I've got a thing for "old school" 1903 Springfield rifles that have been converted to target rifles. Back in the day, before the Winchester model 70's, Remington model 722's, etc, these were the basis for many a fine target rifle.

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread for people who have an example of some of these fine old target rifles to post pictures...

I'll start with one of mine, a Remington model 1903 target rifle.

Who's the stock maker? And what is up with the hand guard not being cut for the missing ladder sight?

Was this a converted service rifle or more along the lines of a rifle built from a surplus action?

Ivan

I bought the rifle as is and can not answer your questions. The hand guard is obviously an A3 hand guard that was substituted for an 03, since there was no rear sight on the barrel.

The stock is a mystery. I thought that it might be heavily modified C stcok, but have come to doubt that. I took some comparison shots...

A few more of the stock

Here's my 1903 ersatz National Match rifle. It's a double heat treat 03 action, an A1 stock, 03A3 barrel, 03A3 handguard and Lyman sights, front and rear. Too much fun!

I built it up from an already drilled and tapped action so it was not privy to a full restoration to original status. As it is though, I shoot it much more often than my as issued Springfields.

Attached Images

	Springfield 1903-NM-800.jpg (123.6 KB, 114 views)
	Springfield 1903 NM sight 1.jpg (64.7 KB, 88 views)

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Keep your powder dry.

Here is another I picked up along the line...

Springfield in a scant stock, with Lyman sights fore and aft.

I had a smith corona set up as a target rifle. Removed the issue rear sight and front sight. Gunsmith drilled and tapped for a Lyman 125 model 48 rear sight and installed a Lyman 17xnb which was a direct replacement for the complete front sight. My target load was an old 300 meter load. Any '06 case,Rem 9 1/2 large rifle primer,37 to 40 grains IMR 4895 and a 125 grain Sierra flat base spitzer. You'll find a sweet spot between 37 and 40 grains 4895,and 40 grains is the maximum. When fully sighted in at 100yds 2" groups were easy to obtain. Course those eyes were about 30 years old. They are now 73 years old. Frank

Smith Corona 03-A3 that's probably more sporter than target rifle but since I only shoot targets with it.....

Two groove barrel and Timney trigger, it's one of the best cast bullet shooters I own.

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Go West young man..

I have only one Model 1903 target rifle, and it's a factory original. This a Model 1922-M2 in .22 LR. These are remarkably hard to find, and I lucked into this one at a gun show some years ago.

John

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Nice. How does it shoot?

That is a fine looking rifle...target or sporter.

Damn, John...great looking rifle. How does it shoot?

It puts them into a tiny cluster at 25 yards. Not bad for an old rifle.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Damn! Another fine rifle

I see by the pictures that your rifle is an M1922 M1 that was converted to M2 configuration, as evidenced by the "2" overstamp of 1. I have an original M1922M1 that I bought a few years ago for $200. I've been led to believe that these rifles are effectively underbored 1903-A3, weighing the same as its larger cousin. Great rifle!

Not target rifles but, M2, Sedgley, 2 Griffin & Howe, 3 NRA spotters

That is quite a collection.^^^

I found a 1903 30-06 set up for target work years ago and stupidly wound up swapping it for ? But last year I found a 1922 M2 that’s a lot of fun. Not getting rid of this one.

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I don't have pictures on hand.

Back in 1987, I told my 'smith that I wanted to get into NRA high power matches, and he sold me one of his Remington 03A3 "NM" rifles. It is in a "C" stock with a Lyman 17 globe sight and a short slide Lyman 48. I shot this rifle for 3-4 years until I got my M1MkII target rifle. This Springfield really taught me how to shoot rapid fire! I earned my Sharpshooter classification with it.

I cut my teeth loading rifle ammo for it with surplus M72 bullets, until I learned that I could get higher scores in rapid fire using 147gr M80 bullets and a lighter charge of IMR4895. I still have a bolt rebuild kit and 3 spare barrels for it still wrapped in cosmoline. In the 1988 Nationals at Camp Perry, I managed to win 6 or 7 Marksman class medals, and 2d place in the Marksman Class Match Rifle aggregate. Eighteen years later, I managed to place in 8th Place in the CMP Springfield Match using a stock Remington 03A3 with "C" stock.

These rifles bring back very fond memories. I wish that I weren't disabled and still able to shoot these great rifles while teaching my children how to really shoot a rifle. Now if I can only teach myself how to overcome 50 years of shooting habits so that I could shoot left-handed! I often had Warrant Officers at Quantico gathered behind me during rapid fire matches!

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Judge control not gun control!

Do you still have your NM, Irrifleman?

A few years back I saw a 1903 rifle on auction, billed as a National Match model. It looked right and I requested a Springfield Research Service serial number check on it. The inquiry came back with a hit from the SRS...1903A1 NM DCM sale, 9/12/1938. Based on this, I went ahead and put a bid in on it.

I didn't hear from the auction house for some time, but eventually they called and advised that I had won the NM rifle and a 1903A4 that I had also put a bid in on.







I ended up getting the documentation from the SRS on my rifle. In case anyone ever wondered what the SRS letter and Ordnance sales ticket look like.

Absolutely! I have my: 03A3NM (w/ 43 barrel), stock 03A3 (w/ 43 barrel) and a low number 03 that started getting wed to a "C" stock to become an 03A1 before I became disabled. I would really have to be in dire straits to sell my 03s!

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Judge control not gun control!

