Got an 03A3 coming...which mould to use?

[35 Whelen]

O.K. fellas...I scored an 03A3, a drill rifle rebuild with a 64 year old brand new barrel! The owner has only fired about 50 rounds through it since the re-barrel. Got the thing for what I think was a really good price. This rifle is to be a"cast bullet only" rifle.
I need suggestions for a mould. I have several .30 caliber moulds that I use for my Mosins and Enfields, but most of them cast larger bullets. in the .314" range. I have a 311041 DC that drops them at around .310" (Thanks, Calamity Jake), a Lee 312185 SCthat drops them at about .312", and an old Ideal 311467 SC that drops them at about .312". Will one of these work for serious accuracy, or should I spring for something else?
I just noticed that Midway ahs a .30 caliber 185 gr. nose pour mould, but it's quite expensive at about twice the price of a Lyman mould. Would it be worth it?
Thanks!
35W

[garandsrus]

35 Whelan,

Was the receiver a welded? Sometimes when they did very bad things when they turned rifles into drill rifles.

I really like 311291 and 311041 in my 03A3...

Good luck!

John

[35 Whelen]

35 Whelan,

Was the receiver a welded? Sometimes when they did very bad things when they turned rifles into drill rifles.

I really like 311291 and 311041 in my 03A3...

Good luck!

John

I've seen close-up pictures of both sides of the receiver, and nothing looks amiss. According to the seller, he installed..."new cut off, new striker, new bolt body and brand new Remington barrel with a date of 12-43". He says he's fired about 50 rounds through it
The gentleman seems quite sincere and is even a cast bullet shooter! We'll soon see.
35W

[Calamity Jake]

When you get that 03A3 clean all the copper out of it then slug it, that will tell you what size boolet is needed, I'll bet that 311041 @ .310Ø will work.
The other two molds should work to, even at .312Ø. course you could run em thru a sizer if you need too..

Next time your up this way, give me a shout, we will go get a cup somewhere.

[sundog]

http://home.windstream.net/corkyconnell/mil_bolt_targets/080308_score1.jpg

March 8, 2008, Oil Captital Rod & Gun Club, monthly military bolt match
20dF, overcast, 1 inch snow, wind 180 @ 5
314299 sized .312 with FWFL and Gator checks, OAL to barely engrave
LCNM 78 brass, 11 X fired, 1 X trimmed, neck turned, neck sized
21.0/IMR4227 and CCI BR2 primer
CMP Reminton 03A3, as issued
8 holes, 10 rounds. Score target 1, 100-3X (group size is 1.5"), 100 yards, SR-21 target

[sundog]

Oh, what I forgot to mention was that just about any boolit you can fit in the throat of an 03A3 will shoot. Some are just a little 'mo betta' then others. I kinda like the 314299 (better than the 311299), SAECO #301, 311284 (beagled), 311291, and the RCBS 30-180-SP and 308-165-SIL.

[wiljen]

Don't forget the 311407 if you can find one. It outshoots the 311041 in my Mark I.

[Larry Gibson]

35 Whelen

I'd try all your moulds, even the larger .314 ones. The noses of the larger ones, when they are seated correctly, will tell you if they work or not. If they will chamber without pushing the bullet back in the case, even if the nose is slightly engraved, then give them a try. You may need to size them .312 as Sundog (me too) does. The 311041, the C312-185 and the 311467 are all top shooters in most '06s. The 311467 being a Lovern may give you exceptional accuracy over the other two. I'd leave them at .312 initially and only size down if necessary.

Larry Gibson

[DonH]

I'm kinda in the same boat - new (to me) 03A3 about ready to go. New 7-43 RA 4 groove barrel. Moulds I have on hand are 311467, 311290 and a NEI which looks a lot like the 311299. I really wanted the "290" to work but it is a bit small, about .298 om the nose and309 - .3095 on the bands. May try "beagling" it. The 311467 will require sizing as will the NEI bullet which goes about .3135 bands/.305 nose. I can't wait to get started. I just jave to get barrel bands to complet the rifle.

As I can't see to shoot without a scope, I will D&T the rifle (not collectible) for Unertl-type scope blocks and use my Lyman Super Targetspot scope on it. Sort of loosely like the Marine 1941 sniper rifle. And of course, I plan on cast bullets only.

As an aside, I am accumulating parts for a .30-40 Krag chambered, heavy barreled old style bench rifle on a 14/17 Enfield actiion. That one is going to be fun also.

[sundog]

DonH, good for you. Set that rifle up the way YOU want it and shoot it regularly. I d&t'd a RI 03 with a HS bbl for a Ly target sight, Ly globe on the front, and shoot high power with. I sold the original stock and hardware to a buddy building up a barreled action, so it went to good use. His is all 'correct', now. Mine sits in a carbolite stock, and is quite comfortable to shoot - with cast, but of course!

