1903a1

[Bob Busetti]

Friday I took the 1903a1 out to the range to try out some loads I found listed in an old Hand loader magazine. The author stated that 35.0 grs of 4895 was a good place to start with cast bullets ranging in weight from 165 grs to 180 grs. I tried RCBS 165 gr, Lee 170 gr & RCBS 180 gr. all sized to .309 cast with linotype alloy. The 165 gr. & 170 gr shot into 1 1/8 " at 50 yards, the 180 gr shot into 1/2' at fifty yards. I need to load some more & try them at 100 yds. I was pleasantly surprised.
Bob

[bigted]

awesome ... is this with the old 3 groove barrel?

[Ben]

awesome ... is this with the old 3 groove barrel?


bigted

Did our US Military ever issue a 1903 Springfield rifle with a 3 groove barrel to troops ?

I've never read anything about a 3 groove barrel ? 4 groove barrels and 2 groove barrels YES, but 3 groove ? ? ?

Ben

[Scharfschuetze]

I'll bet it was just dyslexic typing. The 2 and the 3 are right next to each other.

Look's like you've got one 'ell of an 03A3. Springfields are a joy to shoot cast boolits through.

[Ben]

I'll bet it was what I call dyslexic typing. 2 and 3 are right next to each other on the keyboard.

The old 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets had three groove barrels as well as the whole line of Trapdoors from the 1868 through the 1888. As Ben notes, the 1903s had 4 groove and many 1903A3s had the "War Emergency" 2 groove barrels.

Bob,

Looks like you've got one 'ell of a Springfield.

I think you're correct. I was wondering however if he knew something that maybe the rest of us didn't know ?

[Hickok]

My dad gave me an "as issued" 03A1 some years ago, and what a beautiful rifle. But I have since given it to my brother to keep as an heirloom. That whisker thin front and rear sight wont work with my 59 year old eyes.

An 03A3 would be more suitable for me.

Bob, sounds like you are on the right track and have a good shooter!

[WILCO]

Love a good range report!

[madsenshooter]

"That whisker thin front and rear sight wont work with my 59 year old eyes."


That's why my Krag now has a .070" wide front blade.

[bruce drake]

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/two-groove
A little write-up on 2 groove barrels.

[bigted]

yes meant the 2 groove ... srry bout the cornfusion. and NOPE ... don't go lookin to me for additional info ... usually wrong bout stuff but every once inna while ...

meant to ask about the 2 groove bore as I have heard of grand cast accuracy with them.

[Larry Gibson]

bigted

So is it a 2 groove M1903A3 or a 4 M1903A1?

Larry Gibson

[bigted]

as memory serves ... I believe the 03-A3 was the 2 groove barrel. my A3 was a rebarreled rifle and sporterized but a feller who had an all original 03-A3 was with a 2 groove barrel I believe.

I was looking for the OP to give the bore detail for information on the cast boolit compatibility with the old 2 groove bore. I believe that in an old article I remember that the writer had an uncle with a 2 groove barrel that gave pretty good accuracy at 100 yards with cast boolits.

Larry ... I believe also that you could take me to school on these old war horses ... interesting stuff for sure. one day I will have an old Springfield with the 2 groove barrel and want to fuss with the cast boolits in it as a pastime. don't want a pristine one tho as I will be mounting a scope sight on it ... maybe an older Unertl in 8 or 10 X power. should be a spiffy shooting as well as a dandy looking rifle I think.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I'll bet it was just dyslexic typing. The 2 and the 3 are right next to each other.

Look's like you've got one 'ell of an 03A3. Springfields are a joy to shoot cast boolits through.

And to think that I thought I was the only guy that typed with boxing gloves on?Robert

[Ben]

excess650

Most likely, if the truth be known, we REALLY needed rifles at that time in the war and if a good supply of 4 groove barrels ( or 2 groove ) was available, they probably got installed that day.