My old range in Long Island new york was the old Brookhaven range. When I first started it was diving on narrow sandy roads rill you got to the range. A few short years later the roads were paved. Later houses were being built about a couple miles away.In the meantime some of the older vets would occasionally pull out a 1903A3 qith the really long slide and Lyman XNB which completely replaced the old original A3 front sight and give us young guys a little demonstration. As the years rolled on the houses I mentioned were getting closer to our range. In another few years they would close that range. There would soon be another Brookhaven range. Much different than the old one. High wood walls with hug ewood beams with baffles to catch any stray bullets. Supposedly was an old army range and the county bought it and revamped it. On occasion would drive out all the way to Calverton to a another range. This one was built down inside a huge sand pit. OK for a range but with the sun beating down felt like you were shooting in the desert. Don't know if the Huntingyon range on Spagnoli road is open any more as I now live in Louisiana. Frank

I just converted my 03 to a A4 version with a C stock, bases rings & a 3/4" 2.5 power scope from Hi Lux. It's set up for the Vintage sniper matches. I have that rear adjustable sight left over if anybody needs one, as well as the original marked stock.
Beruisis

That 1903A1 National Match is fantastic Calfed. I’m fortunate enough to have one myself and they are some of the handsomest rifles ever manufactured IMO.

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Some Might Say.

Inherited some beautiful 1903s in both original military configuration as well as with target stocks. During my research discovered the NM "star" barrel markings. Original owner was a Camp Perry NRA Marksman from well before WWII through the 50's.

My question is the headless cocking piece on all of the 1903s? Is this another NM adaptation or just a personal thing.

Photo of cocking piece attached. When I get a chance I will post complete photos. They are gorgeous!

Thanks

Attached Images

1903 Headless.jpg (147.8 KB, 48 views)

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Initiated and Proud

The headless cocking piece was used on target models. It is argued that the firing pin/cocking piece is lighter contributing to a faster lock time, an advantage to a target shooter. A stronger striker spring was also available but this was not popular because it increased cocking effort.

This high speed mechanism was invented by John C. Garand. See Brophy.

The headless cocking piece is often accompanied by a reversed safety so that a prone shooter does not get hit in the nose.
One of my NRA Sporters has this "speed lock" and reversed safety. They are desirable features on a 1903.

No doubt about it; my rifle is an M1922 M1, converted to an M2. It still has the original stock, which according to my references was designed more for offhand work than prone, having more drop at the comb and the heel. Here's a pic of the date stamp on the barrel made in October of 1926 - I apologize for the poor quality - more of a snapshot.

It reads "SA" over Ordnance bomb, over "10-26"

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I’ve got my dad’s old Springfield M1903.
About 15 years ago, he and my mom came to visit. He gave it to me along with the bayonet that I used to carry around the yard as a kid, once he thought I was old enough not to cut myself. (!)

I’ll need to post pics in a separate thread, one of these days. It’s got an interesting history, and some interesting features according noted authority John Beard.

My dad ordered it from the back of Field & Stream magazine in 1957. When he came home from work at the refinery one day, it was waiting for him on his front porch, left by the postman (in Port Arthur, TX). It set him back $29.95, plus S&H.

I love the old M1903s and their kindred 03-A3s.
Thanks for starting this thread... I hope I didn’t meander too much.
Very nice pictures, everyone!

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Have my grandfather's 1922 M1 he acquired when his NRA rifle team disbanded at the start of WWII. Also found a well used NRA Sporter to go along.

Here are some shots of my O3A3 Match Rifle. It was my primary NRA Highpower gun for almost 20 years. It's basically an O3A3 retrofitted with 03 milled parts, including the bottom metal/opening floorplate, a reproduction C stock, and Lyman target sights. Everything you ever heard about 03A3 receivers being hard, and very difficult to drill and tap is 100% spot on TRUE. That Lyman rear needed two holes, and man it was a job. I rigged up the front sight by filing he dovetail off the bottom of a Lyman 17 front sight and soldering it to an old 03 sight base with Hi Force 44.














I shot her for about 20 years on our reduced course with cast lead bullets exclusively. About 5-6 years ago, I sort of semi retired the old girl and put together a .223 bolt gun on a Howa 1500, which is now my primary gun (also with cast bullets.) But I still shoot a match or two each season with her.

This one was originally built in the '50s, so a little later than the others that have been posted. I got it from my dad who got it from the original owner. Rock Island action with Canjar trigger. By the time I got it, the bbl was pretty much toast, so a few years later I had John French re-barrel with a similar profile McGowen barrel, and he added a new butt pad at that time; he did the work sometime around 1979 or '80. It shoots great!

Best regards,

I have a 1903A3 that I bought that had a Lyman target sight on it. I bought a reproduction "C" stock, a nickle steel bolt, and milled parts to replace the stamped parts too. I also put a checkered butt plate on it and with the help of my Cousin, who has a machine shop, we made a replica Marine Corps target front sight for it. There is a diagram of the sight in the 1903 book.
The barrel needed replacing as well, so I had a new 2 groove barrel installed. It shoots very well when I do my part.
Sorry, no photos of it.

Several years ago a pawn shop in Arkansas put what they thought was a sporterized 03 on their discount rack for $350.00. A buddy of mine just happened to be there when they put it out and he grabbed it up. He knew it wasnt a sporterized gun, but a National Match gun. It even had a star gauge barrel on it!!!!!

I was in the Air Force 1952-1956. When I got home my Dad presented
me with a Springfield 1903 30:06. He had bought it surplus and put a
Bishop Stock on it. I don't know why, but I could never hit the proverbial
side of the barn with it.
Traded it in on a Model 70 Winchester 30:06, with a Weaver K4 on it.
After that I never missed. Lived in SW Montana at the time and the
hunting was great. Took Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk, and Bear with the
Model 70. Retired from hunting about 20 years ago. Gave the Model
70 away. That's when I got the name crazyphil.

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In Omnia Paratus