Looking for a good reference guide to the 1903 Springfield. ChristMas came early to the house and I need a good all around manual and history guide to this beautiful hunk o metal and wood. I am dying to shoot it but I suppose headspace should be checked first or should it? It would be Tuesday before I could get a smith to check it out, but I can get to the range tomorrow.
General info on '03 Springfield?
- Thread starter AndABeer
- Start date
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Headspace? Sorta depends on the source. Reputable folks might (should) have already checked that.
Do you reload? Or have a friend who reloads for the '06? Shoot a reduced load (e.g., 20 grains of 2400 behind any bullet) and measure the case as compared to unfired length.
If the finish of the metal is real nice, the odds are there are no headspace problems. (Odds ain't certainties...)
The CMP website has a section devoted to the '03, IIRC.
Art
Do you reload? Or have a friend who reloads for the '06? Shoot a reduced load (e.g., 20 grains of 2400 behind any bullet) and measure the case as compared to unfired length.
If the finish of the metal is real nice, the odds are there are no headspace problems. (Odds ain't certainties...)
The CMP website has a section devoted to the '03, IIRC.
Art
http://www.scott-duff.com
has some really good manuals on most of the U.S. military firearms of the past. Seems to be geared more torward the M1 Garand, but there are some info for th "03.
has some really good manuals on most of the U.S. military firearms of the past. Seems to be geared more torward the M1 Garand, but there are some info for th "03.
Scarborough
New member
Brophy's book is pretty good but the assessment of it's not being the easiest thing to wade through is correct. Of course if you have winters like we do up here in N.D. what else better do you have to do for the next 5 months or so than to research the 03 Springfield? get the wife and kids involved and have some quality family time
AndABeer,
Check out www.jouster.com There is a M1903 Springfield forum there.
Check out www.jouster.com There is a M1903 Springfield forum there.
"How does the dang thing shoot?"
My bad. Received it Saturday evening, was at Wal-Mart bright and early Sunday morn and got two boxes of $10 Remington Core Loct, was at the range about an hour later. Started out at 25 to see if I was on paper. Oh yeah. Went to 50. Oh yes. Went to 100. Hell yes. I do not shoot iron sights well but had a 5 shot 2" group at a 100. I could not stay long as I needed to get some sleep for the coming of third shift but I was quite happy as I closed my eyes.
As to what to get "Santa" (aka Father in Law) I started a thread over in General about this and am still cluless. He will say that his grandson is return enough but I know I need to do something just not sure what.
My bad. Received it Saturday evening, was at Wal-Mart bright and early Sunday morn and got two boxes of $10 Remington Core Loct, was at the range about an hour later. Started out at 25 to see if I was on paper. Oh yeah. Went to 50. Oh yes. Went to 100. Hell yes. I do not shoot iron sights well but had a 5 shot 2" group at a 100. I could not stay long as I needed to get some sleep for the coming of third shift but I was quite happy as I closed my eyes.
As to what to get "Santa" (aka Father in Law) I started a thread over in General about this and am still cluless. He will say that his grandson is return enough but I know I need to do something just not sure what.
HerrJaegermeister
New member
Dad back at home in Minnesota has a factory Springfield 03 sporter that has a cut in the stock and a mount for a Lyman peep sight. He has a really nice old Weaver 4x scope on it. A book from the 1980s has it listed in value at about $900. The rifle is from the 1950s, I think.
That thing shoots like a dream. It is in perfect shape. The action is so smooth. The two-stage trigger takes some getting used to but is quite good.
Several years ago I took it out and shot pop cans with it standing at 100 yards. They just kept dropping. He once put a running fox in the scope and drilled it making a very difficult quartering shot. The 150 grain bullet cut the fox in half.
Springfields 03's in any form are amazing rifles. They should be as they are copies of Mausers.
Dad's high-end Springfield sporter will be a cherished family heirloom.
That thing shoots like a dream. It is in perfect shape. The action is so smooth. The two-stage trigger takes some getting used to but is quite good.
Several years ago I took it out and shot pop cans with it standing at 100 yards. They just kept dropping. He once put a running fox in the scope and drilled it making a very difficult quartering shot. The 150 grain bullet cut the fox in half.
Springfields 03's in any form are amazing rifles. They should be as they are copies of Mausers.
Dad's high-end Springfield sporter will be a cherished family heirloom.
03A3
Remington 03A3 had only two broad lands and grooves, a wartime economy/production efficiency measure. Mine is from Nov.'43, and shoots minute of angle or better with handloads and a scope. Just a great, classic rifle. Brophy's book used to be available from Brownells, and I found it very helpful.
Remington 03A3 had only two broad lands and grooves, a wartime economy/production efficiency measure. Mine is from Nov.'43, and shoots minute of angle or better with handloads and a scope. Just a great, classic rifle. Brophy's book used to be available from Brownells, and I found it very helpful.
Scarborough
New member
Khornet the 03A3 rifles also had four groove barrels such as my own Smith-Corona. Not as common but not quite rare. As I think of it I do seem to recall that most of the Remingtons I have handled were two groove guns. That accuracy you are getting is nice. It has been said that the two groove guns were capable of fine accuracy and your rifle would seem to verify that. After all, ain't no such thing as a bad 03