My Dad carried an '03 Springfield from North Africa to Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Germany. He loved it and still at 94 years young he still sings the virtue of the '03!
Hi Rick, That's amazing. If anyone knows...he does; so amazing - to me, the Springfeild still stands as the the greatest American military rifle of all time. The Garand is something for sure and the ARs are nice and certainly popular - but the Springfield is in a class of its own. Have a great weekend Rick.
Upmost respect he's a hero, My friends August Caccavone and Eugene Iconetti trained on the Springfield in basic before being familiarized the M1 Garand overseas
The on/off switch serves 3 functions: on is repeater mode, off is single shot mode (holding the rounds in bottom in reserve by preventing full reward bolt travel), and middle position is bolt removal. From your presentation, it seems that you thought it was just a bolt removal.
Mike, The Springfield 03 is a serious favorite of mine. I put this in a video, but when I grew up as a boy in East Texas I had a single shot bolt action .22. I used to pretend that My .22 was a springfield, I would try to pick off tin cans at long range. Years later I told My wife about this, and for an anniversary present She bought Me a Remington 1903A3 which is essentially a springfield. It is My most prizes posession. I have read some of Hatcher's notebook onine, but now I want to purchase a hard copy like You have. God Bless You My Friend.
USOG, your comments about the "amazing accuracy" possible with an iron-sighted Springfield bring to mind the legendary exploits of George Farr, at the 1921 National Matches at Camp Perry. Farr, a grandfatherly figure in his sixties, was a walk-on competitor at the last afternoon of the matches for the 1,000 yard stage. Using a rack-grade Springfield he'd never before seen (much less test-fired) and factory 30-06 ammunition available at the match, he shot one of his two sighters, made a sight correction, and then settled down to score (including his second sighter) seventy-straight bull's-eyes at 1000 yards using nothing more than his iron-sighted M1903 and his skills as a rifleman. When fading late afternoon/early evening light finally brought an end to his amazing feat, by-standers spontaneously took up a collection to buy the rifle for Farr. After Farr's death, the rifle went into the National Firearms Museum. Today, at the National Matches, the Farr Trophy is presented to high civilian overall, for the year's matches. Anytime someone questions the accuracy possible from a stock M1903 with M1905 sights, you could do worse than to remind them of the legendary George Farr and his achievement in 1921.
Fantastic history lesson - I did not know. Yes indeed - iron sights can be amazing. I was shooting at 200 yards again this past weekend with a Savage in 30-30 and a rolling block in 8x58R - the 200 yard groups were truly amazing - for both calibers - such fine rifles and sights. I'm not sure I would hit anything at 1000 - well - maybe a hillside; but then, there are only so many that can shoot that Farr. : )
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns - Having exceptionally acute eyesight helps for using irons, or being young! Farr was probably fortunate in that respect.... but still, what an amazing accomplishment!
The small lever on the left of the receiver is actually the magazine cut-off. In the 'down' (ON) position, single rounds of ammo can be loaded by hand, or fed from the magazine when the lever is in the 'up' (off) position. The center position also allows the bolt to be removed.
My dad was b-25 mechanic in Tunisia. The brass came around and took they're Springfields and gave them 30 carbines. He put his behind the seat of his truck and got him a Mauser. His sergeant was a big guy, former game warden from Big Fork Montana named Vester Lemmons. He would not give up his Springfield and the sergeant trying to take it didn't want to contest it. They were out on a hunting trip trying to get fresh meat for the squadron when a Wehrmacht sniper pinned my dad down. Every time he would move he would put a round through his backpack. Lemmons raised the sights on his Springfield and took out the sniper. Vester Lemmons picture is in the WW II Museum in New Orleans.
I had two .30-06's in my early 20's, one was a post '64 model 70 and the other an 03 Springfield that I had sporterized. The Springfield was by far the better rifle in function and accuracy.
I believe the on/off refers to the internal magazine. "Off", doesn't allow the bolt to go all the way back. If there are round in the magazine it will not open far enough to pick them up. "On" allows the bolt to travel all the way to the rear, and will lock there on an empty magazine. The middle position allows the bolt to be removed. Thank you for this video. I have a smith corona that has been "sporterized" with a Lyman peep sight and Fajen stock. Very similar to yours.
I must agree with the Weight issue that people have with the 1903 I can attest to this because I went to the range with my step son and he brought along his Remington 700 it’s a beautiful rifle well I decided to bring my 1903 Springfield and to be honest the Springfield put the Remington to shame the Springfield was just a wonderful smooth shooting rifle in comparison to the Remington and I believe this Excellent shooting Experience came from the extra weight
Hey Johnathen - same page - I've hunted up hill and dale and places in between - any man can carry a 8-10 lb. rifle - no worries. Light is fun but we can carry a lot more than we think. Comfort? Well, that's for living rooms. : )
USOG right I mean honestly what’s and extra 2 pounds heck in WW1 & WW2 men were carrying the 1903 and 1903a3 across the battlefields and loaded down to the gills with gear so I’m sure a hunter going out for the day can manage to carry a very good shoot rifle to there hunting stand
I stumbled onto this video as I am trying to learn about the sporterized 1903 I picked up over the summer. Mine looks very similar to yours, it has a Redfield rear aperture, although a slightly different model. Mine is stamped "US Springfield Armory Model 1903" and I believe the serial number indicates it was built in 1930. I took it to the range for the first time yesterday and after walking it into an acceptable zero at 50yds I was thoroughly impressed with the accuracy capability of this 91 year old rifle. And I very much agree on the ease of use and effectiveness of the aperture rear sight. I couldn't be happier to have this old classic in my safe. Thank you for the video Sir. 🙂
I also am not looking for the lightest rifle, a little weight helps steady your off hand sight picture and off hand shooting is still a very important aspect of hunting. In off hand shooting competitions there are always weight restrictions for the different classes to keep the competitions fair, and this proves my point. Not that hunters are looking for that kind of accuracy, so we balance weight verses quick handling and portability, recoil and by default, follow up shots in those rare instances when needed. I enjoy re-watching these older videos, many thanks Mike!
I bought a butchered Springfield 03 834xxx serial number at a gunshow in the seventies. Home made stock, slick barrel, trashed bolt handle. Drill and tap job was the only good thing on it. I put a Ruger style bolt handle on, Shilen 25-06 1x12 sporter barrel, Bishop stock with rosewood tips. It has been my favorite to take to the woods for coyotes and deer. 75gr and 100gr bullets shoot the same zero.
I always liked the cocking piece for hunting with on my 03A3. I have seen a lot of hunters bad mouth the 30 06 as of late but I think it is still a very capable cartridge.
I like the cocking piece too - it was put there for good reasons. As for the 30-06 - no matter what you hear or read - the '06 is a brilliant cartridge and capable of just about anything one needs a cartridge to do. Naturally, it is neither a .22 Hornet or a .50 Browning. It is the real world in between.
And frankly it is very American and stood against Tyranny in both world wars. They say that Oppression can come from the barrel of a gun but "Occasionally so can Victory"
I just want to thank you for your wealth of knowledge you are able to share with us. What a treasure it would be to sit and visit with you and talk firearms. Thanks again.
I have had my Springfield 1903a3 since I was 15 year old (I'm retired now). It started out as an NRA Sporter, with the Lyman 48 side-mounted sight, similar to the second one you featured. It was purchased from an estate, and I never was able to determine who modified it. The rifle's accuracy is outstanding to the point of needing to bench it at 300yds in order to work up handloads with new powders and projectiles. It has been my go-to rifle for white-tailed deer.
Hello The Bleeb - You're a lucky man! Firstly for having a Springfielda3 since you were 15 and secondly for retiring at age 45! : ) The modified Springfields are favorites of mine - they function and shoot as few modern rifles do - just like yours - and the prices are reasonable. I wish they still made Springfields - people would buy them.
I love my O3 Springfield,s have several my favorite serial # range is in the 800000 range the nickel ones are just as good but just a little sticker bolt operation just me , Ernest Hemingway always had one on hand
First time I've seen your channel. I like your presentation style, casual but obviously well-informed and impartial. Very well done. I have, in storage at a friend's home in my home state of PA, (I've been living in Thailand for the past 20 years) an original 1903 Springfield, made at the Springfield plant, serial number in the 880k range, meaning it was made AFTER the introduction of the double-heat-treating process. I hope I live long enough to make another trip home so I can sell it, as I have no son to leave it to. It was carried through the German campaign by my stepfather, who retired as a CSM. He brought home 3, and gave this one to me for my 16th birthday (I'm 64). I totally stripped it once, and gave it a 'surgical' level cleaning, and re-linseeded the stock. Action is tighter than a bank-vault, (carried a lot, shot a little) and yet slick as wet ice. It even still has the cylindrical cleaning kit in the stock. If I can make it home, I hope I can find someone to give me an honest appraisal of it's value. Great vid, thanks for sharing!
Hi David - Thanks for writing. A Springfield Armory 1903 in excellent condition can be around 2K. Wonderful rifle to own. All the best to you in Thailand and hope you can shoot a few targets back home one day with that rifle. God Bless.
I have a 1903 30.03 that has been sporterized for target shooting. It was restocked, rebarrelled and rechambered to shoot 308. It weighs about 15 plus pounds now and of course, is a single shot bolt action. Haven’t shot it yet. Originally owned by a guy that shot for Army sharpshooters team hence all the modifications.
I work with a guy who has a 1903 sporterized by Griffin & Howe and rebarreled to .243 Winchester. Yes, that's a long action receiver chambering a short action cartridge, but I had the pleasure of shooting this beautiful rifle, and its trigger broke as would the proverbial glass rod, and it was so accurate that it almost required conscious effort to group worse than five shots into 1 MOA @ 100 yards with inexpensive Remington factory loads. I told him to keep that rifle because of its beauty, quality and excellent accuracy.
FYI the switch that allows the bolt to be removed from the rifle has three positions. It is mainly used as an ammo cutoff device. In the down position, rounds will not feed into the chamber from the internal magazine. With it halfway up the bolt can be removed. All the way up allows the bolt to pick up a cartridge and feed it into the chamber for firing.
