30/06 cast and my new 03a3

[Brother_Love]

I am loading some 311284 cast over some Unique and IMR 4895 today to try out in my new rifle. I found this 03a3 through a friend. The lady who had it was selling after her husband passed away several years ago. He was an FBI agent and had quite a collection. Some of the local shops had offered her $150 or less for the rifle. I may have paid too much but I gave her $450 for it and we both were happy. I will find out Saturday if she will shoot or not. I am not familiar with the Williams scope mount and it makes me wonder if this was a Williams conversion.

Any help answering questions about it would be welcome.

Thanks
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[Char-Gar]

That appears to be a 1903 Springfield and not an 03A3. The bottom metal is from and 03 and the rear receiver ring looks to be 03. It is possible to re contour an 03A3 rear receiver ring to look like an O3, but I doubt that is what was done in this case. A look at the marking on the top of the front receiver ring will tell the story for sure.

An email to Williams will get you the instruction for the mount.

It looks to be a very well done sporter Springfield and it should be a great cast bullet rifle.

[Brother_Love]

the serial number is 1263xxx, so this would not be a low numbered 03? Right?

[Larry Gibson]

Looks like a very good buy to me. The LGS was only quoting a price on the rifle and would have marked it up even more with that scope and mount. That Redfield scope is a good choice he put on a nice hunting rifle. That Williams base is an excellent one for that M1903 DHT'd action. It also appears to be a very decent conversion with a nice looking stock. I think you gave the Lady what the rifle was worth and you didn't get hurt at all. Merry Christmas.

Larry Gibson

[Char-Gar]

the serial number is 1263xxx, so this would not be a low numbered 03? Right?

Correct...Your rifle would have been made in 1924 and is one of the excellent double heat treated receivers.

[Brother_Love]

Anyone have a favorite load with the 311284 you want to share?

[Char-Gar]

Anyone have a favorite load with the 311284 you want to share?

Sure, 311284 sized .310 or .311 over 15 - 16 grains of 2400, will surely please you.

[Larry Gibson]

22 - 24 gr of 4759 is an excellent load also.

Larry Gibson

[too many things]

would check bore before you try a 311 size. that looks to be a replacement barrel and may be 308

[runfiverun]

it's the throat not the barrel you worry about.
I second the 2400 load.
my 03A3 likes 18grs err 19 actually of 2400 under the 311041 boolit.
if your rifle shoots groups like mine does [without a scope] at 100yds you'll be plenty happy with the addition of the scope.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I found the Williams scope mount system to be over engineered and actually was a bit on the heavy side. The turn wheels under each ring are for tightening the scope to the base. Supposedly you could remove and re-install the scope by loosening/tightening these wheels, there were set screws I believe locking these wheels in place when you tightened them. I had such a system on a Model 70 Win. once that had an Williams `Ace in the hole` peep sight on the rear of the base for use without the scope - never used it. A leupold 1 piece mount will probably fit the mount holes the Williams had drilled for it. Very nice looking sporter job.Robert

[zomby woof]

16.0 grains of 2400 will shoot great and will be easy on the shoulder. I found 33.5 grains of Varget to be the sweet spot also. The 311284 shot well in my A3, I found the 312299 NOE to shoot better. My Garand likes the 311284.