Low serial number '03 Springfield?

M

MechanicMarley

Inactive
After 40 years of being my father's go to but unknown hunting rifle, it was passed on down to me, I've had this rifle as my main hunt and shooter rifle for 10 years now still having no idea what it was. Finally I had to know. Turns out it's a M1903 made in 1909( from the serial number) it was restocked to a modern sportster stock before my father owned it. After research I found the heat treat issue with these early '03 springfields. My question is what do you guys think? After 50 years of the best rifle I've ever owned and still a tack driver, do I worry about the receiver blowing, or do I retire lt. I've heard about the Eyeball heat treat method that was found to be the problem, after 106 years of reliable service am I right to assume that this guns smith had his eyes on that day?
 
My uncle had a low number 03 A3 receiver on his Springfield, that he bought for $5, back in the 1930's or 40's. They sent him a new receiver when he notified the U.S. Armory that he had a low numbered receiver; soon after he bought the rifle.
 
I thought the low number syndrome was limited to ramped up production lines in 1917-1918, and not pre-war production. Is this incorrect?
 
I'm going to assume by the date, the rifle serial number is less then 800,000.

If that's the case, it is the single heat treatment.

Its you're rifle, your choice whether to shoot it or not. I wouldn't but I'm not you.

I shoot my 1903 series rifles in CMP Springfield or Vintage Sniper Matches. The CMP does not allow low numbered rifles to be fired in their matches. When I put on CMP sanctioned matches I go by their rules so I wont allow them either.

I shouldn't say this, and make no guarentees. One of those, "DONT TRY THIS AT HOME" deals. It could be dangerous and you do this at your own risk.

In single heat treatment, the action is tempered, its hard and brittle. In double treatment, the second draws the temper out to an extent allowing the action to be a bit elastic.

When I round is fired a certain amount of pressure is generated. Depending on the powder, the max. pressure is generated at different periods of time the bullet is in the barrel.

There is a program out there called "Quick Load", it shows what powder/weight and what bullet, does, in velocity and pressure. The program also shows the pressure at different points during the bullets travel through the barrel. It is possible to select a power that shifts the max pressure away from the action to a different point in time while the bullet is in the barrel.

Computer programs are theory and may or may not reflect reality so this could be dangerous. But the program is fun to play with and can be very useful in reloading.
 
I would not shoot it.

In discussing why the military arms museum at Aberdeen Provong Grounds never allows any of their collection to be fired, the curator said something to the effect that, "It only takes one round to destroy a firearm, and there is no way to predict which round is going to be the one round."

Consider yourself lucky. You haven't fired the one round ... yet.
 
Hmmmm, your father shot it for forty years and you've shot it for 10 years. Gee, I don't know for sure, but maybe its safe to shoot. Didn't bother to check for your year, but somewhere there is a list of reported/documented receiver failures by year of the 1903. You might want to do a Google for this info. Some years have none, some a few, some have more, but never some with a large number of failures.

Yea, there were instances of problems with in the heat treatment of the so called low number Springfield receivers. There is no doubt of this. But, its obvious not ALL pre 800,000 serial number receivers are dangerous to shoot. FWIW, the marines never stopped using the low number Springfields issued to them after the problem was discovered.

I own a 1903 with a receiver dated around 1914 and I shoot it. There were reported receiver failures for year I have. Not a lot, but it did happen. When I bought it five or so years ago, it'd been sporterized. It had been someone's hunting rifle and well used. Wear and tear on the metal and stock revealed this. I had to replace the broken extractor collar on it. I restored it to its original military condition and sometimes shoot it in a monthly military rifle competition the private range I'm a member holds.

My 1903 had been rearsenaled (check for a re-arsenal dent/mark on ridge of right side of receiver in bolt lug area) and has a 1920 date barrel on it. I also reload my own ammo and when reloading for my 1903, I do keep my reloads on the recommended lower pressure loads for whatever bullet/powder combination I'm using in my 1903.
 
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