My granddad got an A3 thru the NRA in early '60's. He was a machinist and each year he would so some customizing including hand fitting the stock from a billet. He filed and polished the bbl but left the stampings and had the bolt turned to clear a scope, a Weaver K4. It shot well and was always lucky getting deer. I have seen an A3 in the box, a Remington, with milled trigger guard and 4 groove bbl dated 43. I can see where the guard may have been changed, but the 4 groove Remington dated bbl puzzles me.
Interesting Michael - I guess so many things could have gone on. I've seen combinations of barrels and receivers and stocks that don't quite match how things were supposed to have been. All fascinating though. Your granddad must have been one of those skilled men - not easy to find. Best to you.
I've seen a bunch of '03 Sporters over the years as well as 98's. Some of them are gorgeous while some are hack jobs, yours is a really nice one. Have a great weekend!
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns The main thing in his mind was to create the best tool from the surplus rifle for acquiring Deer to feed the Family. Your are right, he sure brought home a lot meat with that little investment..!
the on off switch is for single load that keeps the magazine full for war emergency. I have a 43 rem 03 w/ 2 grove rifleing shoots great also military peep sight
Thanks for the amazing videos. An interesting tidbit - my wife is Algerian and when I went to Algeria there is a museum there dedicated to their war of independence against the french in the 50s. Anyway, there were plenty of firearms and the vast majority were 1903 springfields of some sort that the Mujahideen were using as guerilla fighters against a fully modern French force. It was fascinating to me. If i remember right all the 1903s reached Algeria via Egypt.
@@Sybok51288 i think so, but it was really only the springfield and remington 03s that stood out as being consistent, and the rest were (from memory) a mix up of anything and everything. Very possibly there were smgs etc that didnt make the museum.
I just acquired a Sporterized 03. Went out and fired it and it’s spot on. It’s been drill and tapped for a scope but don’t know if I’ll ever put a scope on it.
Great luck! Not so easy to find - I found one about a week ago on line and contacted the seller - it had been posted for about an hour he wrote back...gone. Good hunting and shooting.
I have a 1903 Springfield Armory 30-06 serial number 50518, still tight, 1 inch group at 100 yards, all original in really good shape with peep sight and back
I just picked up a 03 Springfield Sporter, in 30-06, at my local gun store! What a sveet surprise!! Serial # is in the 500 thousand range. Looks like it got a nice bluing job ta boot...
I picked one of these up for 300. It has a beautiful plum color and steel Lyman aperture sights. These rifles are barely "used" if you can call it that. Their weight does make the 30-06 pleasurable to shoot. I've always felt the '06 was overkill for deer but that's what we were taught before we knew better. The bonus is that a lot of these rifles were rearsenaled before being surplused. You end up with a great or new barrel for way less than a comparable rifle could be built for today. They are heavy but remember, a lot of men carried them for way longer in worse conditions than we are subjected to today.
Got to love the M1903. A great bolt action rifle and very accurate. Sidenote it is also the same rifle that we used when I was on the drill team and later became a drill team commander. We'd flip, twirl, and throw those things every which way. Great video as usual.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns The US Army uses the M1903 for Drill and Ceremony, as well as for the Color Guard. The big difference most are chrome plated. Yes it was very time consuming and a lot of practice to reach perfection in timing a lot of hours of repetition, as well as every measurement on the uniform must be perfect. It was fun and enjoyable when I did it.
Thank you for sharing what is one of the prettiest sporterized Model 1903 rifles I have ever seen. That rifle truly is a testament to whoever did the work on it. With regard to weight, recoil, and the 30-06 you are right. The cartridge itself in terms of recoil is at the limit of what most shooters can handle without developing a flinch, but can be used effectively to hunt everything in North America. As to weight I don't consider 8.5 lbs to be a heavy rifle, but a lot of people these days do. Unfortunately, they forget about recoil when looking at numbers on ballistic charts and the weight of the gun when selecting a caliber. Thus, quite a few people end up with a caliber and weight combination for a firearm that results in a hard kicking rifle and a serious flinch. The question you posit about how you "don't know where all these guns have gone" is one that I don't think a person can answer in any definitive way. Instead, I'll just share my thoughts on it. The first is that they are in a sizable collection of a person who is interested in them. The second, and I suspect where most of them are, is that they are inherited and stay in the family. Again, thank you for the video and have a nice day.
1903 (A mauser in 3006) is what makes it most interesting for a mauser lover. I have not shot one but it should have low recoil becuase of it's weight.
Hello again Mike. The 'flaming bomb' symbol you mention is identical to the cap badge of the British Grenadier Guards. Which was awarded to them after the battle of Waterloo where they defeated the french Grenadiers.
Hi alungiggs - that is amazing. Waterloo...what a loss. One of the more interesting books I've read lately is The Emperors Last Island by Julia Blackburn.
Thank you Grendel - and thank you for noticing. It was a nasty injury - a jig slipped and my drill did the damage. Thankfully I'll have a new one soon. All the best.
my sporter is a mark 1, bishop stock. about 100 rds fired thru it. it was 100% when i got it in 82 from a deceased gentleman's widow on her way into a gun shop in Illinois. I fired the 100 rds, it was essentially unfired.
And with an '03A3 you don't even need to sporterize it because they've already got a pistol grip stock and nice aperture rear sight, just feed it some good ammo.
Many 03A3's don't have the correct height front sight post to shoot POA to POI. Probably as a consequence of wartime "hurry-up" production.... good news, though, is that plenty of surplus front sight blades are available to fix the problem.
Hi, a couple of things. The on-off lever is the magazine cut-off. In the off position it stops the bolt from traveling all the way rearward and picking up a cartridge from the magazine. I'm think you need to pull the trigger to remove the bolt. Also, I'm fairly certain that the stock on the military configured '03 is not original. I think that is a 'C' stock from the '03A3 era. An original '03 stock shouldn't have a pistol grip, and it should have finger grooves on the fore end. I have a 1903A3 with the 'C' stock. That's the main reason I bought mine, but I'm sure that even mine isn't original. The 'C' stock was designed for the sniper versions, so they're rather rare. There are aftermarket companies that make them now.
I got that book.The Sporter you see is like mine..it has a Douglas barrel and it shoots ok but it is heavy..8 pounds/scope is a lot to carry during deer season..
Very true Keith - whenever I hunt or shoot the milsurps I think of the troops who carried these, plus their hundred pounds of other stuff, through mud, snow, bush and over hill and dale...while being shot at. Not easy for sure.
In the 60s we built rifles, kind of like they do now with the AR15, but we used Mauser and Springfield military rifles and converted them. It wasn't as easy as an AR15, which requires no more than a vise block and a torque wrench, but they made into really beautiful rifles. The Springfield was my favorite, though they were a bit more expensive than the Mausers. Of all the rifles I built, I kept two. One on a Springfield 1903, still in .30-06, in the classic Brownell style. (think: Ruger Model 77). The model 77 had been introduced right about that time and I loved that style. The "fad" at the time was gloss finishes and monte carlo humps. I didn't like that. The other is a slim, trim rifle made up on an 1896 Swedish Mauser. Again in the Brownell style of stock. (no Monte Carlo hump on either) I left it in 6.5x55 because that is an incredibly useful little cartridge. I had also made one up in "Varmint" style with heavy barrels and my favorite cartridge for varmint rifles at that time, the .22-250. I also made a rifle on a 1917 Enfield in .300 H&H. I traded those two for Winchester Model 70 SE in .375 H&H because I needed an elephant rifle to protect my wife's garden from...elephants. I am pleased to report that there has been NO elephant damage to my wife's garden since I have owned that rifle. I always wanted to build a Mannlicher style rifle on a Mauser action but never got around to it. I bought a Ruger M77 International, .250 Savage instead. That was the early 80s and the practicality of making sporters from military rifles was failing. A local gun shop has a gunsmith that still makes nice sporters on military actions, but they are WAY expensive now. I like to look at what he has for sale, but I'll stick with the two I built 50 years ago. And yes, I have assembled a few AR15s in recent years. It's fun and easy. Actually I like to assemble "uppers" to attach to a couple of lower receivers I have. It is fairly cheap and easy to build a variety of uppers and swap them onto lower receivers, using the same BCG and charging handle.
I hope to make a video on a Springfiled sporter soon. There are some superb rifles based on those military actions - just as you say - unbelievably fine.
Great video. Can you do a Video on the 1917 Enfield? In some ways while the Springfield got all the glory the Enfield was the better rifle and the US used more Enfields in WW1 than Springfields.
Always thought the 03 Springfield the most handsome of the ww2 military rifles, as much as I love the old Brit Lee Enfield it's got em well beat . Regards from the Sage.
Hello Mike, Thank you for the great video and the rifles are superb. That 03 reminds me of the time I had a big bore shooting coach when I was 13. He was an aerial shooting instructor during WWII and as tough as a railroad spike. The first thing he taught me was to lay my thumb alongside the wrist of the stock when shooting prone. Of course he didn't tell me that when I fired the first round and as a result I wound up with a busted lip. He thought that was an absolute riot, I on the other hand did not lol. By the way, could you make a video on the Winchester or Browning Model 71? I have the Browning 71carbine in .348 and just acquired a "new in box" Browning 1895 in 30/40. Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve - more gems. I love the 71 and the 1895 in 30/40 is a classic - always wanted to hunt with one - even just once. I'll make the videos as soon as I get the guns. I don't have your luck : )
That's two nice Springfields on that table. I have a modified sporter but if I find a original like that I won't be able to get my money out of pocket fast enough.
Good vid. especially on aperture sights which l learned on as a kid. My first hi powered rifle was a No4 mk1 Lee Enfield many years ago ha ha. I now have a few Rem Enfield p14’s wih peep sights which l really enjoy shooting and they shoot very well. I have never actually seen an 03. but if l do l will definitely try to buy it🇨🇦🤠
I came across a 1903 that had a bad case of bubba. Camo wrap stock that has been cut down. I almost bought it. It's a shame that people do that. In my opinion if you want to sporterize a mil surp save your pennies and have a gun smith do it for you. Those Griffith and Howe rifles are works of art. If you do decide to sporterize a mil surp also make sure the rifle isn't of serious value to collectors.
