Finished and less than 1 MOA

[rojocorsa]

Oh, nice rifles BTW Deputy Dan.


I have a 1918 receiver still attached to and old and worn out 1915 tube; I don't have the time or money, but I hope that someday, my buddy and I can rebuild the receiver...

[Deputy Dan]

Oh, nice rifles BTW Deputy Dan.


I have a 1918 receiver still attached to and old and worn out 1915 tube; I don't have the time or money, but I hope that someday, my buddy and I can rebuild the receiver...

When ordnance was rebuilding the M1903 service rifle, many older barrels made it onto later receivers. This is discussed in depth in the July-August 1928 issue of Army Ordnance Magazine Vol. VIII, No. 49(pg 36-42) by Lt. J. E. McInerney of Springfield Armory. I would venture to bet your rifle received it's current barrel during the massive post-WW1 rebuild program. It originally would have been fitted with a 1918 dated barrel.

Since you will have the barreled action out of the stock, check to make sure there is a stock bushing installed... it will be in the hole closest to the wrist where the trigger guard screw passes through the stock to the receiver tang. If there isn't one there, get one from Numrich or another source. Without the bushing the stock will more than likely develop a crack at the wrist if the rifle is shot regularly. For best accuracy, shorten the bushing 1/8 inch.

I have built a few for accuracy, and it is a pain in the ass. It is almost easier to shell out the funds for a mint original than to take the time and effort to build one. A really good M1903 can hold close to MOA (usually around 1.5 MOA) and any M1903 in very good condition will easily hold a little under 2 MOA with 5 shot groups if the shooter is up to it. A consistent sub-moa 1903 is a fantasy.

Yeah, I am a M1903 nut. I have probably had 35 or so pass through my hands over the years... I still have 18 in the safe.

[Deputy Dan]

This one has shot to 1.1 inch with some M72 Match ammo...it doesn't get shot much. It is a Rock Island Arsenal 1919 National Match, one of 2,251 produced and one of three known to still exist. It is nearly mint. It is all still out there.

[rojocorsa]

Dan, here is the real skinny on "my" 1903.

One friend gave me a bag of parts (milled trigger guard and mag spring, trigger, front band, and a bolt body with shroud---besides that, I have a barreled action with a rusted out pipe, dated 8/15). The receiver itself is SA, with s/n 939xxx. I believe the receiver is cut for an A3 sight, and this is missing the original tangent sight.

The metal has some pitting, and some rust because some how part of this tube ended up submerged in water; as a result, the barrel is no good anymore.

Seeing how much money this would cost, I practically gave this bag of parts to my best friend because I know he wants to fix it up. We can still work on it and shoot it together and all that--so I don't feel like I am missing out. (I got other guns I need to buy--I don't own a single self loading rifle, for example).

Anyhow, I promised that I would help him get this thing together in whatever way I could and I can't wait until we get started with this.

The bolt body it came with is old and straight, and its missing parts. We decided its better to buy a complete bent bolt off gun broker or something since they'll be new and come with all the parts. We will have to track down a stock and possibly an entire new barrel (preferably with sights, or we can try to find an A3 rear sight if possible). I hope it's not a pain in the ass to find stock metal and action screws either.

If this is anything like the German Mauser 98 (closest gun I have actual experience with, we'll need new FCG parts as well).


I attached a couple of pics of what I have...

Here's hoping to this thing becoming a 1903 rifle once again!

[Deputy Dan]

Hey Brother... here is the good new and bad news.

The good news: That receiver was manufactured from double heat treated Class C steel. From a materials standpoint, it is quite strong and there are no issues of brittle receivers.

The bad news: the receiver bridge and left receiver wall were drilled. That rifle would not have an 03A3 receiver sight because there is no dovetail to mount the sight to. I have no idea why the left receiver wall was drilled... if there were three holes, it could have been a sniper rifle receiver, the three holes would be for the Warner & Swazey M1913 prismatic rifle sight.

The deal breaker: there is a piece of the left receiver wall missing at the top of the rail... it looks like it was milled or filed off. It will interfere with the operation of the bolt because part of the bolt raceway is missing. The receiver strength is also compromised because the receiver rail is a structural component.

Can you take a close up photo of the top of the receiver wall where the mill cut is?

Also, email or post the markings on the safety lug of the bolt. More than likely it is a single heat treated bolt, and is generally considered unsafe to fire... there is a slight chance that it is a duoble heat treated or nickel steel straight handled bolt (very few were produced). The code on the safety lug will confirm what it is.

Sorry to be the bearer of ill tidings, but please don't sink any additional funds into it at this time. You will spend far more than if you found a decent complete example.

[rojocorsa]

Thank you Dan.

Perhaps I'll get you the pics a little later...

Good to know, and what a shame.

[Deputy Dan]

You are welcome... and I am sorry.

Keep an eye on Gunbroker and the other auctions.

You can find mildly sporterized 1903s that can be brought back... it will be a labor of love. It is expensive to restore an '03 in the end, but you can spread out your cost over time.

[rojocorsa]

Dan, I apologize but this thread slipped my mind.

Here is a close up of the questionable area, anyway..

First one is top view, second is side view.

Thanks again.

At the worst, it will make a cool paperweight.

[Deputy Dan]

Hey, no problem.

That receiver is a no go as a shooter, even if it wasn't hacked.

I'm kind of stumped as to why the material was removed from the receiver rail.

Too bad that it didn't have this hole pattern in the receiver rail:



That would have made it a WW1 sniper rifle.

It is all still out there, just be patient and keep looking.

[rojocorsa]

Yup. That surely is a strange rough looking dovetail.

Oh well, too bad since it was a high nubmer WW1 type... Guess its time to turn it into a paperweight.