1903 model t replica build help/advice needed

[seabreeze133]

I am back in the mode of building a Model T replica and some advice. The original T models had a 30" barrel, but that is all the data I can find. I plan on this being a cast boolit shooter and am happy w/311284 for 30-06. Any suggestions on twist rate? Plus would like to set it up so the bullet base is seated no deeper than the base of the neck. Would like to shoot it across the course in NRA hipower to 600 yds.

Plus I need a receiver and an 03A3 receiver will work as this will be a shooter. Source? Old Western Scrounger seems to have some receivers.

Need a replica stock but find none listed by stock mfgs.

Have a BAR front sight somewhere and will use a Lyman 48 series rear.

Will use a stock trigger that has been smoothed.

Thanks

seabreeze

[gnoahhh]

I would go with a 1-10" ROT. As for dimensions, I'm sure they're out there somewhere. Did Brophy list them? (I don't have my copy here.)

Sounds like a very neat project. If I were doing it, I would persevere and find a 1903 action, not an 03A3, as it would be 'correct', better finished (requiring less elbow grease on your part), smoother operating, and not have the rear bridge cut for the A3 rear sight. Finding a Bubba'ed '03 for a donor shouldn't be any more difficult/expensive than settling for an 03A3 action.

What will you use for a butt plate? How about the barrel band, too? (Perhaps an M2 barrel band, or an NRA Sporter band? Just thinking out loud.)

For a stock, I would get a repro Type C stock and modify it.

[Larry Gibson]

I'm going to suggest a heavy 30" Palma barrel with a 13" twist. Check out Shilen. With that you can push that 311284 to 2400+ fps with excellent accuracy. Will do nicely at 600 yards.

Lot's of fun to build up the older M1903 target models. I built a M1903A3 National Match Type II using a DHT M1903 action. I used an original new (still in the cosmo/wrapper Remington 4 groove barrel. It is extremely accurate but with the 10" twist I have to use the 311299 at 2050 - 2100 fps to just make 600 yards accurately. Accuracy is not quite as good at that velocity as down at 1850 fps where my 200/300 yard loads are. The slower twist will get you there though.

Larry Gibson

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[seabreeze133]

Thanks for the reply.

I once had a parts built 03A3 that I found an original C stock, + period correct Redfield globe and 48c rear sight for. Glass bedded the stock and rigged up pressure on the barrel. The barrel was a new 1943 and trigger was touched up by a friend (sadly he is no longer with us) that would consistently shoot 1 and 1/4 minutes to 600 yds and on a good day run one minute. For 10 shots. I was a little younger then and could see. Gave it to a nephew that needed/deserved it. Looked a lot like your pics.

Rifle came from a friendly pawn shop/gun shop and will not tell how much total I had in it. :o)

seabreeze

[Frank46]

Just for grins and giggles why don't you try google and see what pops up?. You'd be suprised at the info out there. Saw one of the 1903 "T" years ago but probably be lying to you if I had to rely on my memory. Do remember it was a double heat treated receiver though. Frank

[gnoahhh]

After reading Larry's post re: twist, I have to agree. I popped off about 1-10" without taking into account the intended end use with the 311284 bullet.

[Bob S]

Style T rifles could be ordered with 26, 28 or 30" barrels. 30" is the most common; less than 100 were made with 26" barrels. The front sight was a Winchester Globe set in a modified BAR base. The stocks were the NRA special stocks, nearly identical to the stocks provided on the 22 rifles made for civilian sales. The LOP is a full inch longer than any of the "issue" type stocks, and when I had the opportunity to shoot an original rifle owned by a friend at a club in Mass. many years ago, I found it difficult to operate the bolt with the butt in my shoulder for rapid fire. Still, I was able to score 467 with a handful of X's in the old DCM E course. The load that I used was Ideal 311284 with 21 grains of 4759.

Resp'y,
Bob S.