U.S. Rifle M1903a3 "03-A3" to 500yds: Practical Accuracy
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- Опубликовано: 11 ноя 2020
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The U.S. M1903A3 was an improvement over the M1903 rifle with a rear aperture sight that was faster to produce during wartime. The "re-chambered Mauser" was a common sight in the Pacific Theater even up till the 70's when the U.S. Navy finally retired them.
Since it's employment, the M1903A3 has been a crowd favorite at CMP / NRA service rifle matches for it's excellent sighting system, but how does it do on our field?
Why does Henry not prefer the front sight? Find out for yourselves.
Special thanks to The Gun Room LLC for loaning us this rifle.
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Distance Conversions:
150y - 137m
200y - 182m
250y - 229m
300y - 274m
350y - 320m
400y - 366m
450y - 411m
500y - 457m
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![U.S. Rifle M1917 [Sgt. York's WW1 Medal of Honor Story ] to 500yds: Practical Accuracy](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OYunBYZyCY8/mqdefault.jpg)
As a M1903 fanatic, I was very excited to see this pop up in my feed. I've noticed that the lighting drastically affects my group sizes. I've had everything from 9 rounds touching at 100 yards to barely holding black on the SR-1, all with the same rifle, same ammunition, and similar temperatures. I found that using the sight hood helped a little with focusing on the front sight. Henry is probably well aware, but I'll throw this out for everyone else. The USMC actually had similar observations around 1918 and developed their own sight system consisting of a larger rear aperture (the #10 sight) and a thicker, taller front sight with an undercut. A larger front sight hood was also issued with the intention of staying on the rifle during shooting. The sights brought the battle sight zero to a more practical 200yd as opposed to 547yd for the standard 1905 sight. If you guys have a standard 03, you can buy reproductions and try the combo out. Great video!
This is most interesting! As an Army boy, I rag on the USMC a lot, but they really do a lot of work to improve individual rifle systems.
Also pinned!
@@9HoleReviews If you guys want to do a follow up, I'd be thrilled to supply the rifle and the sights
@@mkcsu27 I would love to see how it performs with an optic of its period.
@@ouruizThis thread is a great read: www.migunowners.org/forum/showthread.php?310474-1941-USMC-Sniper-Replica-build
With good handloads and a properly fitted stock, 1 MOA does not seem unreasonable. One thing to bear in mind about the 03s in general and 03 snipers' rifles in particular is the amount of time and care taken during manufacture and assembly. Wartime 03A3s and 03A4s are functional but rather hastily fitted and assembled when compared to interwar rifles. The 03A4 (initially issued with a 2.5x M81 or M82) and the USMC 8x Unertl equipped rifles are not in the same league. Careful stock fitting and a superior optic on the USMC rifle make a difference in performance.
Martini Henry???? You can’t hide that from me😂 I can’t wait
I want to see Henry shooting a Martini Henry and a Henry while drinking martini
@@afinoxi or shoot a mosin nagant. For every shot he takes a shot of Stalin vodka.
@@danielaramburo7648 that can get a bit messy...
Even if he doesn't miss any shots he has to shoot 16 shots. And at that point he can get quite drunk and drunkenness with guns is never a good idea. A glass of martini should be fine though.
So Henry has is own rifle now? Fancy.
@@magoid more like Henry has their own human now , fancy.
Soldiers : We can't shoot anything because of those damn fine sights.
Ordnance Department : *what*
"You're right soldier! Those are fine sight... Mighty fine sights indeed! Now, back to the fight!"
--The Ordnance Department
Zippo soot goes a long way
Ordnance department (or army ordnance board) has a tendency to ruin everything they touch.
My Grandfather who used the 1903 against the Japanese said they would file the rear of the front site just enough to make a "bright" line at the top rear of the blade.
Dad said uncle Larry got one new in the wrapper for $5, that was about '46. I said, "Does he still want it, I'll give him $10 for it", that was about 2004.
I'll bid 15!
