buddies in the IRS) and said I could keep a double barrel shotgun but they would be back for everything else, including my soldering iron that has a pistol grip.

Jim
 
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including my soldering iron that has a pistol grip.
I know what you mean. They stopped by today and confiscated my power washer and my staple gun I use to hang targets.
I could understand the power washer being high power but the staple gun had me at a loss till it was explained to me that it had a high capacity magazine. >5
 
M1903 and A3 rifles were used in every combat theatre during the war, even when M1's became plentiful there were not sufficient numbers to totally replace the 03. D day saw many a GI land with his trusty 03 or 03A3 in hand and the rifles served throughout the war, of course the 03A4 went on to serve in Korea also. If you wish to preserve the history of your incredible find leave the cosmoline on it as it adds to the mistique but if you wish to shoot it, clean as previously suggested and enjoy a war time piece of history to the fullest. List it on GB with the cosmo and it will easily bring a grand...clean and shoot it and you will enjoy many times that in fun and nostalga.
 
Early 03 stripper clips were made of brass; later replaced by steel. The brass were a bit smoother than the parkerized steel. You can slick up the strippers by polishing the feed "ramps" w/a bit of steel wool. Another tip is to place your thumb as near the clip as possible when stripping the rounds into the magazine...too far forward puts rims in a bind.

Have used all sorts of stripper clips while shooting HP rifle competition and find these to be much smoother than the GI version:

http://www.champchoice.com/detail.aspx?ID=1056

Beautiful A3, by the way!

Regards,
hps
 
are you looking for just a standard rifle sling or a reproduction 1907 sling?
ebay is where I got mine but normally buy it now prices are closer to $70.
 
thanks hps1, I was curious about the turners. at first i was looking at originals, but the ones I have seen are around $100. at least I know if i get the turner I will know it wont fall apart on me.
 
You're right about the original might not be the best for longevity.

The 03's used the same sling as the M1 Garand but most Garand slings issued (in our unit at least) in the early to late '50's were web sllings. There were still a few leather ones around but not too many as I recall.

Regards,
hm
 
Ok as for the wood, should I use tru oil, tung oil, or leave it alone? The wood does not seemed worn, and if there was something meant only to preserve instead of building layers on the wood I would prefer it
 
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