Well thought out and pertinent comments. I agree ☝️ about the 30 30 effective out to 150 yds tops ( my opinion) l have never actually laid eyes on an 03 but hoping to acquire one someday. Your take on recoul is righton ha ha. People want light easy to carry rifles but then they complain that they kick ! Finally you are right about the 3006. “It is never a mistake” someone once said. .3006 is still king in my part of the world good old reliable but not as sexy as a . 300 win. mag. LOL 😂🇨🇦
If our soldiers could carry them unmodified I think a lot of hunters could carry a sportsterized version. I used an old unmodified military rifle for hunting and loved it and I preferred to stalk game so I did a lot of walking with it. I can see older hunters wanting something lighter tho.
I just got a Springfield 03/A3 Sporter, I haven’t fired it or loaded it. Who ever Livengoods bought it from, they didn’t fire it much, because there’s no lead buildup on the crown of the barrel or any wear on the bolt
I just found out that it was a ww2 sniper and the Sporter stock was a factory made sniper stock, and the barrel is a machine gun barrel, that’s common on ‘03s
I have one quick question I have a 1903 Springfield that I can't find anywhere on the internet. It is in mint condition and it has a complete 90 degree bolt charging handle that is cross hatched pattern under the bolt lever. But your video was one of the more informative videos that I have seen on this weapon. Very nice collection you have by the way. And God bless where we go one we go all Q.
Hello Cliff, Thank you for your kind words - I appreciate them. Please let me know what your question was. Your 1903 is a gem - and they stopped making these gems....long ago. God Bless, Mike
USOG the Springfield 1903 that I have has a bolt handle that is 90 degrees flush with the stock when closed. I can't find anything on this particular rifle.
At one time I had an 03 I took the bolt apart one day and turned the bolt I think two turns and then tried to fire " CLIK " If I remember right it takes 3.5 or 4 turns to set the firing pin correctly that could have been a nightmare on my deer hunting trip
Hi Bob - things can go wrong for sure. I'm not sure how many turns - but thank goodness you checked and figured it out. A click is not a boom... although it has happened to me more than once.
I've got one that's beautiful with 281000 on serial number and has a Williams sight just like that. It has the flame and ball on the barrel with 10. 42. Any info on it would be cool or were I could find info.
Looking for info on a early, what I believe to be, 1923/24 Abercrombie & Fitch #137- Springfield 30-06. Supposedly owned by one of the "4 great white hunters" whom assisted in the production of the 1931 MGM movie - Trader Horn. It does possess many indicators of a Griffin and/or G&H. Existing G&H records apparently begin in 1930, so no help there. If you could steer me to a resource ? Would love to share pics in order to learn more. Thank you in advance for your time.
My first "Springfield" was one that I bought from a fellow in Great Falls, Montana when I was in the USAF stationed there in the 1970's. It was still packed with cosmoline, in it's original shipping box direct from the arsenal where it was stored in Utah to the first buyer circa 1960. It was a Smith Corona 1903A3, but it started what became a bit of a collection for me. I've finally whittled that collection down to about 20 rifles. One question came to mind after I noticed the 1938 barrel date on the sported barrel. By any chance is there a "star gauge" mark on the muzzle at six o'clock? Have you considered running the serial number to find it's history while it was in possession of the government? After Frank Mallory passed, the Springfield Research Service printed most of his data, and a lot of the fellows on the forums at the Civilian Marksmanship Program's website, as well as Jouster2.com, are happy to run a serial number and respond. As you most likely well know, the last of the Springfield Armory produced National Match rifles were offered with 1938 dated star gauged barrels. They also came from SA drilled and tapped with a Lyman 48 'Long Slide' rear aperture sight. Those NM rifles were works of art, but they also sold "service" rifles to civilians, as well as receivers, parts, and barreled actions. I have a "twin" to the basis of your sporter that I bought from an old gent, the original purchaser, who stated that mine was indeed 'just' a barreled receiver, drilled and tapped for aperture sight, and the one option he did have done was to have SA tune the trigger, sear, and bolt to NM standards. Your Remington, as you also probably know, would have originally come with a straight grip stock. The full grip "C" stock turned a 1903 into a 1903A1 with just that stock installation. I love my C stocked rifles! They fit my physique quite well, and the comb is at exactly the right height for iron sight use. The 'scant', or 'semi' pistol grip stocks have the same comb and butt length, and are as easy to use, but were cut to the C type pattern from blanks that were rough trimmed for straight grip stocks. I just finished a restoration of what was a sporterized 1903A4 'snipers' rifle, that had the original barrel cut back, the metal buffed and blued, and was installed into an older Bishop sporter stock. It now wears a proper barrel, in a new production Boyd's C stock, with a vintage Lyman Alaskan scope in original rings and Redfield base. I had all of the metal bead blasted and then Parkerized. I have an original A4 scant stock with the proper bolt handle notch, but it is butt-ugly and detracts from all of the fresh metal work. What a wonderful shooter it is! Anyway, now that I've made a short story a long one, thanks for this video!
Excellent post - thank you. I did not know most of what you wrote - learned much. The rifle did not have the star : ( and I sold it to a fellow collector. I did have one star gauge sporter quite similar to the one in the video - I sold it to a collector in New York years ago. I only have the Remington (I didn't know about the straight grip stock - thank you) and a custom sporter in .257 Robert improved by WM. J. Welker, Seattle - an impossibly accurate rifle, and a British 30-06 sporter. You must have some magnificent specimens. I find the Springfield uniquely fascinating among the military bolt actions. Hard to put into words. The action has some kind of character and complexity of appearance or something like that - I think they are fantastic. I owned a Fred Adolph 03 that was near perfect - also gone from my vault. I had several others over time; each one special in its own way. The G&H products are of course magnificent. I phoned Michael Petrov in 2006 and bought his book Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century - many fine rifles and a lot of information there. I had one rifle by a famous stockmaker - he inletted with tiny chisels to perfection - I just can't remember his name at the moment. Amazing work. Hope to hear from you again soon.
I "cut my teeth" with my 1903 addiction circa 2000, shortly after I married the now-Mrs. Walton, and learned most of what I know from John Beard, and the other fellas that were posting on the old Culver's Shooting Page and the Gun & Knife Forum. Mike Petrov was a heckuva source on the custom 03's, and I loved the photography he was doing of them, and though I never conversed directly with him, his posts were always informative and respected by all. I wore out my first copy of Brophy's "The 1903 Rifle". Some of my favorites have been the "Sporter" rifles that Springfield sold to civilians, and I've built several clones. The National Match rifles are the pinnacle of development, in my mind, though there were many that were built for specific international matches. I'm just finishing up a 1922 MI .22 LR. A few days after I retired from the USAF as a civilian, I was asked to work at a local gunstore in southeast Idaho. One of my first customers was also a retired GI, and he had a rifle in a full case that he wanted to trade for "a .22 magnum". Nothing specific, other than it had to be a .22 magnum. What he offered for trade was the 1922, in a maple stock with ebony forend tip, grip cap, and an old, steel Model 70 buttplate. I pulled a used Marlin bolt action repeater .22 mag from the shelf that was marked at $199 for the holiday sale, and he asked if I'd be interested in a straight across swap.....that was the first of many times that I put blisters on my hands pulling cash out of my pocket!!! In the meantime, I found an original, correct stock for the 1922, the right band and buttplate, but am now looking for the right receiver and barrel scope bases, as this little rifle was shipped from SA for most likely a Winchester A5, or perhaps a Lyman of Fecker. I've never had a deep bank account, and couldn't afford to have the work done that I wanted, so I self-taught myself, along with the help from several old gunsmith-mentors, to bed, finish, checker, install buttpads, grip caps....nothing worth much except to me, and my kids like it, probably just because they saw the time and effort it took to do. I love the G&H rifles perhaps the best. The styling "gets" me. Jack O'Connor mentioned a lot of the old craftsmen that have gone to the shop in another realm, and of the bunch, the only one I've come close to being able to afford was a Neidner 25-06 that was in terrible shape that a LGS in Pocatello had on the rack for a ridiculously low sum. The rifle went out the door as I was on my way back from the credit union with the money..... I really love your videos! Most all of the others leave me throwing things at the screen with their errors and misstatements. Take 'er easy, have fun, don't git caught!!!
I originally had a comment or two about the Remington that I didn't share. Most of the very early Remington 1903's ended up going to New Zealand just prior to and shortly after Pearl Harbor. The originals, with NZ acceptance marks, are very scarce. Most did make it back to the States, but not without all of the British and Commonwealth acceptance and proof marks on them. Without those marks, it likely stayed in US inventory, and they were used by all branches throughout the war, being rebuilt and given to allies, especially NATO countries post-WWII. The original stock, with that very low serial number (Remington's allotted s/n block started at 3,000,000) would've been a straight grip, with grasping groove forearm, with "RA" and boxed "RLB" on the left side of the stock in the vicinity of the rear cross bolt. Those stocks are scarce!!! The C type stock was a standard replacement piece that could've been installed by a unit armorer, or arsenal, but if done "in service" it would also bear marks from the overhaul or inspection facility. The stocks, and all the leftover parts were sold off as scrap post-Korean war. Two groove Remington A3 barrels 'back then' could be purchased for .50 cents! 03's in good shape, as-issued started to escalate cost-wise in earnest after the Civilian Marksmanship Program brought the last big batch in from Greece, somewhere around 2002-5. Those were loned to Greece back when they were fighting communists in their civil war, and have some pretty unique characteristics. From what I understand, Springfield Armory was almost entirely taken over into production of the Garand rifle by 1939. War was on the horizon, and they were scrambling to get M1's, then the standard US service rifle, into everyone's hands. Britain approached Remington to build a fairly unique 1903 variant, chambered to the British Mk VII round, with a ten round box magazine. Remington prototyped a rifle, but the project was scrapped. Someone decided that we'd be better off just building 1903 rifles, and Remington was contracted with to do that. They were given all of the old tooling, gauges, samples and drawings out of storage from when Rock Island Arsenal shut down 1903 production in 1922. The very early Remington 1903 rifles are pretty much a direct copy of the Rock Island WW I rifles. Most of the equipment was about worn out, new equipment that gave better results, better materials were all available, and so shortly after letting the contract, Remington started hitting the Ordnance Corps with suggestions for upgrading the 1903 manufacture that ultimately, in steps, gave us the 1903A3 rifle. Little know fact is that Smith Corona was contracted with at the same time as Remington for the A3, and beat Remington into production in September 1942, Remington's first A3's showed up after acceptance in Dec. 42. At one time, I had a Remington 1903 with a barrel dated 12-41, and a very, very low serial number. We had a family tragedy, and I was forced to sell off a number of firearms, and that particular rifle brought a LOT of money, just because of the s/n and mfg date. It seems that it's only been the last several years that more and more people have started calling the 1903 a Mauser 98 clone. I'm not so sure about that. The receiver dimensions more closely match the 1895 Spanish Mauser. The magazine cutoff was held over from the 98 Krag at the insistence of the old infantry officers on the board. Not sure where the coned breech came from, but certain not from the Mausers. I'd have to say that it had features from several rifles, from several different nations in it's final form. Sorry, got winded again, and I have to apologize if I've bored you to tears with my ramblings.....