My dad carried an '03-A4 into the Battle of the Bulge. He told me, "It weighed 10.4 lbs. and after 5 miles you could remove the decimal point." He came out of the Bulge with a folding stock M1 Carbine. When asked about the Springfield, "Gee, Sarge, I lost it."
Is your father still living?
@@sodapop9mm562 sadly it’s not all that likely. Only about 240k of the 16 million American vets are still alive. Cherish the ones that are, I had the pleasure of meeting a marine from WW2 a week ago at walmart
And if not, may he Rest In Peace.
My dad had carried an M1 Garand for his guard duty in Saigon (South Vietnam Airforce). After the first day he switched for an M1 Carbine also
@@TamLe-ig2ey Yeah 30-06 is like a bigger 308 and 308 is already pretty fucken heavy.
Comparing it with the M1917 Enfield would be interesting.
@Götz von Berlichingen Mate, the M1917 Enfield is superior if you’re comparing it to the first models of the 03.
As an enfield fan, I shoot my p14 in 303 alot. Laser beam with great sights compared to the smle.
@@tays8306 p14 gang represent 🤘
I had 3 1917s and all 3 were tack drivers. Far superior to the 03A3. I should've kept all 3. Hard to find a good one these days.
Just make the comparison real: The M1903A3 didn't come out until WWII. The versions of the rifle used up to that time were M1903s and M1903A1s. M1903A3 rear sights were not really designed for long-range shooting, per se, as they were graduated only to 800 yards, whereas the model 1905 sights were designed to cover ranges well in excess of that figure. And the '03A3 rear ramp is quickly-adjustable, but not all that precise. A M1903 vs. M1917 comparison would be cool, for sure.
As a fellow M1903 fanatic, I can relate. My Dad while in the Army, (Fort Still, radar specialist) during the 1950's bought a surplus 1903-A3 for about $12 by joining the NRA. Actually alot of money for a newly married NCO at the time. My son is now the proud owner of that rifle, I personally bought 3 others throughout the years. Love to shot them, collect them, and reload for them. Best rifle in the world, even compared to the M1 Garand...
Mine's never failed to bring home a deer.
Solid eternal boomer vibe, Ernest.
Eternal boomer vibe. Nailed it
@@lukeperry1891 Good luck finding that vibe in 20 years gen X
We in Germany are very pleased you are satisfied with your Mauser.
Henry likes 'em thick. LOL.
Thiccccc with a C, get it right.
One of my 03A3s has a set of Redfield LaPalma rear apertures and a globe front sight. Ive shot it in competition at 1000 yrds and cleaned house. The rifle came to me as a National Match competition rifle and had been fired at Perry a goodly number of times. Nice accurate war club.
Like Othais said about the US and the Mauser system, "They got away with it until they really tried to get away with it".
except they sued over the spitzer bullet, not the action. royalty payments were already set up
@@0Asterite0 Correct and loading clips and they initially were never sued btw.
honestly its amazing you can even see fine iron sights at 300-500 yards thats a beautiful skill and yet you were still killin it bro
I'm always glad to see these bolt-action reviews. I live in a country where getting permission to own a semi-automatic is practically impossible for most people, so bolt and lever action firearms like this represent actual options for us here to purchase.
It’s actually crazy how fast lever action guns can shoot. By the way I live in a state where firearms are heavily restricted so I feel your pain. Not to the extent of not being able to get semi autos more of just lots of banning of “big scary assault weapons” and shit like that which is bs.
Finally. Been waiting for this. Now how bout a 30-40 Krag
The Krag front sight is equally thin and the rear sight notch, at least on the 1902 rear sight on my Krag is tiny. Oh and that front sight is an extra six inches away from your eyes.
It will be quite similar. Cartridges are similar , sights are similar , though 30-40 krag is a bit weaker and it's round nosed , so it might make a difference.
Finding a Norwegian Krag in the original caliber is insanely difficult to find nowadays, most that were imported to the US/ Canada were rechambered and the body was sporterized, my buddy has a 1914 manufacture date Norwegian Krag that was rechambered to .308 and sporterized in Austria for import by Canadian company Globe (that company no longer exists), he has to shoot subsonic/ low-power ammo out of it. American model variants (renamed to a Springfield model 1892-99) might be a tad more available, still rare without going to a big-buck auctioneer like RIA (if they have one). I would be surprised to see one at a gun show.
