30-06 Cast boolit shooter

[Pressman]

I had to run over to Owatonna for groceries this afternoon, which means I also have to swing by Cabela's to look for bargains. They have a very nice O3-A3 that has been professionally sporterized with receiver sights, no scope base holes have been drilled.
Now, I would not mind having a 30-06, but the thought of shooting factory equivalent loads does not appeal at all. So that leaves cast boolits or maybe 100-125 grain J words. Then I got to thinking why? I have a 7.5 Swiss that is nearly the same thing. But it is not an '06 and not a 1903. And the price is very good.

I want it and I don't need it.

Ken

[Conditor22]

Ken, if stuff goes sideways, it will be a lot easier to find 06 ammo than swiss. :bigsmyl2:

[richhodg66]

"Need" doesn't enter the equation really.

.30-06 and .30-30 are two that there always seems to be room for one more for me. That sounds like a nice rifle, and the'06 is a good cast shooter in my experience.

[BigAlofPa.]

I load 120 grain accura outdoors plated and 150 grain .309 coated cast for my 30.06 with red dot. Lots of fun. Accurate and it don't beat you up.

[Winger Ed.]

Ever watch Mathew Broderick and Marlon Brando in 'The Freshman'?

Brando played a Godfather sort of character, and whenever Broderick would say something like, "That's illegal"!

Brando would get all pained and twisted up, and say, "Illegal is such an ugly word. I try not to use it".

That's how I am when someone mentions "Need", or worse, "You don't need,,,,,,,,"..:bigsmyl2:

[richhodg66]

For cast, I have yet to find a better shooter than the old 311284. Ten shots at 100 yards.
265505

[Texas by God]

If it's still there tomorrow.....

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[smoked turkey]

I would be at their door when they open in the morning if I were in your shoes. That is one rifle I would dearly love to own. Problem is they have always been just a little out of my financial reach. That probably sounds familiar to many here too. I personally would opt for a full military rifle rather than one that has been sporterized but as you describe it it might be tempting....

[Thumbcocker]

03A3's are good boolit shooters.

[Baltimoreed]

I use light loads and heavy boolits in my Krags and ‘03s. With the military sights that they have on them and 69 year old eyes I don’t shoot for groups, I only shoot to ring steel.

[Pressman]

I have several hundred 30 caliber bullets from my friends estate, all 155 grain and lighter, down to 30 carbine. This '06 might be a fun way to use them up.
Besides I like the looks of the '03's.

I had thought someone may try to offer a contradicting thought about getting it, but you guys are all of the same mind - "Buy more guns".

Love it!

[Baltimoreed]

Only several hundred? No where near enough.

[Pressman]

Thanks to everyone's encouragement I made a deal and brought it home. It is a heck of a lot cheaper than the used name brand rifles in the rack, and a lot better in my not so humble opinion.
The receiver is a Remington, it's been rebarreled, good. The stock looks like it might be a Herter's, more research needed. Bluing and metal work is first rate, good. The stock finish is old and could use some freshening, but closer inspection shows a lot of sanding marks around the but. Looks like a total refinish is required, that OK as it will improve the overall appearance. Trigger is hunting rifle acceptable. Williams receiver sight, good. No holes drilled for scope bases, good Overall condition is 95%, discounting the sanding marks. A true safe queen that is appealing to look at whit real wood and blued steel.

Next is researching light loads and powder choices. Currently I am leaning towards Trail Boss and 4895.

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[smoked turkey]

Good job on getting the 03A3. Glad we could be of help to you. Ha. That is a very nice looking rifle. Someone said above they just like the looks of an 03A3. I agree totally.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

My 'cast boolit" Springfield has a 4 groove barrel and likes the Lyman 311284

https://i.imgur.com/4aMC0cKl.jpg

[Conditor22]

There's a good reason the 06 and the O3A3 have been around soo long

I got some nice light loads using BE and 2400 using 155 - 165 grn boolits

[Larry Gibson]

Not an 'A3 but a DHT '03 I built into a pseudo M1903A3 National Match Type II. I put a new (in wrapper and cosmoline) RA 4 groove barrel on it. Has a Lyman long slide receiver sight with 1/4 moa and Lyman aperture front sight. It really likes the NOE 310-165-FN 30 XCB loaded over 20 gr 2400 with a dacron filler. At 100 yards I shot the 2 sighters making sight adjustments then shot 10 for "record".