I have a Lee Enfield from 1915 that has been sporterized which is a shame because if my research is correct, it is a bit rough made and is missing the magazine by-pass which is said to be a rushed production to meet the demands of WW1. It functions well, shoots ok (I have not shot it much) and where it did not matter, you can see the metal is rough, not finished. For the rest, it is quite well made. I wish it was all original, the conversion to a sports configuration is fine, and perhaps I should also look at that as historically significant, but it is a rifle I keep purely for sentimental reasons. Likely a soldier carried this in action, I really don't know for sure, but it is well used.
I don't like the ones that are done poorly. Like just cutting down the stock and calling it a "sporter". If however, they take the time to do it right: new stock, shorten the barrel, reblue, mill/lathe off any stripper clip guides, etc, then to me they're great. Typically these are the guns that are done by large firms doing mass commercial sporterization, or very talented smiths. Generally not the work of some lone guy in his garage.
I wonder why an original condition milsurp (in good condition) can't be used for hunting as originally produced? I can't think of a good reason other than perhaps weight, and even that I wonder about because if a soldier carried it all day, why not a hunter? I like the weight, I like long barrels, does sporterizing make them more effective? One of my favorite rifles has a 26 inch barrel and it is nice.
pseudopetrus different reasons but generally 1. Weight. Sporting rifles do not need, generally, do not need the mass for parts durability or prolonged shooting as a military rifle. 2. Accuracy. Many hunters I know prefer their hunting rifle to shoot 1moa or better. And most military rifles are intended to be (excluding the Ross 1910) “accurate enough” even with reproduction military style barrels on highly refurbished Springfields only shoot about 2-3 moa with ball ammo. 3. Customization. There’s only so much that you can do to customize a “military rifle” without changing the look of the rifle and making no longer “a true military” configuration. 4. War. As much as I recognize that a gun is a tool and it’s the person who wields it that can either do good or harm. Sometimes people would rather not have something that reminds them of the horrors of war. Where I live I know a few veterans that kept their issued rifles from WWII and Korea, and a fella I know who served in Afghanistan even built himself a replica M16a4 like the one he carried. But in the post war years not many guys wanted a “military style” rifle, hence why surplus rifles were (in comparison to the wages and inflation) dirt cheap. Even in comparison to those times, some guys could buy a Winchester for only a little more than a Springfield or k98. And the model 70 would’ve had more “hunting features”.
@@Ben_not_10 You make many good points, the last one resonates with me, if I carried a rifle in a war, that very same rifle might have dark thoughts attached to it! I might not want to carry it any more and for some, that is very understandable.
Both rifles are very nice. I sent you a email with pictures of my friends 1903 Sporter that is the most beautiful I have ever seen. Let me know if you got it? It was built in MT . Thanks Mike 👍
Thank you so much - I either didn't look, or didn't remember or got confused filming 😂 ...I have found so many ways to make mistakes. And now foolishly sold the rifle so I can't check. For some reason some people sometimes file the face of the flats - so there are no markings at all. All the best to you.
I put a scope on my M1A and I really don't think I like it. It just feels so much better with the irons. Goes to show you're not supposed to put scopes on WW1 rifles, they're good as is
Mauser sued Springfield Armory for infringement of their design and won, Springfield had to pay Mauser money for every gun they made. The Springfield is a slicker rifle than the battlefield Mausers but the Mauser 98 is stronger. Dangerous game rifles often use 98 stye actions for their strength and reliability. If it wasn't for the Mauser, the Springfield would not exist.
The two-groove barrels are actually quite accurate in many of those 03A3 rifles.... especially with heavier-than-typical bullets for use in the rifle. Meaning, heavier than 150-grain M2 Ball...
The Springfield 1903 rifle brings back a lot of memories. It's the rifle we were issued in Navy basic training in 1961 and we carried them most everywhere we marched. An interesting side note is that for punishment, 2 of these rifles would be strapped together and used much like weights. The offender would be required to sit of the floor and extend the rifles horizontally with both arms straight out. At arms length that becomes difficult. Our issued 1903 would be used during calisthenics on the parade ground. We used Garands at the rifle range.
I think that the M1903 Springfield is a beautiful take on the German Mauser, or kar98k. Both arms are about the same length. The German version is all function, but the American version, the M1903 is beautiful, especially the later Springfield models of the 20's and 30's with the beautifully slightly swept back bolt, the style of the hand guard, the decocking piece with it's intricate engraving, and of course the rear sight, the shape of the external safety lug, with it's aesthetic curve.. and I do think that a rifle should be functional and beautiful. The profile of the barrel is perfect in my opinion for accuracy... not too thin, not too heavy... and compared to the German barrel, of the Kar98K with it's rigid steps of thickness.. to thinness... which is purely functional again is just not as beautiful as the M1903. Same with the laminated stocks of the later kar98K rifles.. very functional.. but still not as beautiful as a oil finished walnut stock. The M1903's beauty motivates you to shoot accurately and effectively. The kar98K is a tool, the M1903 is a work of art.
Interesting paradox. Young gun guys seem to be disinterested in these old classic rifled, but they are hard to come by, and expensive. Maybe that's the reason. I look backward, and not forward when I buy guns. They just don't even make them like they use to. Over used expression, but this is why.
I have owned a couple of sporterized military rifles. I didn't particularly like them in the woods being so long. Fine for sitting in a deer stand. I got rid of both and don't miss them as they were not that accurate. Surprised about how badly the Lee Enfield shot with a 3 inch group at 100 yards. Eddystone was not much better.
Hi Patrick - so true; some are like that. I had a couple that had trouble hitting a door at 75 yards. A deer would have been quite safe even with 5 rounds loaded.
When money is no object Americans can build as fine of a firearm as anyone on the planet. One only needs to look at what we’ve built in the past or pick up a Cooper .22 rifle. Sadly, we are in a whole different market now in the USA. Cheap, polymer, and tactical drives arms sales nowadays. I suppose that I’m out of touch for longing for days gone by.
My Dad carried an '03 Springfield from North Africa to Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Germany. He loved it and still at 94 years young he still sings the virtue of the '03!
Hi Rick, That's amazing. If anyone knows...he does; so amazing - to me, the Springfeild still stands as the the greatest American military rifle of all time. The Garand is something for sure and the ARs are nice and certainly popular - but the Springfield is in a class of its own. Have a great weekend Rick.
Upmost respect he's a hero, My friends August Caccavone and Eugene Iconetti trained on the Springfield in basic before being familiarized the M1 Garand overseas
The on/off switch serves 3 functions: on is repeater mode, off is single shot mode (holding the rounds in bottom in reserve by preventing full reward bolt travel), and middle position is bolt removal. From your presentation, it seems that you thought it was just a bolt removal.
Thanks Flint - one of these years I'll get that straight : )
Mike, The Springfield 03 is a serious favorite of mine. I put this in a video, but when I grew up as a boy in East Texas I had a single shot bolt action .22. I used to pretend that My .22 was a springfield, I would try to pick off tin cans at long range.
Years later I told My wife about this, and for an anniversary present She bought Me a Remington 1903A3 which is essentially a springfield. It is My most prizes posession. I have read some of Hatcher's notebook onine, but now I want to purchase a hard copy like You have. God Bless You My Friend.
Wow - what a great wife! And what a great rifle! God Bless!
Same and the M1917 too, The M1917 Enfield was also used by the Nationalist Chinese X Force in Burma
USOG, your comments about the "amazing accuracy" possible with an iron-sighted Springfield bring to mind the legendary exploits of George Farr, at the 1921 National Matches at Camp Perry. Farr, a grandfatherly figure in his sixties, was a walk-on competitor at the last afternoon of the matches for the 1,000 yard stage. Using a rack-grade Springfield he'd never before seen (much less test-fired) and factory 30-06 ammunition available at the match, he shot one of his two sighters, made a sight correction, and then settled down to score (including his second sighter) seventy-straight bull's-eyes at 1000 yards using nothing more than his iron-sighted M1903 and his skills as a rifleman. When fading late afternoon/early evening light finally brought an end to his amazing feat, by-standers spontaneously took up a collection to buy the rifle for Farr. After Farr's death, the rifle went into the National Firearms Museum. Today, at the National Matches, the Farr Trophy is presented to high civilian overall, for the year's matches. Anytime someone questions the accuracy possible from a stock M1903 with M1905 sights, you could do worse than to remind them of the legendary George Farr and his achievement in 1921.
Fantastic history lesson - I did not know. Yes indeed - iron sights can be amazing. I was shooting at 200 yards again this past weekend with a Savage in 30-30 and a rolling block in 8x58R - the 200 yard groups were truly amazing - for both calibers - such fine rifles and sights. I'm not sure I would hit anything at 1000 - well - maybe a hillside; but then, there are only so many that can shoot that Farr. : )
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns - Having exceptionally acute eyesight helps for using irons, or being young! Farr was probably fortunate in that respect.... but still, what an amazing accomplishment!