Swedish Mauser would be nice as well
screw th 30-40 get the 6.5x55
There's a Marine Corp front sight that's thicker and a larger sight hood to go with it. Makes a massive difference in sight picture.
Wouldn't that make accuracy worse?
@@jimtom4878 Not at all. The standard sight is so narrow it's nearly invisible. And it's also got a battle zero of 200 yards I believe. Switching to the #10 Marine Coprs blade means you can actually see the front sight plus you can get different heights which allow you to get a 100 yard zero which is much more useful.
@@stevepowell8866 id think it'd be harder to hit far targets with a fat front sight
@Jim Tom As the name implies these sights were designed by the USMC and they have a heavier emphasis on marksmanship than any other branch of the service. They also kept 1903 pattern rifles in front line service longer than any other branch. I'm thrilled with the front sight on mine.
@@stevepowell8866 I'd disagree and day kar98k has better irons
Two things to note that the Marines had tweaked with the M1903. They made their front sight cover to be used; this creates a globe style front sight to aid picking up the blade. Combined with the peep; it immensely helps
I've read that they had a bit larger peep hole to sight through. Think I will try that on the peep sight on my latter sight.
Love those more recent videos where we see you talking about windage, elevation, target aquisiton and that kind of stuff when you are shooting! Gives us a good reference point on your great marksmanship! Keep up the good work!
I had the pleasure of working inside one of the old armory buildings that produced these rifles, the atmosphere was incredible - the floor made from rejected stocks, it oozed history.
Remember, the Marine Corps made a slightly larger circle front sight protector. I have not obtained one but I appreciate my two '03s with M1 ball. I find the cutoff easy to use for single shot range use.
Was shooting my A303 yesterday. Loved it!
what is hard to appreciate if you have not shot the 1903 is how light and hard kicking it is. This many rounds of 30-06 through a 1903 is a feat in and of itself. Personally, never shoot more than 20 rounds cause it stops being fun.
Me, a recoil junkie that’s been blasting my arms with 12ga since I was nine: This is fine
I once got a damn good deal for 600 rounds of 1953 FN made M2 ball for $3 a box of 20 WITH the stripper clips. I suspect it was all packed for an FN49 in 30-06. So I took 100 rounds to the range with a Brazilian 08/34 .30 Mauser (Made for Brazilian Expeditionary troops to share American ammo) and shot all 100 rounds through it. This was after a session of 40 rounds through my Mosin Nagant and about 50 high brass magnum small game shells through a 12 gauge. And the same from a 16 gauge (both had no rubber recoil pad). The worst one by far was the Brazilian 08/34 in 30-06. Needless to say, my shoulder looked like it had been beaten mercilessly with a baseball bat. Completely black, blue and purple. The weird feeling that came with it in the next few was concerning too. Sore would be an understatement. I think every minor blood vessel in there had been broken.
I thought my 1903 recoiled hard till I inherited a Model 70 featherweight chambered in .30-06, the thing weighs under 7 lbs and with the right handloads it could easily injure an inexperienced shooter
Amen. My Dad had an 03-A3 that was insanely accurate, but would absolutely beat you half to death. Nothing like a steel buttplate to get your attention. Holding it very tight against my shoulder helped somewhat, but after about 60 rounds I’d had enough Springfield for the day. Never shot a K-98 Mauser, but they fire a heavier bullet and look like they make the shooter earn every hit.
Spot-weld x long day at range with 03 = swollen cheek
My first rifle was a custom 1903 Springfield. Got it when I was 13 as my first deer rifle. It had the original 4x weaver on it and a beautiful left handed walnut stock. I did some work to the bedding and free floating, put good modern glass on it and enjoyed the hell out of it. I regret selling it terribly, but through about 15 years of shooting it I never had issues seeing sub minute accuracy with hand loads. It's taken me years to get used to single stage triggers because of that rifle. Many people would argue with me, but I live that two stage.
