1914 vintage 1903 my son picked up in a deal

[Chad5005]

Been sporterized but doesn’t look hacked up257171257172257173

[Andy45]

Very nice find!

Think of all the skill and work that first went into building and then sporterizing that old rifle!

[Texas by God]

I like it a lot. It should shoot as good as it looks. Which factory made it?

[Chad5005]

springfield armory,he shot it a few times and said it shot fine.

[Jack Stanley]

Nice receiver sight , sort of pricey that last time I bought one but worth it .

Jack

[arlon]

I have an old 2 groove barreled sporter (Smith Corona) set up like that. One of the most accurate iron sighted cast bullet shooters I own. Not picky about load or bullet either. I can't really think of any sane load I've tried in it that wasn't perfectly acceptable.

[gnoahhh]

At the risk of starting yet another debate about the safety of shooting a low numbered Springfield, have you considered that? Does it at least have the "Hatcher hole" (on the left side of the receiver ring) which provides a modicum of safety if things let go? Early single heat treat bolt or later safer one? These are things one most be aware of before deigning to fire a low number Springfield.

[gnoahhh]

Which factory made it?

Definitely Springfield. Highest Rock Island number was approximately 350,000. Leftover unmarked RI receivers (all nickel steel alloy by then, since #285,000) were shipped to Springfield where they were eventually folded into their pipeline.

[Chad5005]

I don't know anything about it yet,just received pics and talked to him for a minute about it,hes not really into military guns or vintage guns,he got it in a estate lot of 8 guns and was all or none

[Chad5005]

this rifle is in the 590,xxx serial numbers

[missionary5155]

Greetings
We have owned a Springfield #500,xxx for near 15 years. Was rebarrelled in 1943. Have shot as many RCBS 180 grain FNGC at about 2200 fps as we have desired. All military a fine shooter.
Mike in LLama Land

[Bob Busetti]

My 1903 was made in 1910. Government rebuild in 1943, rebarreled, A1stock. Purchased from the Pueblo Army Depot early sixties. Say what you want about it. Its a very accurate rifle, not altered, except for the receiver being drilled & tapped for scope.

[Patrick L]

Yeah I was waiting for this. Real can of worms. My opinion is my opinion, I'll just keep it to myself. I know what I would do.

[Chad5005]

what would you do? totally sporterize it or put it back factory stock

[Multigunner]

what would you do? totally sporterize it or put it back factory stock

I'd leave it as is for now.

[JoeJames]

Expanding on a previous poster. I am sure you know all the warnings about low number 03's. Well covered in Hatcher's Notebook, and also in DCM range regulations. Springfiields below 800,00 are commonly considered low numbers. The low number 03's re-barreled by the Gov't in WW2 were for expediency not safety. At that time they were not worried if one out of every thousand or hundred thousand blew up. I know and fully expect for y'all to pile on me, but I felt like I needed to mention it. So go ahead and cuss.

[Chad5005]

yes sir,i have read that and was reminded earlier in this post,but would never cuss somebody looking out for my or my kids well being

[JoeJames]

yes sir,i have read that and was reminded earlier in this post,but would never cuss somebody looking out for my or my kids well beingThanks, I did not think the previous poster went into enough detail on the serial numbers; so I'd post one with the actual numbers. I learned about them from experience. I picked up a low number that had been re-barreled in WWII. Being a novice I thought after I saw the barrel date that it was a parts gun. This was pre-internet - kind of bothered me; so I traded it off. Then later on I noticed the warning by the DCM and how they were not allowed in high power matches including the WWII re-barreled. Then I learned that due to the exigencies of war, the government re-barreled a number of low number figuring there would not be enough incidents to matter - wartime pressure and all that.

[Baltimoreed]

257692
I’ve enjoyed rebuilding my sporters back to at least an original look. Now I’m working on a sporter to a target configuration. The 1903 is a great rifle. With the Lyman recvr sight you’ve got a start towards a target gun. Or leave it alone and enjoy. Just don’t drill any more holes in the recvr.

[Bob Busetti]

No one ever seems to mention that most of the blow ups were traced back to the poor quality of brass used during the blow up era.

[JoeJames]

No one ever seems to mention that most of the blow ups were traced back to the poor quality of brass used during the blow up era.

There are plenty of rationalizations available for folks who really want to shoot them, ie., bad brass, over charges; but that does not explain why some of the receivers will break like glass: see Hatcher's Notebook. I would never shoot a low number.

[Baltimoreed]

As I only shoot light loaded cast in my 30 caliber milsurps, 3 krags and 3 ‘03s I put a reasonable bid in on a low numbered 03 a while back only to watch the bids go insanely high for a rough but unmolested rifle. Unless it was some rare 03 that I had no clue of they must have a value. Thinking someone was going to shoot it.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Hate to beat a dead horse, but could the receiver be hardness tested and/or magnafluxed?

[Wayne Smith]

It wasn't hardness that ruined them - it was brittleness. hit it with a hammer and if it doesn't shatter you may be good?

[oconeedan]

I have a sporterized Springfield 03, over 800000 but not by much. This rifle is an excellent hunting rifle and it has killed a pile of deer. It will remain a hunting rifle and it will remain in my safe. Except when I am hunting or shooting.:drinks:

[smithnframe]

According to the serial number isn't it a low-numbered Springfield?