The small lever on the left of the receiver is actually the magazine cut-off. In the 'down' (ON) position, single rounds of ammo can be loaded by hand, or fed from the magazine when the lever is in the 'up' (off) position. The center position also allows the bolt to be removed.
Thanks Mark!
My dad was b-25 mechanic in Tunisia. The brass came around and took they're Springfields and gave them 30 carbines. He put his behind the seat of his truck and got him a Mauser. His sergeant was a big guy, former game warden from Big Fork Montana named Vester Lemmons. He would not give up his Springfield and the sergeant trying to take it didn't want to contest it. They were out on a hunting trip trying to get fresh meat for the squadron when a Wehrmacht sniper pinned my dad down. Every time he would move he would put a round through his backpack. Lemmons raised the sights on his Springfield and took out the sniper. Vester Lemmons picture is in the WW II Museum in New Orleans.
I had two .30-06's in my early 20's, one was a post '64 model 70 and the other an 03 Springfield that I had sporterized. The Springfield was by far the better rifle in function and accuracy.
I just love that - the 2 best...in your 20s - well done!
I believe the on/off refers to the internal magazine. "Off", doesn't allow the bolt to go all the way back. If there are round in the magazine it will not open far enough to pick them up. "On" allows the bolt to travel all the way to the rear, and will lock there on an empty magazine. The middle position allows the bolt to be removed. Thank you for this video. I have a smith corona that has been "sporterized" with a Lyman peep sight and Fajen stock. Very similar to yours.
Got a chance to shoot one recently and was not disappointed. One of the coolest guns I have shot.
I must agree with the Weight issue that people have with the 1903 I can attest to this because I went to the range with my step son and he brought along his Remington 700 it’s a beautiful rifle well I decided to bring my 1903 Springfield and to be honest the Springfield put the Remington to shame the Springfield was just a wonderful smooth shooting rifle in comparison to the Remington and I believe this Excellent shooting Experience came from the extra weight
Hey Johnathen - same page - I've hunted up hill and dale and places in between - any man can carry a 8-10 lb. rifle - no worries. Light is fun but we can carry a lot more than we think. Comfort? Well, that's for living rooms. : )
USOG right I mean honestly what’s and extra 2 pounds heck in WW1 & WW2 men were carrying the 1903 and 1903a3 across the battlefields and loaded down to the gills with gear so I’m sure a hunter going out for the day can manage to carry a very good shoot rifle to there hunting stand
I stumbled onto this video as I am trying to learn about the sporterized 1903 I picked up over the summer. Mine looks very similar to yours, it has a Redfield rear aperture, although a slightly different model. Mine is stamped "US Springfield Armory Model 1903" and I believe the serial number indicates it was built in 1930. I took it to the range for the first time yesterday and after walking it into an acceptable zero at 50yds I was thoroughly impressed with the accuracy capability of this 91 year old rifle. And I very much agree on the ease of use and effectiveness of the aperture rear sight. I couldn't be happier to have this old classic in my safe. Thank you for the video Sir. 🙂
I also am not looking for the lightest rifle, a little weight helps steady your off hand sight picture and off hand shooting is still a very important aspect of hunting. In off hand shooting competitions there are always weight restrictions for the different classes to keep the competitions fair, and this proves my point. Not that hunters are looking for that kind of accuracy, so we balance weight verses quick handling and portability, recoil and by default, follow up shots in those rare instances when needed. I enjoy re-watching these older videos, many thanks Mike!
Thank you!
I bought a butchered Springfield 03 834xxx serial number at a gunshow in the seventies. Home made stock, slick barrel, trashed bolt handle. Drill and tap job was the only good thing on it. I put a Ruger style bolt handle on, Shilen 25-06 1x12 sporter barrel, Bishop stock with rosewood tips. It has been my favorite to take to the woods for coyotes and deer. 75gr and 100gr bullets shoot the same zero.
You must have one of the finest collections on RUclips
I always liked the cocking piece for hunting with on my 03A3. I have seen a lot of hunters bad mouth the 30 06 as of late but I think it is still a very capable cartridge.
I like the cocking piece too - it was put there for good reasons. As for the 30-06 - no matter what you hear or read - the '06 is a brilliant cartridge and capable of just about anything one needs a cartridge to do. Naturally, it is neither a .22 Hornet or a .50 Browning. It is the real world in between.
And frankly it is very American and stood against Tyranny in both world wars. They say that Oppression can come from the barrel of a gun but "Occasionally so can Victory"
The ON/OFF switch is a magazine cutoff. It forces the user to put another bullet in the chamber after each shot.
Thanks Vincent!
I just want to thank you for your wealth of knowledge you are able to share with us. What a treasure it would be to sit and visit with you and talk firearms. Thanks again.
Thanks Darren! Maybe one day we meet at a show or somewhere : )
I love those 03s.
I have had my Springfield 1903a3 since I was 15 year old (I'm retired now). It started out as an NRA Sporter, with the Lyman 48 side-mounted sight, similar to the second one you featured. It was purchased from an estate, and I never was able to determine who modified it. The rifle's accuracy is outstanding to the point of needing to bench it at 300yds in order to work up handloads with new powders and projectiles. It has been my go-to rifle for white-tailed deer.
Hello The Bleeb - You're a lucky man! Firstly for having a Springfielda3 since you were 15 and secondly for retiring at age 45! : ) The modified Springfields are favorites of mine - they function and shoot as few modern rifles do - just like yours - and the prices are reasonable. I wish they still made Springfields - people would buy them.
I love my O3 Springfield,s have several my favorite serial # range is in the 800000 range the nickel ones are just as good but just a little sticker bolt operation just me , Ernest Hemingway always had one on hand
First time I've seen your channel. I like your presentation style, casual but obviously well-informed and impartial. Very well done. I have, in storage at a friend's home in my home state of PA, (I've been living in Thailand for the past 20 years) an original 1903 Springfield, made at the Springfield plant, serial number in the 880k range, meaning it was made AFTER the introduction of the double-heat-treating process. I hope I live long enough to make another trip home so I can sell it, as I have no son to leave it to. It was carried through the German campaign by my stepfather, who retired as a CSM. He brought home 3, and gave this one to me for my 16th birthday (I'm 64). I totally stripped it once, and gave it a 'surgical' level cleaning, and re-linseeded the stock. Action is tighter than a bank-vault, (carried a lot, shot a little) and yet slick as wet ice. It even still has the cylindrical cleaning kit in the stock. If I can make it home, I hope I can find someone to give me an honest appraisal of it's value.
Great vid, thanks for sharing!
Hi David - Thanks for writing. A Springfield Armory 1903 in excellent condition can be around 2K. Wonderful rifle to own. All the best to you in Thailand and hope you can shoot a few targets back home one day with that rifle. God Bless.
I have a 1903 30.03 that has been sporterized for target shooting. It was restocked, rebarrelled and rechambered to shoot 308. It weighs about 15 plus pounds now and of course, is a single shot bolt action. Haven’t shot it yet. Originally owned by a guy that shot for Army sharpshooters team hence all the modifications.
A fantastic rifle to own
I work with a guy who has a 1903 sporterized by Griffin & Howe and rebarreled to .243 Winchester.
Yes, that's a long action receiver chambering a short action cartridge, but I had the pleasure of shooting this beautiful rifle, and its trigger broke as would the proverbial glass rod, and it was so accurate that it almost required conscious effort to group worse than five shots into 1 MOA @ 100 yards with inexpensive Remington factory loads.
I told him to keep that rifle because of its beauty, quality and excellent accuracy.
Helpful. Only video on the sport conversion i could find on you tube
I'm glad White Shadow.
I had an 03 years ago. I believe the on/off on the bolt release was a magazine cut off. On fed from the mag and off did not.
man that sporter you have is nice! those custom guns are a great find!
Have one that was customised in the 50,s paid 125 dollars for the gun . It's heavy but shoots great, with peep sight for my old eyes !
FYI the switch that allows the bolt to be removed from the rifle has three positions. It is mainly used as an ammo cutoff device. In the down position, rounds will not feed into the chamber from the internal magazine. With it halfway up the bolt can be removed. All the way up allows the bolt to pick up a cartridge and feed it into the chamber for firing.
I just got one today and I'm stoked !!
My granddad got an A3 thru the NRA in early '60's. He was a machinist and each year he would so some customizing including hand fitting the stock from a billet. He filed and polished the bbl but left the stampings and had the bolt turned to clear a scope, a Weaver K4. It shot well and was always lucky getting deer.
I have seen an A3 in the box, a Remington, with milled trigger guard and 4 groove bbl dated 43. I can see where the guard may have been changed, but the 4 groove Remington dated bbl puzzles me.
Interesting Michael - I guess so many things could have gone on. I've seen combinations of barrels and receivers and stocks that don't quite match how things were supposed to have been. All fascinating though. Your granddad must have been one of those skilled men - not easy to find. Best to you.
Love the Springfield M1903. She’s one of my favorite girls.
Words of wisdom.
I've seen a bunch of '03 Sporters over the years as well as 98's. Some of them are gorgeous while some are hack jobs, yours is a really nice one. Have a great weekend!
You too Paul!
That's a beautiful sporter.
Thanks Jason
I like the new "studio" setting. No matter what, my favorite gun channel by far.
Thank you so much David - these words are very important to me and I appreciate them. Thank you again.
I remember when father brought home 1903A3 to cut up to sporterize. He did a lot of the work himself except for blueing.
Hi Alex - So many of those projects turned into some of the best sporters.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns The main thing in his mind was to create the best tool from the surplus rifle for acquiring Deer to feed the Family. Your are right, he sure brought home a lot meat with that little investment..!
the on off switch is for single load that keeps the magazine full for war emergency. I have a 43 rem 03 w/ 2 grove rifleing shoots great also military peep sight
Thanks Jon! I find the 2 groove is great as well.