Excellent Vlog, love your break down and geometric explanations 👍
Outstanding material and presentation as usual. Thank you.
Sweet rifle. Interesting knowledge about the front sight size. Thanks for sharing.
0:47 when that music starts and my Friday gets made. Keep up the good work bois!
I already know this is gonna be awesome
I agree!
I have a 1944 Springfield Garand. I bought it from a friend i used to work with at whole foods. He had been a sniper in Vietnam and he used a '03 A3 chambered in 308. That garand is a SHOOTER
The first rifle I ever bought was a Remington A3 with a 2-groove barrel. Shot that rifle a lot, over several years, and totally agree with your assessment. Did love the rifle but as I got older, my eyes couldn’t make the sights work.
Classy gun, classy run.
Thanks for the run and thanks to the collector for a lone gun.
EXCELLENT breakdown! Learned a lot.
Always enjoy your videos. I was lucky enought to get a 1903 a few months ago. The stock was in 2 pieces, but the repair turned out beautiful and the gun looks great
another fabulous discussion
Awesome deduction on the magazine switch history. Enjoy your upcoming weekend.
You guys rock.
awesome shooting man, I'm a huge fan of 30-06 and about 30min ride from Camp Perry and actually got to do some Army qualifications there. also you must have one solid shoulder, really cool getting to watch you shoot
I was in a gun shop a few weeks ago and picked up a 1903 and could barely even see through the sights. Definitely made me want one a lot less
Love the vids! Always like hearing your take on a gun old and new
I'd like to see you run the m1917 to me it's the better rifle.. My Grandpa had both and now they're mine and I prefer the American Enfield over the Springfield
I would like one myself :)
@@9HoleReviews I have one.......if you want you replicate Sgt York.
@@9HoleReviews I can let you borrow mine.
I’m up in Dallas if y’all want to borrow one with the original left hand rifling
@@eodisfun I'd love to see Henry do a Sgt York style run.
I’d love to see a second attempt of the 03A3 with the USMC #10 front sight blade on it. I immediately swapped to a #10 on mine and it’s a world of a difference.
Watched forgotten weapon and they directed me to your channel... Only to realize that I was already subscribed and NEVER got a notification or new post or anything -so much so that I forgot that you existed. Very good vid BTW.
I have a M1903A3. Love it. And yes, I shoot it with the sight protector on. At 100 yards its way more accurate than I am. Love shooting it. Great video.
I see a martin henry and an Egyptian hakim 8mm in the background!
Almost def not an Hakim. Might be a MAS variant.
Is it a Hakim, or a Jungmann(?) I'm rooting for the Jungmann
@@timbaskett6299 Neither. Prolly a MAS 49.
AG42 ljungman :D loved the one i had....
I see a MAS in the background.
Great video and excellent shooting and analysis. ♠️🎩☯️
Great video
Great review
Just discovered this channel! Very excited and loving the content so far!
Welcome aboard!
Have an early Smith Corona with the same stock... pleasure to shoot. Thanks for the vid.
Great video! Front sight post- i love an a2 fsp. I file it down to a point on most of my rifles-aks too. On some of my ars: a2 fsp filed to a point & red dot on absolute cowitness- my favorite sight combo on an ar15
The front sight thing is interesting. Thinking about it, the 91/30s I've owned had a much finer front sight than my M39, but instantly judged the M39's sights better, and more precise. Which was backwards of how I'd always thought.
Never realized that.
Until the 20th century, the rule of thumb seems to have been that smaller sights allow more precise aiming. But actual studies showed that a bold sight picture was both more visible and more accurate, especially under poor lighting conditions. Both rifle and pistol sights became larger and wider by the 1950s.
HENRY YOU ARE AWSOME !! LOVE YOUR STUFF
9 Hole Reviews, again besmerching one of my favorite rifles. Accurately so. (Your description of how a front is preceived is spot on).
cheers, i hope peopel don't think we dislike the 03a3, it's still a nice rifle but the front sights are difficult for field use.
