1903 Springfield .30-'03 Sporter

[MikePotts]

This rifle showed up in a picture of mine in the Hunting section and I was asked for some better pictures:

It looks pretty nice from here!

But upon closer examination

It has a lot of excess holes, but it shoots GREAT especially with the 220gr. bullets for which it was designed and surprisingly, with Federal Fusion Lites, inside of 100yds that is. It does have a VERY early serial number:

It's a 1904 action (maker is under the 'scope base and I've forgotten it!) and a1905 RIA barrel.

Thanks for the interest, MP

 

[pistolpadre]

well i will say those are some interesting pictures..

 

[V-Tach]

Nice rifle.....honest wear....and period glass....thanks for sharing it....

 

[40Arpent]

Nice rifle.....honest wear....and period glass....thanks for sharing it....

my sentiments exactly! Thanks Mike!

 

[Sapper740]

Does it have the cut out for the Pedersen Device on the other side of the receiver?

 

[MikePotts]

Does it have the cut out for the Pedersen Device on the other side of the receiver?

No, way too early for that. I does have the magazine cut-off though.

 

[ROGER4314]

It looks like a low numbered action (below 800,000) Can you verify?

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/18937-Low-number-Springfield-1903-rifles

Flash

 

[Jakashh]

still looks nice to me

 

[shortround]

Hill Country March by the Fort Knox Army Band - YouTube

 

[MikePotts]

It looks like a low numbered action (below 800,000) Can you verify?

Low number Springfield 1903 rifles

Flash

LOL... it's below 10,000 !

 

[M. Sage]

I'm not sold on the "unsafe to fire" thing. Hatcher found a way to make those receivers safe simply by drilling a hole to relieve stress, IIRC. I think that .30-03 is slightly lower pressure, too. Didn't know you could actually find that ammo, though...

 

[Acera]

If it is truly a .30-03 it is a rare bird indeed. Most every one was converted to .30-06, and those that are left are highly collectable in that chambering. Would have an expert look at it.

M.Sage are you sure on that low serial numbered thing about being safe to fire with a hole cut? The entire US ordinance department could not figure out how to do it in time of war when those rifles were desperately needed, and the CMP and other experts in the field never say fire them, they are all wall hangers. Would like a link if you have one on them being ok.

 

[ROGER4314]

The so called "brittle" early receivers were occasionally found to fail under firing but the danger was never quantified. It's all about percentages and the early receivers below SN 880,000 had the old style "eyeball" heat treating.

The low numbers were still placed in service but the percentages were higher that the receiver would fail. How much more? No one really knows because they weren't absolutely sure when the serial numbers changed from the old style heat treatment to the new. There were also very small numbers of failures and no guarantee that the failures were caused by receiver damage or shooter error.

CMP simply covered their butts by saying that any low number should be a wall hanger only. If you choose to fire one, they have clean hands.

The link below covers this problem in excruciating detail.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

The "Flash" take on this is that ANY mechanical device can fail under use. Any receiver, any rifle, any barrel CAN fail at any time just as factory ammo CAN be dangerous. It happens.

If you like the rifle and feel good about shooting it, then get after it. I would NOT pay a premium price for a rifle with a low number receiver, however.

Flash

 

[M. Sage]

If it is truly a .30-03 it is a rare bird indeed. Most every one was converted to .30-06, and those that are left are highly collectable in that chambering. Would have an expert look at it.

M.Sage are you sure on that low serial numbered thing about being safe to fire with a hole cut? The entire US ordinance department could not figure out how to do it in time of war when those rifles were desperately needed, and the CMP and other experts in the field never say fire them, they are all wall hangers. Would like a link if you have one on them being ok.

Hatcher Hole.......Wondering Why the Other Hole....

Found this on a collector forum. I guess I was wrong, looks like it was a vent hole to keep the receiver from going to pieces in case of a failure, but you'd still have a failure. Maybe not 100% safe, but what in life is? At any rate, the Hatcher Hole would keep you from having big chunks of rifle receiver imbedded in your skull...

 

[ROGER4314]

The Hatcher Hole was designed to vent gases to the side instead of back into the face of the shooter especially in the event of a case rupture. I also found some references that it "mitigates" the danger of a receiver failure but does not eliminate that danger.

That's my "take" on it.

Flash

 

[Acera]

Thanks M.Sage for the link