Thanks for the amazing videos. An interesting tidbit - my wife is Algerian and when I went to Algeria there is a museum there dedicated to their war of independence against the french in the 50s. Anyway, there were plenty of firearms and the vast majority were 1903 springfields of some sort that the Mujahideen were using as guerilla fighters against a fully modern French force. It was fascinating to me. If i remember right all the 1903s reached Algeria via Egypt.
thats interesting! i never gave thought to where the rebels got their gear or what they used, what else did they have, k98s?
@@Sybok51288 i think so, but it was really only the springfield and remington 03s that stood out as being consistent, and the rest were (from memory) a mix up of anything and everything. Very possibly there were smgs etc that didnt make the museum.
I purchased a very well made sporter for $500. Nov 13, 2020. Now I need some reloading dies and brass.
I just acquired a Sporterized 03. Went out and fired it and it’s spot on. It’s been drill and tapped for a scope but don’t know if I’ll ever put a scope on it.
Great luck! Not so easy to find - I found one about a week ago on line and contacted the seller - it had been posted for about an hour he wrote back...gone. Good hunting and shooting.
I have a 1903 Springfield Armory 30-06 serial number 50518, still tight, 1 inch group at 100 yards, all original in really good shape with peep sight and back
Some people have all the luck.
I just picked up a 03 Springfield Sporter, in 30-06, at my local gun store! What a sveet surprise!! Serial # is in the 500 thousand range. Looks like it got a nice bluing job ta boot...
Buy lottery tickets. Great good luck finding one these days. I still can't believe how fine my .257 Roberts Springfield is.
I picked one of these up for 300. It has a beautiful plum color and steel Lyman aperture sights. These rifles are barely "used" if you can call it that. Their weight does make the 30-06 pleasurable to shoot. I've always felt the '06 was overkill for deer but that's what we were taught before we knew better. The bonus is that a lot of these rifles were rearsenaled before being surplused. You end up with a great or new barrel for way less than a comparable rifle could be built for today. They are heavy but remember, a lot of men carried them for way longer in worse conditions than we are subjected to today.
Good point about the men carrying them in battle conditions. I don't mind a rifle with some heft - seems "real."
Got to love the M1903. A great bolt action rifle and very accurate.
Sidenote it is also the same rifle that we used when I was on the drill team and later became a drill team commander. We'd flip, twirl, and throw those things every which way.
Great video as usual.
Hi Thomas - team commander! Not easy. Great rifle for that.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns The US Army uses the M1903 for Drill and Ceremony, as well as for the Color Guard. The big difference most are chrome plated. Yes it was very time consuming and a lot of practice to reach perfection in timing a lot of hours of repetition, as well as every measurement on the uniform must be perfect. It was fun and enjoyable when I did it.
Thank you for sharing what is one of the prettiest sporterized Model 1903 rifles I have ever seen. That rifle truly is a testament to whoever did the work on it.
With regard to weight, recoil, and the 30-06 you are right. The cartridge itself in terms of recoil is at the limit of what most shooters can handle without developing a flinch, but can be used effectively to hunt everything in North America. As to weight I don't consider 8.5 lbs to be a heavy rifle, but a lot of people these days do. Unfortunately, they forget about recoil when looking at numbers on ballistic charts and the weight of the gun when selecting a caliber. Thus, quite a few people end up with a caliber and weight combination for a firearm that results in a hard kicking rifle and a serious flinch.
The question you posit about how you "don't know where all these guns have gone" is one that I don't think a person can answer in any definitive way. Instead, I'll just share my thoughts on it. The first is that they are in a sizable collection of a person who is interested in them. The second, and I suspect where most of them are, is that they are inherited and stay in the family.
Again, thank you for the video and have a nice day.
Thank you!
1903 (A mauser in 3006) is what makes it most interesting for a mauser lover. I have not shot one but it should have low recoil becuase of it's weight.
All true - great rifle. Thanks for the note.
That was a very good informative video on the m1903 Springfield my friend.
Hello again Mike. The 'flaming bomb' symbol you mention is identical to the cap badge of the British Grenadier Guards. Which was awarded to them after the battle of Waterloo where they defeated the french Grenadiers.
Hi alungiggs - that is amazing. Waterloo...what a loss. One of the more interesting books I've read lately is The Emperors Last Island by Julia Blackburn.
Thank you for showing us two beautiful rifles. I hope your thumbnail gets better soon!!
Thank you Grendel - and thank you for noticing. It was a nasty injury - a jig slipped and my drill did the damage. Thankfully I'll have a new one soon. All the best.
my sporter is a mark 1, bishop stock. about 100 rds fired thru it. it was 100% when i got it in 82 from a deceased gentleman's widow on her way into a gun shop in Illinois. I fired the 100 rds, it was essentially unfired.
Buy lottery tickets. : )
Love the lightweight Golden State Armory 1942 Sharpshooter!
Ernst Hemingway loved griffin & Howe I love those sporter griffin & Howe but they are very expensive
And with an '03A3 you don't even need to sporterize it because they've already got a pistol grip stock and nice aperture rear sight, just feed it some good ammo.
100%
Many 03A3's don't have the correct height front sight post to shoot POA to POI. Probably as a consequence of wartime "hurry-up" production.... good news, though, is that plenty of surplus front sight blades are available to fix the problem.
Mine is Remington 1903a3, very beautiful sporterized on a 60’s wood stock. It is just a very long rifle though.
Character and a great History!
Hi, a couple of things.
The on-off lever is the magazine cut-off. In the off position it stops the bolt from traveling all the way rearward and picking up a cartridge from the magazine. I'm think you need to pull the trigger to remove the bolt.
Also, I'm fairly certain that the stock on the military configured '03 is not original. I think that is a 'C' stock from the '03A3 era. An original '03 stock shouldn't have a pistol grip, and it should have finger grooves on the fore end.
I have a 1903A3 with the 'C' stock. That's the main reason I bought mine, but I'm sure that even mine isn't original.
The 'C' stock was designed for the sniper versions, so they're rather rare. There are aftermarket companies that make them now.
Thank you - great post. I picked up a couple of sporters built on the Springfield - but no luck finding a military one. I like the action though.
I got that book.The Sporter you see is like mine..it has a Douglas barrel and it shoots ok but it is heavy..8 pounds/scope
is a lot to carry during deer season..
Very true Keith - whenever I hunt or shoot the milsurps I think of the troops who carried these, plus their hundred pounds of other stuff, through mud, snow, bush and over hill and dale...while being shot at. Not easy for sure.
In the 60s we built rifles, kind of like they do now with the AR15, but we used Mauser and Springfield military rifles and converted them. It wasn't as easy as an AR15, which requires no more than a vise block and a torque wrench, but they made into really beautiful rifles. The Springfield was my favorite, though they were a bit more expensive than the Mausers. Of all the rifles I built, I kept two. One on a Springfield 1903, still in .30-06, in the classic Brownell style. (think: Ruger Model 77). The model 77 had been introduced right about that time and I loved that style. The "fad" at the time was gloss finishes and monte carlo humps. I didn't like that. The other is a slim, trim rifle made up on an 1896 Swedish Mauser. Again in the Brownell style of stock. (no Monte Carlo hump on either) I left it in 6.5x55 because that is an incredibly useful little cartridge.
I had also made one up in "Varmint" style with heavy barrels and my favorite cartridge for varmint rifles at that time, the .22-250. I also made a rifle on a 1917 Enfield in .300 H&H. I traded those two for Winchester Model 70 SE in .375 H&H because I needed an elephant rifle to protect my wife's garden from...elephants. I am pleased to report that there has been NO elephant damage to my wife's garden since I have owned that rifle. I always wanted to build a Mannlicher style rifle on a Mauser action but never got around to it. I bought a Ruger M77 International, .250 Savage instead. That was the early 80s and the practicality of making sporters from military rifles was failing.
A local gun shop has a gunsmith that still makes nice sporters on military actions, but they are WAY expensive now. I like to look at what he has for sale, but I'll stick with the two I built 50 years ago. And yes, I have assembled a few AR15s in recent years. It's fun and easy. Actually I like to assemble "uppers" to attach to a couple of lower receivers I have. It is fairly cheap and easy to build a variety of uppers and swap them onto lower receivers, using the same BCG and charging handle.
I hope to make a video on a Springfiled sporter soon. There are some superb rifles based on those military actions - just as you say - unbelievably fine.
The flaming ball is called the, Ordinance Bomb. They vary a bit over the years but yes, it was designed after a Civil War grenade.
Thank you - I like that mark.
Great video. Can you do a Video on the 1917 Enfield? In some ways while the Springfield got all the glory the Enfield was the better rifle and the US used more Enfields in WW1 than Springfields.
Hi John - great idea! I will.
Always thought the 03 Springfield the most handsome of the ww2 military rifles, as much as I love the old Brit Lee Enfield it's got em well beat .
Regards from the Sage.
I think most people agree with you. The Springfield looks great no matter where it is - from trenches to tree stands - it looks fine and right.
Hello Mike,
Thank you for the great video and the rifles are superb. That 03 reminds me of the time I had a big bore shooting coach when I was 13. He was an aerial shooting instructor during WWII and as tough as a railroad spike. The first thing he taught me was to lay my thumb alongside the wrist of the stock when shooting prone. Of course he didn't tell me that when I fired the first round and as a result I wound up with a busted lip. He thought that was an absolute riot, I on the other hand did not lol. By the way, could you make a video on the Winchester or Browning Model 71? I have the Browning 71carbine in .348 and just acquired a "new in box" Browning 1895 in 30/40. Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve - more gems. I love the 71 and the 1895 in 30/40 is a classic - always wanted to hunt with one - even just once. I'll make the videos as soon as I get the guns. I don't have your luck : )
That's two nice Springfields on that table. I have a modified sporter but if I find a original like that I won't be able to get my money out of pocket fast enough.
Hi Steve - I wish they came up for sale more often - so hard to find now.
Good vid. especially on aperture sights which l learned on as a kid. My first hi powered rifle was a No4 mk1 Lee Enfield many years ago ha ha.
I now have a few Rem Enfield p14’s wih peep sights which l really enjoy shooting and they shoot very well.
