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leadman
06-08-2011, 07:46 PM
I traded into a Remingtom 1903 rifle a couple years ago. It shot o.k., but never great. The stock was still military but heavily sanded. Even the hump by the rear sight was sanded off the handguard.
A friend had given me a scant stock that needed to have some small repairs done and refinished. I purchased a nos handguard from Dupage Trading. I installed the stock and handguard last week and decided to load some ammo and take it to the range for testing.
I did the testing this morning. Lyman 311041, 2400 powder, Wolf Primers.
first load was 19 grs, no filler. At 50 yards the first shot went high, the other 4 cut a cloverleaf! 20 grs was almost as good. As the charge weight went up the groups opened, but still were decent.
I think the "new" stock had a positive effect on the old girl! It was up for sale, but I thnk I will hang on to her for awhile longer.

finally checked the targets today andhere is what it did. full military, no scope, 59 year old eyes with barrel peep up.

See I wrote the wrong shot count on the target. There are 4 shots thru the bottom group. I as loading 4 cartridges for testing previously but went too 5 cartridges this week. I think I get a better representation of what the load will do, and they fit in my box.

Ben
06-08-2011, 08:16 PM
Drop that charge to 16.5 grs. of 2400 and report back on how that shoots.

Calamity Jake
06-09-2011, 10:16 AM
What Ben said!!!

My 03 likes the RCBS 30-180 SP and 16.2 of 2400.

Our last mil bolt match shot @ 100 yards I scored 293 with some "Xs" out of a possible 300

leadman
06-09-2011, 01:07 PM
I have shot lower powder charges in my Rem 1903a3 and they did well also. The reason I started at 19grs with this gun is if I can maintain accuracy I want to shoot out to 400 yards or so and see how it does. If I can keep accuracy there I may try further out.

I am also going to try the 314299 in this gun and see how it does. Might be better for longer ranges.

RU shooter
06-11-2011, 11:04 AM
You may have to play around with different loads since the stock change,I had the same troubles when I swapped my scant to a C stock for my 03A3 ,My old accuracy load of 14 gr of Unique which would shot great would only shoot 3-4 moa in the new stock,accuracy would not return till I dropped down to 11 grs. with the Lee 155. My new load is 17.5 grs of 2400 and does very well with several different bullet weights and styles.

Ben
06-11-2011, 11:17 AM
RU Shooter :

Interesting you'd say that......

My new load is 17.5 grs of 2400 and does very well with several different bullet weights and styles.

My exact findings here on my end of things ......I recently fired, with my Mauser you see below, this same load at 200 yds. , 5 shots, that was 5/8 " wide and about 1.25 " high in group size :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/IMG_1075.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/PICT0007.jpg

leadman
06-11-2011, 02:47 PM
Finally measured my targets from Wednesday and recorded the results. This rifle is full military configuration with the barrel mounted sights. I did use the peep on the rear sight.

I think I am going to use my dial calipers to set the elevation when I start shooting at longer ranges. I know when these rifles were used in competion back in the day many shooters used the O'Hare device for setting their rear sight for elevation. I know there is, or was a modern replacement but I don't want to spend the money.

I am going to load up some 314299 also for this gun and see what the results are.

I also shot some pulled 150gr FMJ with 2400 and the velocity spreads were very wide and accuracy not vey good. These same bullets shoot well out of my 1903a3 and Garand. I use H4895 in thos guns so may try the same in this 1903.

Great looking gun Ben and nice group.