Here is an observation about the 03/03A3's (that's prolly applicable to a lot of other stuff). If it's safe to shoot, load as big a diameter boolit you can that will load the throat without forcing it. Forward of the front drive band should be at least bore, bigger is better, i.e., if the bore is .300 then the dia between the ogive and forward drive band should be at least .301. Bigger and longer to reach out to the lands. With neck sized, fire formed cases and an OAL that reaches as far out as possible, success of getting a round loaded and be concentric is greatly enhanced enhanced. If I'm preaching to the choir, ignore my ramblings.

Hard to image some of these old battle axes are as good as they are!

[Char-Gar]

My 03A3 once served as a JROTC Color Guard rifle. They ground off the firing pin and welded up the hole in the bolt. I bought a new Remington bolt, checked the headspace and was back in business.

I bought a brand new Remington bolt still in the wrap for $3.00 at gun show in New Mexico. About 12 years ago.

[eka]

Both of my 03A3's shoot the 311284 incredibly well. It's just very easy to get that boolit to shoot good. I've gotten excellent groups from 2400, Red Dot, IMR 4227, and Unique. One of these days I'm gonna get a 311291 and try it out too. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

Keith

[Lumpie]

I have 2.03's, 2 O3a3's, a P14 Enfield 30-40, and a 98 krag. I use 2 moulds. One is a Cramer 4 Cavity drops 191gr. with 1 part High speed nickel babbit, 9parts pure lead. I have a Ideal 8 Cavity stenciled U.S. Property. This was made by Ideal especially for the 1903. It drops a bullet. 1 part high speed nickle babbit, 9 parts of pure lead. They come out of the mould at 188gr. Both will shoot under an inch, with scope. I have tried most of the Lyman, RCBS and Saeco moulds. None of them will shoot like these the old timers. Carl

[Ben]

35Whelen :

You mentioned that you have a 311467. I've been shooting the 311467 out of a new pristine 2 groove RA-1944 , 03-A3 barrel.
Here is the target. This load has shot well in a variety of rifles, you might want to try it .......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/88.jpg

[KCSO]

I have had good luck (1 1/4" at 100 yards with a Lyman 311264 sized to .3105 and lubed with Carnuba Red. I am using 13.0 grains of Red Dot for right at 1600 fps from my 24" barreled 03. This is from a barrel made in 1910 and with a little wear in the throat. The bore is 3085 but due to the minor throat wear i went with a slightly larger bullet. Bullets are seated to just touch the rifling. The rifle has an old Bausch and Lomb 2.5 to * on it but it has been stuck on 2.5 power for a number of years. I might be able to shrink the groups a little with more scope, but I don't want to change the B and L mounts and drill more holes.

[sundog]

Here's another one from several years ago. 2 groove Rem bbl.

http://home.windstream.net/corkyconnell/sporter_small.jpg

This is a 10-round 50-yard target shot off the bench.
Load
WIN Brass 2 times fired and neck sized
Rem 9 1/2 Primer
Lyman 311291 Boolit, Hornady GC'd, and Lyman Super Moly Lube in a .312 sizer
21.0 gr IMR4227 (about 1635 fps)
The black aiming diamond is a 3/4 in target paster.

http://home.windstream.net/corkyconnell/sporter_tgt311291.jpg

[Ben]

Great Shooting Sundog.

Don't you love those 2 groove barrels with cast bullets !

Ben

[sundog]

Ben, uh..., yes. Yours looks purdy good, too!

[cat1870]

Anyone shoot the Ly 311467 bullet in the 30-40 Krag?
I've Ruger #3 in that Cal. and am looking fer suggestions.
Thanks

Cat

[johnly]

Just came home from a trip to the range with my 1903A1. I tried the 311041 Lee group buy, 311291, 311466, and 311334, 25 grains of IMR 4198. The top performers were 311291 and 311334.

Be sure to slug your barrel, my two 1903s measure both measure 0.3095"

John

[Shiloh]

http://home.windstream.net/corkyconnell/mil_bolt_targets/080308_score1.jpg

March 8, 2008, Oil Captital Rod & Gun Club, monthly military bolt match
20dF, overcast, 1 inch snow, wind 180 @ 5
314299 sized .312 with FWFL and Gator checks, OAL to barely engrave
LCNM 78 brass, 11 X fired, 1 X trimmed, neck turned, neck sized
21.0/IMR4227 and CCI BR2 primer
CMP Reminton 03A3, as issued
8 holes, 10 rounds. Score target 1, 100-3X (group size is 1.5"), 100 yards, SR-21 target

Outstanding cast boolit performance!!

Very well done!!

Shiloh

[skeet1]

Iv'e been using the Lee 312-185 sized to .311 in my 1903 seems to shoot very well.

Skeet1

[35 Whelen]

Shot a couple of targets with the ol' girl. If it weren't for a couple of flyers in each group, they'd be nice groups! Anyhow, she seems to shoot the 14299 and the 311672 really well.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/03A3/314299.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/03A3/314299a.jpg

35W