Bob S
05-09-2006, 07:40 PM
Below is one of my “Classic Poor-Man’s Match Rifles” that I built in the late 60’s. It is an early Remington 03A3, with the original 2-43 dated four-groove barrel.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MR.jpg
The scorebook for this one shows that the last time I fired it in an actual match was June, 1984, and the score was 464-3X. It seems I could not buy an X that day. At 200 yards, I used my old standard cast bullet load of the Ideal 311284 with 42 grains of WW II surplus 4831. Standing was 95-1; Sitting rapid 88-0 (yuk!). At 300 yards, I used Frankford Arsenal 1937 M1 ball: 96-0. At 600 I used the Sierra 190 MK with 45 grains 4895: 185-2.
The rifle is bedded with Acra-glass gel (and has been redone once since it was built circa 1969). The stock is a Keystone C, with Elmer Keith’s stamp on it, partially defaced by a deep groove cut for a low bolt for scope. You can’t see it in the picture. I got the stock from a guy who was “sporterizing” a National Ordinance “03A3”. Fortunately, I got the stock before he had a chance to hack off the forend. The “lightening grooves” in the forend are filled with lead to move the balance forward where I like it, and help with recovery in rapid. The bottom metal is M1903 from the DCM. The TG cost 32 cents if a I remember correctly, and it is a nicely blued very early one. With all of the parts, the complete TG, floor plate, follower and pins and springs came to less than a buck.
The rear sight is a Redfield No. 70:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRRearsight.jpg
The discoloration that you looks like “rust” is actually dyed Acra-glass. The sight base is shimmed with steel and bedded so that it is mounted much higher on the receiver than the usual out-of-the-box mounting. This gives plenty of elevation for 600 yards, and I think also for 1000, but I never fired this particular rifle at 1000. The Redfield also came in a “long slide” version, which was relatively rare. My current M2 Springfield has the Redfield long slide on it. The eyepiece on this one is a Merit adjustable.
The front sight is a Lyman 17 AXNA (I think). It is mounted in a M1903 fixed base. The key needed to have a small notch filed in the back to line up with the pin position on the M1903 base.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRfrontsight.jpg
The dovetail was lowered a bit to give more range of elevation without raising the sight line. The “slop” that you see is excess Marine Tex to make certain that the sight stays put.
This is a pic of the front end treatment.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRfront.jpg
There is generous clearance between the barrel and the metal of the upper band (red arrows). There is a shim of gasket paper between the barrel and the seat in the forend (yellow arrow). This was necessary with this rifle to get the right upward pressure at this point. It helps to dampen firing vibrations. Not readily apparent, but the spring clips in the handguard have been removed (green arrow). I wasn’t planning on doing any bayonet fighting with this one, and their removal provides clearance between the barrel and the handguard.
The buttplate is from the issue M2 .22 rimfire. They can still be found.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRbuttplate.jpg
And no, you can't get away with this stuff for the CMP "Springfield Match", but it is legal for NRA Match Rifle, and many local clubs have "military rifle matches" that include a "modified" category.
Resp'y,
Bob S.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MR.jpg
The scorebook for this one shows that the last time I fired it in an actual match was June, 1984, and the score was 464-3X. It seems I could not buy an X that day. At 200 yards, I used my old standard cast bullet load of the Ideal 311284 with 42 grains of WW II surplus 4831. Standing was 95-1; Sitting rapid 88-0 (yuk!). At 300 yards, I used Frankford Arsenal 1937 M1 ball: 96-0. At 600 I used the Sierra 190 MK with 45 grains 4895: 185-2.
The rifle is bedded with Acra-glass gel (and has been redone once since it was built circa 1969). The stock is a Keystone C, with Elmer Keith’s stamp on it, partially defaced by a deep groove cut for a low bolt for scope. You can’t see it in the picture. I got the stock from a guy who was “sporterizing” a National Ordinance “03A3”. Fortunately, I got the stock before he had a chance to hack off the forend. The “lightening grooves” in the forend are filled with lead to move the balance forward where I like it, and help with recovery in rapid. The bottom metal is M1903 from the DCM. The TG cost 32 cents if a I remember correctly, and it is a nicely blued very early one. With all of the parts, the complete TG, floor plate, follower and pins and springs came to less than a buck.
The rear sight is a Redfield No. 70:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRRearsight.jpg
The discoloration that you looks like “rust” is actually dyed Acra-glass. The sight base is shimmed with steel and bedded so that it is mounted much higher on the receiver than the usual out-of-the-box mounting. This gives plenty of elevation for 600 yards, and I think also for 1000, but I never fired this particular rifle at 1000. The Redfield also came in a “long slide” version, which was relatively rare. My current M2 Springfield has the Redfield long slide on it. The eyepiece on this one is a Merit adjustable.
The front sight is a Lyman 17 AXNA (I think). It is mounted in a M1903 fixed base. The key needed to have a small notch filed in the back to line up with the pin position on the M1903 base.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRfrontsight.jpg
The dovetail was lowered a bit to give more range of elevation without raising the sight line. The “slop” that you see is excess Marine Tex to make certain that the sight stays put.
This is a pic of the front end treatment.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRfront.jpg
There is generous clearance between the barrel and the metal of the upper band (red arrows). There is a shim of gasket paper between the barrel and the seat in the forend (yellow arrow). This was necessary with this rifle to get the right upward pressure at this point. It helps to dampen firing vibrations. Not readily apparent, but the spring clips in the handguard have been removed (green arrow). I wasn’t planning on doing any bayonet fighting with this one, and their removal provides clearance between the barrel and the handguard.
The buttplate is from the issue M2 .22 rimfire. They can still be found.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRbuttplate.jpg
And no, you can't get away with this stuff for the CMP "Springfield Match", but it is legal for NRA Match Rifle, and many local clubs have "military rifle matches" that include a "modified" category.
Resp'y,
Bob S.