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[Texas by God]

Pressman- way to go! That's a good looking rifle. Is it a 2 groove or 4 groove ? My brother had a 2 groove that shot excellently with jacketed bullets, we never tried cast in it. If the white line spacers have little black zigzags, it's a Herters stock [emoji846]

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[303Guy]

You might try a 32 pistol boolit, sized to fit an unsized neck, with a light charge of Clays or BE or similar. The idea being that the boolit is held concentric to the bore and is virtually in contact with the throat so enters the bore concentrically. I've done this with paper patch and accuracy was very good. (The patch does not come off so there is no issue there). You might even try paper patching a short pistol boolit with the same objective (more effort though).

[15meter]

Gave a friend his first reloading lesson last night specifically because of an 03-A3. I've known him for 50 years, I dragged him into the shooting sports as a retirement hobby.

He bought his 03-A3 after shooting mine with 311284's over 14 grains of Blue Dot.

Then he shot his new (to him) rifle with ball ammo.

Didn't take him long to decide it was time to learn how to duplicate my loads.

He's got my copy of Grendel's ABC's of reloading to re-enforce lesson one.

He's learning to reload because of an 03-A3, just think of the advantage you have, you already know how to reload.

The rifle is calling your name:bigsmyl2:

[dogmower]

I have two 03A3's and an older sporterized 03 (with the pederson cut receiver, too bad it was sporterized), and all like the the lyman 314299 over 38.5 grains imr4350.

[sghart3578]

In my sporterized 03A3 I shoot the Lee C312-160-R, gas checked and sized to .311". Liquid Alox lube. Loaded over 18.5 gr of 2400.

It is more accurate than I am.

[Rich/WIS]

Had an 03 and several A3's, and a A4 forgery over the years, all in full military configuration. All were excellent shooters, both with full power J bullet loads and cast. All are gone now except a Rem A3 with a C stock that is fed a steady diet of GC 311291 sized .310 over 16 grs of Blue Dot or 13 grs of Red Dot, either load shoots well for me and recoil is not an issue (these are @1600 fps loads). Noticed that whoever did your rifle replaced the stamped trigger guard/magazine with a milled one from an 03, which makes for a much nicer looking rifle. Enjoy, wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't become your favorite CB shooter.

[Baltimoreed]

Nice looking sporter. I’ve been messing with VV Tin Star N32C and .311 193 gr gc Hunters Supply boolits. Use the same load in my ‘03s and Krags for BAMM [Bolt Action Military Match]. Minute of sass marshal is all I need.

[ShooterAZ]

Nice rifle Ken, I think you are going to enjoy it. I shoot the RCBS 30-165 SIL in mine with the aforementioned 18.5 gr of 2400. For plinking I use the LEE TL314-90 sized to .311 and loaded over 3.2 grains of Bullseye.

[smithnframe]

I'm a succer for 03's and 03-a3's too. Good catch!

[Pressman]

Looking around at my ammo stash I found 60 rounds of reloads, all with 150 gr fmj J words and 4198 powder. Se we headed to the range yesterday for a few get acquainted shots.
I was surprised at how little I felt the recoil, I had thought about pulling the bullets and reclaiming the powder. I think I may shoot them up, it will be good recoil practice when fired alongside milder loads.
The rifle handles very well, stock fit is excellent and that helps the recoil, even with a hard rubber Pachmayr pad. I didn't shoot groups worth bragging about but I can excuse that as me and the tight barrel channel fit. I think opening the channel enough to free float the barrel will help a lot.

