Low # RIA 1903 shooting mild cast loads?

[Nick Adams]

Okay, looking for low-number S.A./RIA 1903 experts to weigh in on this ...

What's your advice on loading and shooting mild-to-medium velocity 200gn HC GC boolits through my 6-digit RIA 1903 with a 1918 S.A. barrel. Most likely it's a post-WWI rebuild. Stock looks to be S.A. as well.

Definitely not going to run anything 'hot' through it. Just looking at some Sunday afternoon target work/plinking fun, ... and maybe a shot at the annual November deer.

[Texas by God]

There's a thread in Military Rifles about this right now.

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[Nick Adams]

There's a thread in Military Rifles about this right now.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll check it out.

[gnoahhh]

What's the serial number? If over 285,000 it's a nickel steel receiver and not suspect.

[Nick Adams]

What's the serial number? If over 285,000 it's a nickel steel receiver and not suspect.

It's a RIA 1903 with a 7-15 S.A barrel, which still has decent rifling. Serial number is 496XX.

[avogunner]

Hi Nick,
I too have a low numbered (5 digit) RIA 03 but mine has a RA 10-44 dated barrel. FWIW, I do shoot mine regularly with cast loads. I've read Hatcher, I've read tons of articles/opinions on shooting these rifles and I accept the risk. I have shot hundreds of rounds in the 25 years I've owned it and I'm perfectly comfortable doing so....but again, you must make your own - educated - decision.


Semper Fi!

[Nick Adams]

Hi Nick,
I too have a low numbered (5 digit) RIA 03 but mine has a RA 10-44 dated barrel. FWIW, I do shoot mine regularly with cast loads. I've read Hatcher, I've read tons of articles/opinions on shooting these rifles and I accept the risk. I have shot hundreds of rounds in the 25 years I've owned it and I'm perfectly comfortable doing so....but again, you must make your own - educated - decision.

Thanks for the reply, and great group in that pic!

Does your RIA have the so-called "Hatcher Hole"?

[avogunner]

Does your RIA have the so-called "Hatcher Hole"?

No Nick, it doesn't. There is a punch mark on the receiver where it's supposed to be though.....I guess they needed to shoot Nazi's before it could get to the drill press

I do love shooting this rifle though.
Semper Fi!

[bob208]

I have 3 a ria and springfield and a spring field that was made 05 in .30-03 then the barrel was shortened and chambered to .30-06.

[Calamity Jake]

I have a SA 03 with a SR# under 30,000 that I shoot all the time with light cast loads.

[Nick Adams]

No Nick, it doesn't. There is a punch mark on the receiver where it's supposed to be though.

Reason I asked was, I was confused about where the location of the H.H. is supposed to be: left side or right side (serial # side) of the receiver (?).

Thanks!

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Left side. Very noticeable.

[Nick Adams]

Left side. Very noticeable.

Thanks. Then my RIA doesn't have one either.

[cast367]

What means RIA in 1903 ?? In the Netherlands unknow.


Cast 367

[avogunner]

RIA is Rock Island Arsenal. They manufactured the 1903 along with the Springfield Armory, though in a smaller quantity and for shorter duration (dates escape me at the moment).



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[cast367]

Thank you Avogunner

[bob208]

the rock island tooling was given to Remington during ww2 to start building the 03a1 which later morphed into the 03a3.

[Nick Adams]

the rock island tooling was given to Remington during ww2 to start building the 03a1 which later morphed into the 03a3.

That's right.

I had a Remmy-built early 1903 - built in January 1942 on RIA tooling before all the various 03A3 mods started up. It looked exactly like my RIA 1903 and had an original finger-groove stock.

It was a great shooter too, but it got sold to a 1903-collector who made me a cash offer I couldn't turn down at the time.

[Italia1825]

Probably not the thread , but what’s going rate for either a RIA or a SA these days?


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[avogunner]

Probably not the thread , but what’s going rate for either a RIA or a SA these days?

That's hard to say but what I've seen lately.... for a 1903, $800-900 isn't uncommon (03A3 maybe a hundred less) for a nothing special parts rifle. Double that (+) for an extremely nice (fit/finish) high ser#, correct cartouche, etc. rifle. Even more for the finer examples and especially if a history/provenance is available (I know, "buy the gun, not the story").
Semper Fi