@@9HoleReviews You have been accurate on the pros and cons. I have good range time with an 03A3, that front site is thin. I learned my marksmanship on WWII rifles, after a 22LR rifle. Just a civilian. My two favorito, Swede M38 and. rattle FIN M39. Your observations on the M39 is correct. Cheap ammo made it a constant range companion.
That action looks so slick.
Hey good for you sir for correctly pronouncing the M1 Garand rifle! Not many Americans do..
Awesome thank you !!!
For the front sight I bought myself a taller blade and I took bright color orange nail polish and painted the rear of the front sight. Even with the sight protection off with adequate amounts of light or even with a semi cloudy day I was able to see the front sight no problem.
Of course your target color will determine if you can even see it.
I’m new to 1903A3. Thanks for posting
excellent!!!
great vids
In the last C&Rsenal video, Othias mentioned how a similar thing happened in Scandinavian countries where biathlon was really popular -- with the sights on their military rifles becoming geared more towards competition than combat.
He said that they adopted rifles so they qualified for competition, I don't recall him saying anything about designing front sights on their rifles for competition
@@jamietus1012 I can't remember which rifle it was, but there were a few that the pre-war sights were super fine and intricate with all sorts of precise adjustments,. Once war-time production hit, they were normally simplified.
The M59 sniper rifles had diopter sights as standard ,some had scope mount also. Later M67 used diopter sight for match ,but where the M59 was millitary issue, the M67 was mostly civillian.
The M59 and variants was in use with diopter sight was in use as National Guard DSM rifle until early 2000s. The diopter sight version was to be used further out than the AG3 rifle.
Before the War ,it was Krag rifles ,civillian snd millitary versions. M94 eith diopter , and later updated models.
It’s about time! :) I was hoping you wouldn’t leave the 1903A3 out of the page.
The model 1903. The firearm that got me loving firearms and I've never even shot one.
I love my 03 A3. Thanks for the info
Is it better than the mosin ?
Great video. I was one of several range officers for sighting in days for hunting season. Watching people going thru 20+ rounds to sight in. Young kid (guessing late teens early 20,s) shows up with his grandpa's 03A3. Sit's at the bench ..fire 3 rounds. Gets up.."Well, gramp's said it was right on!" and gets up and.leaves. None of this scoped stuff and 20+ rounds.
Most impressive part of this video is seeing you have 30-06 lol. Great video as always you two
I own a Remington 1943 1903A3 and love it!!
Hahaha I've a '41 Rem 03A3!
Damn that 30.06 is a beast of a round though
WW 1 proverb: The Germans showed up with a hunting rifle. The Americans showed up with a target rifle, the British showed up with a Battle rifle
And the Russians showed up with.... A rifle.
@@Sreven199 It worked and that is all one can say about it
@The Badass Bassist not a rifle , *a lot of rifles.*
They even used Arisakas and even Gras lol.
I dunno , I think Mausers are good rifles for battle as well. They got the better sights for a battle if you ask me. Easier to pick up targets with that eye relief.
@@Sreven199 ah yes the moist nugget
I have my grandfather's Smith-Corona 03-A3. It's a great shooter.
I have one too, with S&B M2 spec ammo I’m amazed at how good it makes me look as a shooter.
There's one for sale at the local pawnshop, but it's been "sporterized."
Keith Lucas Did they remove metal or just booger the stock?
@@johnbeauvais3159 ...added a sporter stock, removed front sight and drilled for scope....priced at $399.
Caught my eye right away in the "bargin" rack.
I have to agree with others here who have stated that the Model 1917 Remington was a more accurate rifle compared to the 1903A3 having owned both in the past. That said however there is still a soft spot in my heart for the 03A3
I have my dad's old 03-A3 that he changed to a bead front sight. Very nice shooting rifle with a sporter stock. Thinking about adding a Lyman rear and Parker-Hale insert-style front target sight. Only thing is that I'd need to drill the receiver to install the rear sight and it's my dad's old rifle...