Ben

[Char-Gar]

bigted

Did our US Military ever issue a 1903 Springfield rifle with a 3 groove barrel to troops ?

I've never read anything about a 3 groove barrel ? 4 groove barrels and 2 groove barrels YES, but 3 groove ? ? ?

Ben

Springfield 45-70 trapdoor rifles and carbines had 3 groove barrels.
Krag rifles and carbines have 4 groove barrels
1903 Springfield and Rock Island rifles have 4 grooves barrels
1903A3 rifles have 4 groove, 2 groove and a few early High Standard 6 groove barrels.

I would bet a blue plate lunch special down at the dinner that you knew this without me telling you.

[Char-Gar]

Most 03A3s had 2 groove barrels, but the early ones had 4 groove. My barrel is coded 2-43, the serial falls into that same month, and its a 4 groove.

Remington started with 4 groove barrels and went to 2 groove barrels.

Smith-Corona started with some HS 6 groove barrels and went to 4 groove. They never used 2 groove barrels. All S-C barrels were made by High Standard.

[bigted]

very interesting indeed. and YES I do type with boxing gloves on ... never know when I may want to type a scrap on the net ... LOL

mine was indeed a Remington bur pretty sure it had been rebarreled as the contour was a bit different and there was no front sight nor evidence that one had ever been there. she shot well and when I got it the trigger had been replaced with an aftermarket trigger assembly and the action had been un ceremonially drilled and tapped in a careless manner but seemed to work fine for the shooter I bought it for. I kick myself for never running cast thru it tho. well maybe the next one.

[Mark Daiute]

Just in case we lost sight of it, the OP has an 03-A1. Just sayin. Thought I'd throw that out there as we've gotten into quite the discussion about grooves and 03-A3's.

did the OP post more than once?

Mark

[Larry Gibson]

Yes, the OP was referring to a M1903A1 which would have a 4 groove barrel. All mine have 4 grooves also including the "as issued" SC M1903A3. Wile those are good groups at 50 yards I would suggest backing of to 28 gr of 4895 using a Dacron filler and then working back up shooting groups at 100 yards. The old war horse just might prove surprising! Anyways the OP is off to a good start with his....Picture of your M1903A1 OP?

Larry Gibson

104205

[Scharfschuetze]

Well, dag nab it! No 1903A1 in my household, but I do have a few 03s and 03A3s.

My best luck with the Springfield and cast boolits has been with the 2 groove barrels and long bore riding boolit designs like the Lyman 311284 and a custom Hoch nose pour mold cut to fit one of my 2 groove barrel without any sizing.

While it's not in the photo below, my ersatz 1903 NM rifle (like the bottom one in Larry's photo and also a 2 groove barrel) will soon get a work out in the desert with Larry's Springfields. The bottom rifle below is an M2 .22 rim fire and I guess not germane to this thread, but interesting none-the-less.

[madsenshooter]

I've got to get me one of these! They have a Springfield/Vintage/Garand aggregate trophy at the National Matches, and I don't have an 03 of any flavor. Wouldn't have much of a chance at the the trophy anyway, but wouldn't mind being in the running.

[bigted]

Friday I took the 1903a1 out to the range to try out some loads I found listed in an old Hand loader magazine. The author stated that 35.0 grs of 4895 was a good place to start with cast bullets ranging in weight from 165 grs to 180 grs. I tried RCBS 165 gr, Lee 170 gr & RCBS 180 gr. all sized to .309 cast with linotype alloy. The 165 gr. & 170 gr shot into 1 1/8 " at 50 yards, the 180 gr shot into 1/2' at fifty yards. I need to load some more & try them at 100 yds. I was pleasantly surprised.
Bob


Bob ... do return with more news on your '03'. srry to have introduced a side subject that seems to have grown into a larger then life side issue.

a photo of your rifle would be great. I look forward to reading of your exploits and experiments with your A-1. it sounds like your rifle likes the longer boolits better.