1903A3 - Best Place to Start?

[three50seven]

I just picked up a sporterized 1903a3. RA 5-44 barrel on a Natl. Ord. receiver seated in a very nice Bishop walnut stock. My initial thought was to possibly have it rechambered to 35 Whelen by JES, but after reading up on the NO receivers, I've decided to keep it in '06 and make it primarily a cast boolit shooter.

I read the sticky about using 16gr of 2400 under a 170-180gr boolit as a "universal" load in these vintage military rifles. This sounds just about right for what I would like to do. My question is, is there a preferred bullet weight and/or profile that the '03 seems to prefer? I'd like to buy a few bullets to begin with, then eventually get a mold and start making my own. I have all the tools to do it, and maybe this rifle will be the one that finally pushes me to start casting!

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[5614estell]

Mine loves the RCBS 180SP. 4 groove barrel.

[Larry Gibson]

In my M1903; The NOE 30 XCB {310-165-FN] over 20 gr 2400 with no filler.

Two sighters then 10 for record at 100 yards

Attachment 287671

Another time, 2 sighters then 20 for record.

Attachment 287670

[higgins]

Try whatever .30 cal. bullet you have on hand. I tried 311041 bullets in my 2-groove 03A3 because I already had them on hand for my .30/30, and I've been shooting them ever since with the 16 grs. 2400 load in the .30/06. It does so well on 200-yard metal targets of various sizes that are small enough to be challenging that I haven't seriously experimented with another bullet.

[txbirdman]

My 03 likes the RCBS 165 silhouette pushed by 20 gr of 2400.

[three50seven]

Thanks for all the info so far. The only cast 30 cal bullets I have on hand are some 150gr FP GC that I've had setting around for quite awhile. I may load up a few to try out. Sounds like I will most likely need to look for something in the 165-185gr range though.

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[Gewehr-Guy]

Lots of guys shooting o3a3's in our CBA matches use Lyman 311299 bullet. I have had excellent luck with the Saeco 315 bullet. The Lee 180 and 200 gr should be good if you are lucky enough to get one that casts a .301 nose.

[Gewehr-Guy]

If you have some Unique, Red Dot or Herco, start with 12gr. and have fun!

[Char-Gar]

Your 150 - 210 grain gas check bullet of choice, sized .311. 16/2400 and you can work up o 20 grains until you and the rifle are happy.

[millerwb]

I have been told in the past that the best bullet for a two-grove 03A3 is the RCBS 165 gr SIL sized to .310. That is what I went with for mine.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

My 03 is fitted with a 12x Leupold and has a 4 groove 4/44 barrel. Loves a Lyman 311284 (210gn) sized to 0.310" over 31.5gn of 3031.

The 'quest' to shoot a sub-MOA 10 shot group took me about 3 months of shooting every other day and over 600 rounds. I would get 6,7,8, rounds in a group then a flyer just to ruin it. On the day of triumph, I shot 2 x 10 shot groups under MOA. The things we do while recovering from a heart operation!

100yds benchrested 10 shots under 1MOA

[Char-Gar]

Note: It is the barrel throat that determines the best sizing diameter of the cast bullet. The barrel groove diameter is irrelevant. Military surplus rifles most often will have been shot allot and will have larger throats due to gas erosion, making a larger diameter bullet a better choice. In an 03A3 with a spanking new barrel, .310 would be a good starting place. But in a used barrel, which most are, .311 is better and maybe even .312 in a well worn barrel throat.

You guys who post picture of targets and bullet groups, really should tell us the range at which they were shot. Without that the pic of of little or no use.

[35 Whelen]

I've piddled with 03A3's for a few years now, and really it seems like most any reasonable bullet with most any reasonable powder works. I found one in a sporter stock a few months ago and brought it home. I just picked up where I left off with the same powders and bullets I'd used in my other ones. This one did not disappoint!



Some of my other ones-



Good luck

35W

[three50seven]

35 Whelen-
Nice shooting and nice looking rifles!

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[Patrick L]

I shot the SAECO 196 grain boolit for literally years using that very load as my NRA Highpower load. I switched to a copy of the Lee 155 gr spitzer only to make my lead supplies go farther. Equal accuracy. I load 16 grains 2400, I don't need any more. Soft shooting, accurate, and you'll never put any wear on the barrel.