I love them old service battle rifles they where tough and simple as well as being reliable having said that they all have weak and strong points
Some good shooting with open sights
The Remington 03A3 is probably one of the most accurate military rifles out there!!!
I think my Dad has one. It was his "deer hunting" rifle. He has the original wooden stock, but put on sporter stock and a scope.
Nice rifle 👏👏👏
Do you think that “Blackening” the sight would have helped at all by giving a bit darker line to follow?
My dad had the 1903 and the 03A3. Was expert with them in the Army along with the Enfield & Garand. Both the 03 & the 03A3 was converted into hunting sport rifles & rebarreled with 2506.
Great point on the sights. I too prefer a post front sight with the protective wings. I guess it is what i am used to, going back to the first time i shot a Garand, 27 yrs ago. And the second rifle i bought, 28 yrs ago, was an M1 Carbine. A post seems to work better with any rear aperture sight. Mr. Garand kbew what he was doung, as dis the designers of the M1917 rifle.
Oh yes my favorite rifle.
Type 99 Arisaka
I love how the bolt sounds exactly like mine!
I like my front sights like I like my gravy....
*T H I C C*
Or my ladies
excellent explanation why we left that style and gone with garand/M14/M16 sights. What what helps at the range is "smoking" the front post with carbide lamps and there are some aftermarket sprays
Snagged a beautiful virgin Remington 1903A3 from the CMP south store (Anniston) earlier this feb. something special about picking out a gun for yourself from racks and racks of them. Don’t have kids yet, but it’s like a kid to me. 02-42 barrel.
I will agree with you on that one, the sight is hard to get spot on at distance in low light or camouflage. It's not Henry, trust me; I watch as much as possible and he hits almost everything if the gun is capable of doing the range. Great video on one of my favorite rifles.
Watched this while cleaning my father’s 03-A3!
A USMC front sight protector helps a lot. This sight protector is much larger and is meant to be left on the rifle while shooting. When you can find one they are pricey but I would not be without mine on my 03 A3
I know it's been a ling time but would live to see you try the P17 for comparison. Excellent 30-06 rifle
Ya, So that front hood is great if you are shooting at black circles with white backgrounds and good lighting. From what I have seen in real life (OK the movies) I am amazed that anyone can tell who is on the other side of the line. With enough mud and bad weather those uniforms really don't stand out at all.
Thanks again for bringing another well loved rifle to the range.
Considering the difficulty of picking up the sights (and that front sight always reminded me of an Exacto knife blade) that was a damned good run by rifle and shooter. Curious to hear how you liked the Springfield compared to say the Enfield No 4
12:45 That car kinda looks like my first car in high school.. =P
Great vid, btw
The 1903 was the target version of a combat rifle. The 1903A3 was the economy version. It has stamped parts and that split forearm cap/bayonet lug.
No, the 1903 was the standard battle rifle from 1903 until it was phased out in WWII. It was never a "target version of a combat rifle", though many fine target rifles were made from that action. As America ramped up production for WWII, they realized the original design could be modified, as you said, for lower cost and greater speed of production. Hence the 03A3.
Great job 👍 How about a video on the 1898 Krag rifle.
Is that a G43 and a Martini Henry in the background?
Edit: I actually picked up an 03-A3 myself recently. It’s dated late 1943 and was rebuilt by the military arsenal. The guy I bought it from was a vintage rifle match shooter and used it to take 7th place in my state. It’s a really good shooter too
Very nice hitting rifle. I’d use any of these old rifles for hunting and recreation
My uncle has an O3A3 with the scope it was issued with and a sadly sprterized stock, however the person that sporterized it made it beautifully and left the year on the barrel, 1945. Still prefer my arisaka though lol.
The 1903 A3 is what I learn to shoot center fire with and I got use to the thin sights thicker sights seemed to fat .
You should read the book 'Misfire: The History of How America's Small Arms Have Failed Our Military' by William Hallahan. He goes into an in-depth explanation of why the 03A3 had a magazine cut off.
Sounds like a religious book... shite
And you can thank the Ordinance Corps for that. They failed the US military from the civil war all the way to their demise in the Vietnam war.