I have never actually seen an 03. but if l do l will definitely try to buy it🇨🇦🤠
I like the new back drop . You do a great job telling the history of these great firearms . Start doing knives and handguns too .
Thank you! I'll have to learn more. : )
Another great video, thanks. But I love the"flaming ball" version.
Thanks Arthur.
I came across a 1903 that had a bad case of bubba. Camo wrap stock that has been cut down. I almost bought it. It's a shame that people do that. In my opinion if you want to sporterize a mil surp save your pennies and have a gun smith do it for you. Those Griffith and Howe rifles are works of art. If you do decide to sporterize a mil surp also make sure the rifle isn't of serious value to collectors.
All good points. There are ways to sporterize and ways to wreck.
Well thought out and pertinent comments. I agree ☝️ about the 30 30 effective out to 150 yds tops ( my opinion) l have never actually laid eyes on an 03 but hoping to acquire one someday.
Your take on recoul is righton ha ha. People want light easy to carry rifles but then they complain that they kick !
Finally you are right about the 3006. “It is never a mistake” someone once said. .3006 is still king in my part of the world good old reliable but not as sexy as a . 300 win. mag. LOL 😂🇨🇦
Thanks Randy
Sir can you enlighten us about how to use that Lyman 48 sight please. Thanks in advance
If our soldiers could carry them unmodified I think a lot of hunters could carry a sportsterized version. I used an old unmodified military rifle for hunting and loved it and I preferred to stalk game so I did a lot of walking with it. I can see older hunters wanting something lighter tho.
Fine rifles
Thanks Luke!
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I would love to see some more content on the old faithful Remington 760, I own 5 myself.
the on and off is the magazine cut off selector
Thanks Jon!
Mine has the cutout for the pederson device
Lucky man.
I just got a Springfield 03/A3 Sporter, I haven’t fired it or loaded it. Who ever Livengoods bought it from, they didn’t fire it much, because there’s no lead buildup on the crown of the barrel or any wear on the bolt
I just found out that it was a ww2 sniper and the Sporter stock was a factory made sniper stock, and the barrel is a machine gun barrel, that’s common on ‘03s
That's a home run buy!
I have one quick question I have a 1903 Springfield that I can't find anywhere on the internet. It is in mint condition and it has a complete 90 degree bolt charging handle that is cross hatched pattern under the bolt lever. But your video was one of the more informative videos that I have seen on this weapon. Very nice collection you have by the way. And God bless where we go one we go all Q.
Hello Cliff, Thank you for your kind words - I appreciate them. Please let me know what your question was. Your 1903 is a gem - and they stopped making these gems....long ago. God Bless, Mike
USOG the Springfield 1903 that I have has a bolt handle that is 90 degrees flush with the stock when closed. I can't find anything on this particular rifle.
New sub. I really like your videos
Thanks Deacon! Glad you're here.
At one time I had an 03 I took the bolt apart one day and turned the bolt I think two turns and then tried to fire " CLIK " If I remember right it takes 3.5 or 4 turns to set the firing pin correctly that could have been a nightmare on my deer hunting trip
Hi Bob - things can go wrong for sure. I'm not sure how many turns - but thank goodness you checked and figured it out. A click is not a boom... although it has happened to me more than once.
Again,wonderful peepsights!
PS : Behind you,second from the left,there is one very sweet looking 303,wonder what it`s story is ?
I've got one that's beautiful with 281000 on serial number and has a Williams sight just like that. It has the flame and ball on the barrel with 10. 42. Any info on it would be cool or were I could find info.
Looking for info on a early, what I believe to be, 1923/24 Abercrombie & Fitch #137- Springfield 30-06. Supposedly owned by one of the "4 great white hunters" whom assisted in the production of the 1931 MGM movie - Trader Horn. It does possess many indicators of a Griffin and/or G&H. Existing G&H records apparently begin in 1930, so no help there. If you could steer me to a resource ? Would love to share pics in order to learn more. Thank you in advance for your time.
Hello Jb - Please send pics to usogbyemail@gmail.com
I'll do my best.
My first "Springfield" was one that I bought from a fellow in Great Falls, Montana when I was in the USAF stationed there in the 1970's. It was still packed with cosmoline, in it's original shipping box direct from the arsenal where it was stored in Utah to the first buyer circa 1960. It was a Smith Corona 1903A3, but it started what became a bit of a collection for me. I've finally whittled that collection down to about 20 rifles.
One question came to mind after I noticed the 1938 barrel date on the sported barrel. By any chance is there a "star gauge" mark on the muzzle at six o'clock? Have you considered running the serial number to find it's history while it was in possession of the government? After Frank Mallory passed, the Springfield Research Service printed most of his data, and a lot of the fellows on the forums at the Civilian Marksmanship Program's website, as well as Jouster2.com, are happy to run a serial number and respond.
As you most likely well know, the last of the Springfield Armory produced National Match rifles were offered with 1938 dated star gauged barrels. They also came from SA drilled and tapped with a Lyman 48 'Long Slide' rear aperture sight. Those NM rifles were works of art, but they also sold "service" rifles to civilians, as well as receivers, parts, and barreled actions. I have a "twin" to the basis of your sporter that I bought from an old gent, the original purchaser, who stated that mine was indeed 'just' a barreled receiver, drilled and tapped for aperture sight, and the one option he did have done was to have SA tune the trigger, sear, and bolt to NM standards.
Your Remington, as you also probably know, would have originally come with a straight grip stock. The full grip "C" stock turned a 1903 into a 1903A1 with just that stock installation. I love my C stocked rifles! They fit my physique quite well, and the comb is at exactly the right height for iron sight use. The 'scant', or 'semi' pistol grip stocks have the same comb and butt length, and are as easy to use, but were cut to the C type pattern from blanks that were rough trimmed for straight grip stocks.
I just finished a restoration of what was a sporterized 1903A4 'snipers' rifle, that had the original barrel cut back, the metal buffed and blued, and was installed into an older Bishop sporter stock. It now wears a proper barrel, in a new production Boyd's C stock, with a vintage Lyman Alaskan scope in original rings and Redfield base. I had all of the metal bead blasted and then Parkerized. I have an original A4 scant stock with the proper bolt handle notch, but it is butt-ugly and detracts from all of the fresh metal work. What a wonderful shooter it is!
Anyway, now that I've made a short story a long one, thanks for this video!
Excellent post - thank you. I did not know most of what you wrote - learned much. The rifle did not have the star : ( and I sold it to a fellow collector. I did have one star gauge sporter quite similar to the one in the video - I sold it to a collector in New York years ago. I only have the Remington (I didn't know about the straight grip stock - thank you) and a custom sporter in .257 Robert improved by WM. J. Welker, Seattle - an impossibly accurate rifle, and a British 30-06 sporter. You must have some magnificent specimens. I find the Springfield uniquely fascinating among the military bolt actions. Hard to put into words. The action has some kind of character and complexity of appearance or something like that - I think they are fantastic. I owned a Fred Adolph 03 that was near perfect - also gone from my vault. I had several others over time; each one special in its own way. The G&H products are of course magnificent. I phoned Michael Petrov in 2006 and bought his book Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century - many fine rifles and a lot of information there. I had one rifle by a famous stockmaker - he inletted with tiny chisels to perfection - I just can't remember his name at the moment. Amazing work. Hope to hear from you again soon.
I "cut my teeth" with my 1903 addiction circa 2000, shortly after I married the now-Mrs. Walton, and learned most of what I know from John Beard, and the other fellas that were posting on the old Culver's Shooting Page and the Gun & Knife Forum. Mike Petrov was a heckuva source on the custom 03's, and I loved the photography he was doing of them, and though I never conversed directly with him, his posts were always informative and respected by all. I wore out my first copy of Brophy's "The 1903 Rifle".
Some of my favorites have been the "Sporter" rifles that Springfield sold to civilians, and I've built several clones. The National Match rifles are the pinnacle of development, in my mind, though there were many that were built for specific international matches. I'm just finishing up a 1922 MI .22 LR. A few days after I retired from the USAF as a civilian, I was asked to work at a local gunstore in southeast Idaho. One of my first customers was also a retired GI, and he had a rifle in a full case that he wanted to trade for "a .22 magnum". Nothing specific, other than it had to be a .22 magnum. What he offered for trade was the 1922, in a maple stock with ebony forend tip, grip cap, and an old, steel Model 70 buttplate. I pulled a used Marlin bolt action repeater .22 mag from the shelf that was marked at $199 for the holiday sale, and he asked if I'd be interested in a straight across swap.....that was the first of many times that I put blisters on my hands pulling cash out of my pocket!!! In the meantime, I found an original, correct stock for the 1922, the right band and buttplate, but am now looking for the right receiver and barrel scope bases, as this little rifle was shipped from SA for most likely a Winchester A5, or perhaps a Lyman of Fecker.
I've never had a deep bank account, and couldn't afford to have the work done that I wanted, so I self-taught myself, along with the help from several old gunsmith-mentors, to bed, finish, checker, install buttpads, grip caps....nothing worth much except to me, and my kids like it, probably just because they saw the time and effort it took to do.
I love the G&H rifles perhaps the best. The styling "gets" me. Jack O'Connor mentioned a lot of the old craftsmen that have gone to the shop in another realm, and of the bunch, the only one I've come close to being able to afford was a Neidner 25-06 that was in terrible shape that a LGS in Pocatello had on the rack for a ridiculously low sum. The rifle went out the door as I was on my way back from the credit union with the money.....
I really love your videos! Most all of the others leave me throwing things at the screen with their errors and misstatements.
Take 'er easy, have fun, don't git caught!!!
I originally had a comment or two about the Remington that I didn't share. Most of the very early Remington 1903's ended up going to New Zealand just prior to and shortly after Pearl Harbor. The originals, with NZ acceptance marks, are very scarce. Most did make it back to the States, but not without all of the British and Commonwealth acceptance and proof marks on them. Without those marks, it likely stayed in US inventory, and they were used by all branches throughout the war, being rebuilt and given to allies, especially NATO countries post-WWII.