Overall, I like it a lot. I am glad you guys talked me into bringing it home.

[samari46]

Rescued a bubba'd 1903A3 for the grand sum of 89.00 many years ago. Barrel was shall we say not the best due to corrosive ammo. Found a NOS barrel at a local gun show when gun shows routinely had such things for sale. Stuck the barreled action in my sears craftsman lathe and using a cut off tool cut a channel just in front of the receiver. Old stub came out with very little tugging with a pipe wrench. hand polished the complete action,and barrel which was some fun as it had the center support still there when it was made years ago. Gunsmith charged me $200 to d&t the action for iron sights, supply and install a Redfield banded front sight, redo the crown and blue the whole barreled action. Still have it and not for sale at any price. Frank

[Three44s]

Nice find!

My sporterized mil rifles are both M1917 Enfields. I have only handled the 03’s but it is remarkable how much more trim they are.

Three44s

[curiousgeorge]

Nice work Ken. Never had an A3, but 30-06 and 311284 in a Brazilian mauser one of my favorite combos.

Think heavyweight for cast (180 - 210) and lightweight for jacketed (110 - 125/130). Little recoil and lots of shooting generally makes for good groups.
Steve

[Pressman]

Steve, those are my thoughts. I have a Model 700 222, but the 30-06 loaded light just has a better appeal for fun shooting at paper and plinking. And the '03 feels like as real rifle.
I need to locate some powder and get a few light loads worked up.

[Outpost75]

We load 1000's of rounds of .30-'06 gallery loads annually for use in club 03A3s for Appleseed classes. We use a Dillon machine set up to meter 8.5 grains of WST shotshell powder and we load Accurate 31-155D cast from backstop scrap, loaded as-cast and unsized, lubed with Lee Liquid Alox, expanding the FL sized cases with an RCBS cast bullet neck expander at .312" to just a 1/8" depth to hand-start the bullet. Velocity is about 1080 fps. The rifles shoot to the sights at 100 yards using the reduced SR target and the 400 yard step on the elevator. Accuracy is better than CMP-issue Greek HXP ball ammo.

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[gnoahhh]

A couple of my '03 cast bullet shooters. All of them thrive on NOE 309-169 (Elco spitzer) + 18 gr. 4759.

https://i.imgur.com/fupSrQy.jpg
M1941 USMC Sniper clone, Unertl 8x
https://i.imgur.com/3cGYKntl.jpg
M1903 Style T Target, rebarreled 1936 by John Dubiel
https://i.imgur.com/ZzmtK78l.jpg
M1903 NRA Sporter, bought from the family that used it from new to chase bears on Kodiak Island.

[fiberoptik]

Nice [emoji106]


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[Pressman]

There is some mighty nice rifles posted here. And a lot of good load information, that is what I am looking for. Actual user experience with boolits and powder.
Ken

[Eddie2002]

I was lucky enough to inherit my dad's Sedgley Springfield in 30-06. Thing's pretty much immaculate and has both the peep site and the scope which it came with. I shoot a 115 grain flat nose .311 cast boolet over around six grains of Bullseye or BE86 with it which is a blast out to 50 yds. Also use the same load in a Remington BDL in 30-06. Looks like you got a good shooter there have fun.

[Herb in Pa]

Remington Model 30 express & VZ24 Mauser in 06265931

[Pressman]

Thanks Herb, those are nice rifles. Cabela's had a nice Model 30 last winter but it was too pricey at the time. But it is what spurred me into this rifle and shooting project.

Sporterized Mausers, what's not to love about them.

[Conditor22]

when buying anything from cabellas, first go to raise.com, they sell gift certificate for % off face value. Currently the cabellas ones are 9% off ($100 gift card for $90) I use these whenever I find a deal there. I've seen them over 14% off. Helps pay for shipping

[Herb in Pa]

I paid $299 out the door for the Model 30............