The original stock, with that very low serial number (Remington's allotted s/n block started at 3,000,000) would've been a straight grip, with grasping groove forearm, with "RA" and boxed "RLB" on the left side of the stock in the vicinity of the rear cross bolt. Those stocks are scarce!!! The C type stock was a standard replacement piece that could've been installed by a unit armorer, or arsenal, but if done "in service" it would also bear marks from the overhaul or inspection facility. The stocks, and all the leftover parts were sold off as scrap post-Korean war. Two groove Remington A3 barrels 'back then' could be purchased for .50 cents!
03's in good shape, as-issued started to escalate cost-wise in earnest after the Civilian Marksmanship Program brought the last big batch in from Greece, somewhere around 2002-5. Those were loned to Greece back when they were fighting communists in their civil war, and have some pretty unique characteristics.
From what I understand, Springfield Armory was almost entirely taken over into production of the Garand rifle by 1939. War was on the horizon, and they were scrambling to get M1's, then the standard US service rifle, into everyone's hands. Britain approached Remington to build a fairly unique 1903 variant, chambered to the British Mk VII round, with a ten round box magazine. Remington prototyped a rifle, but the project was scrapped. Someone decided that we'd be better off just building 1903 rifles, and Remington was contracted with to do that. They were given all of the old tooling, gauges, samples and drawings out of storage from when Rock Island Arsenal shut down 1903 production in 1922. The very early Remington 1903 rifles are pretty much a direct copy of the Rock Island WW I rifles. Most of the equipment was about worn out, new equipment that gave better results, better materials were all available, and so shortly after letting the contract, Remington started hitting the Ordnance Corps with suggestions for upgrading the 1903 manufacture that ultimately, in steps, gave us the 1903A3 rifle. Little know fact is that Smith Corona was contracted with at the same time as Remington for the A3, and beat Remington into production in September 1942, Remington's first A3's showed up after acceptance in Dec. 42.
At one time, I had a Remington 1903 with a barrel dated 12-41, and a very, very low serial number. We had a family tragedy, and I was forced to sell off a number of firearms, and that particular rifle brought a LOT of money, just because of the s/n and mfg date.
It seems that it's only been the last several years that more and more people have started calling the 1903 a Mauser 98 clone. I'm not so sure about that. The receiver dimensions more closely match the 1895 Spanish Mauser. The magazine cutoff was held over from the 98 Krag at the insistence of the old infantry officers on the board. Not sure where the coned breech came from, but certain not from the Mausers. I'd have to say that it had features from several rifles, from several different nations in it's final form.
Sorry, got winded again, and I have to apologize if I've bored you to tears with my ramblings.....
P.O. Ackley is one of the best,if you can find one.
I'm looking....not easy.
I cry a little bit when I see sporterized milsurp, because 99% of the time they been butchered. That one is ok
I have a Lee Enfield from 1915 that has been sporterized which is a shame because if my research is correct, it is a bit rough made and is missing the magazine by-pass which is said to be a rushed production to meet the demands of WW1. It functions well, shoots ok (I have not shot it much) and where it did not matter, you can see the metal is rough, not finished. For the rest, it is quite well made. I wish it was all original, the conversion to a sports configuration is fine, and perhaps I should also look at that as historically significant, but it is a rifle I keep purely for sentimental reasons. Likely a soldier carried this in action, I really don't know for sure, but it is well used.
I don't like the ones that are done poorly. Like just cutting down the stock and calling it a "sporter".
If however, they take the time to do it right: new stock, shorten the barrel, reblue, mill/lathe off any stripper clip guides, etc, then to me they're great. Typically these are the guns that are done by large firms doing mass commercial sporterization, or very talented smiths. Generally not the work of some lone guy in his garage.
I wonder why an original condition milsurp (in good condition) can't be used for hunting as originally produced? I can't think of a good reason other than perhaps weight, and even that I wonder about because if a soldier carried it all day, why not a hunter? I like the weight, I like long barrels, does sporterizing make them more effective? One of my favorite rifles has a 26 inch barrel and it is nice.
pseudopetrus different reasons but generally 1. Weight. Sporting rifles do not need, generally, do not need the mass for parts durability or prolonged shooting as a military rifle. 2. Accuracy. Many hunters I know prefer their hunting rifle to shoot 1moa or better. And most military rifles are intended to be (excluding the Ross 1910) “accurate enough” even with reproduction military style barrels on highly refurbished Springfields only shoot about 2-3 moa with ball ammo. 3. Customization. There’s only so much that you can do to customize a “military rifle” without changing the look of the rifle and making no longer “a true military” configuration. 4. War. As much as I recognize that a gun is a tool and it’s the person who wields it that can either do good or harm. Sometimes people would rather not have something that reminds them of the horrors of war. Where I live I know a few veterans that kept their issued rifles from WWII and Korea, and a fella I know who served in Afghanistan even built himself a replica M16a4 like the one he carried. But in the post war years not many guys wanted a “military style” rifle, hence why surplus rifles were (in comparison to the wages and inflation) dirt cheap. Even in comparison to those times, some guys could buy a Winchester for only a little more than a Springfield or k98. And the model 70 would’ve had more “hunting features”.
@@Ben_not_10 You make many good points, the last one resonates with me, if I carried a rifle in a war, that very same rifle might have dark thoughts attached to it! I might not want to carry it any more and for some, that is very understandable.
Hey!
Very cool!
Thanks Leman!
Both rifles are very nice. I sent you a email with pictures of my friends 1903 Sporter that is the most beautiful I have ever seen. Let me know if you got it? It was built in MT . Thanks Mike 👍
Rear micrometer sight is a Lyman 48 as it says on the sight. How could you mistake it for a Redfield?
Thank you so much - I either didn't look, or didn't remember or got confused filming 😂 ...I have found so many ways to make mistakes. And now foolishly sold the rifle so I can't check. For some reason some people sometimes file the face of the flats - so there are no markings at all. All the best to you.
At 69 I cant remember all the mistakes I made today. I enjoy your shows. I especially enjoyed the Husqvarna rifles.
Is the sporter version 1903 a griffin & Howe ?
Great video. What are the custom 1903 sporters worth today?
Between $350. and $850.
You and me seem to think a lot alike, have three sporterized 03’s two are shooters and one is so pretty l’m afraid to touch it.
Sounds just like that Kelly. Great minds... : )
I put a scope on my M1A and I really don't think I like it. It just feels so much better with the irons. Goes to show you're not supposed to put scopes on WW1 rifles, they're good as is
"1903 is the American mauser copy"
No. The 1903 is what the Mauser wanted to be
Mauser sued Springfield Armory for infringement of their design and won, Springfield had to pay Mauser money for every gun they made. The Springfield is a slicker rifle than the battlefield Mausers but the Mauser 98 is stronger. Dangerous game rifles often use 98 stye actions for their strength and reliability. If it wasn't for the Mauser, the Springfield would not exist.
The "on/off" is for the magazine cut off..
Thank you!
What do you think of a Remington 43 03A3 2groove barreled rifle? Are the 2groove accurate beyond 100yds?
Hello Jose - I like those 2 groove barrels - they are as accurate as others - at least for me.
The two-groove barrels are actually quite accurate in many of those 03A3 rifles.... especially with heavier-than-typical bullets for use in the rifle. Meaning, heavier than 150-grain M2 Ball...
Public service announcement: if a sporterization was done years ago, that’s one thing. Don’t be a goddamn bubba nowadays.
The Springfield 1903 rifle brings back a lot of memories. It's the rifle we were issued in Navy basic training in 1961 and we carried them most everywhere we marched. An interesting side note is that for punishment, 2 of these rifles would be strapped together and used much like weights. The offender would be required to sit of the floor and extend the rifles horizontally with both arms straight out. At arms length that becomes difficult. Our issued 1903 would be used during calisthenics on the parade ground.
We used Garands at the rifle range.
I think that the M1903 Springfield is a beautiful take on the German Mauser, or kar98k. Both arms are about the same length. The German version is all function, but the American version, the M1903 is beautiful, especially the later Springfield models of the 20's and 30's with the beautifully slightly swept back bolt, the style of the hand guard, the decocking piece with it's intricate engraving, and of course the rear sight, the shape of the external safety lug, with it's aesthetic curve.. and I do think that a rifle should be functional and beautiful. The profile of the barrel is perfect in my opinion for accuracy... not too thin, not too heavy... and compared to the German barrel, of the Kar98K with it's rigid steps of thickness.. to thinness... which is purely functional again is just not as beautiful as the M1903. Same with the laminated stocks of the later kar98K rifles.. very functional.. but still not as beautiful as a oil finished walnut stock. The M1903's beauty motivates you to shoot accurately and effectively. The kar98K is a tool, the M1903 is a work of art.
Do my eyes deceive me, or does that sport have a massive recoil lug on it?
Hi Isaac - you're right - recoil well handled on that one.
Interesting paradox. Young gun guys seem to be disinterested in these old classic rifled, but they are hard to come by, and expensive. Maybe that's the reason. I look backward, and not forward when I buy guns. They just don't even make them like they use to. Over used expression, but this is why.
I'm in my 20s and I like these old rifles. His videos made me almost want to get a Winchester 70 or Rem 700
Yes I’ve said the same thing Hatchers notes is the Bible, I’m still reading mine for the millionth time.
I have owned a couple of sporterized military rifles. I didn't particularly like them in the woods being so long. Fine for sitting in a deer stand. I got rid of both and don't miss them as they were not that accurate. Surprised about how badly the Lee Enfield shot with a 3 inch group at 100 yards. Eddystone was not much better.
Hi Patrick - so true; some are like that. I had a couple that had trouble hitting a door at 75 yards. A deer would have been quite safe even with 5 rounds loaded.
When money is no object Americans can build as fine of a firearm as anyone on the planet. One only needs to look at what we’ve built in the past or pick up a Cooper .22 rifle. Sadly, we are in a whole different market now in the USA. Cheap, polymer, and tactical drives arms sales nowadays. I suppose that I’m out of touch for longing for days gone by.
Bloke jaggey how much u want fur dat buckaroo
Hi como dice - It's a keeper for now
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns bloke great job best in biz korngrats