First .30-06 was a 03-A3. Like to have died of shock when I saw what it did at the range! Shot 130 gr. JHP's loaded over a super secret dose of RE-7. It would absolutely hold the 10 ring of a SR-1. It was pure poison on anything that walks or crawls in the southeast United States. Still have several 03-A3's. One is a Smith Corona that got rearsenaled with a brand new Rem. 1944 barrel. It is a superlative shooter. Even better, it shoots cast bullets with the same outstanding accuracy. Sincerely. bruce.
Smith-Corona 1903A3
- Thread starter Rocketmedic40
- Start date
About 10 years ago, I talked to a then 93 year old man, he has sinced passed awsy, who had been in the typewriter repair business most of his life. His father was also in that business, so he had been working on typewriters since he was a teenager. He was drafted into the army during WWII. When he got yo basic training he was given a 03 A3 that was made by Smith-Corona. He thought it was kind of ironic!
His unit was shipped to England. Once there an officer found out he repaired typewriters. So for the rest of the war, he was in England as a typewriter repairman!
His unit was shipped to England. Once there an officer found out he repaired typewriters. So for the rest of the war, he was in England as a typewriter repairman!
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Be the MAN, start a CMP program at your local club. Local Club matches are a ton of fun. I did it in 2002, with a commemorative match held in February I called the Frozen Chosen. It is has been held every February since then. This beginning led to CMP GSM matches held from October to January.My only suggestion is to find the closest club running CMP "as-issued" service rifle matches.
For that you'll want a sling (although you can do 'ok' without) and 2 or more stripper clips.
You can skate by with any sort of mat to lay on and a block or container to hold 10, 15, or 20 rounds.
The matches are derived from the KD qualification courses of the period, but the target and score rings are smaller.
NRA SR target at 200 yards or the SR-1 at 100 yards.
The rapid targets starts from standing (and then go to prone and sitting/kneeling) and are just fast enough to add to the stress of competition especially with the bolt action.
Having a spotting scope is helpful but it all depends on the club and the range. Some have electronic scoring and others have pits.
Search for under vintage as well as Springfield and Garand. The course is the same regardless, either course A or B, and clubs will list the event various ways. I think at bigger matchs they segregate so each competitor has opportunity to shoot 3 different rifles.CMP Club & Competition Tracker | Match Search
ct.thecmp.org
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I bought a Smith Corona 03-A3 from a fellow club member for a decent price. I replaced the stock with a C type stock, removed all the stamped parts and replaced them with the milled parts, installed a nickle steel bolt, and my Cousin, who owns a machine shop, made a copy of the Marine Corps target front sight for it. The gun already had a target rear sight, a Lyman adjustable target sight on it.
The 4 groove barrel was not the best, so I bought a new in the wrap barrel, thinking it was a 4 groove. It turned out to be a 2 groove barrel and had it installed on the gun.
With my target handloads it is very accurate.
The 4 groove barrel was not the best, so I bought a new in the wrap barrel, thinking it was a 4 groove. It turned out to be a 2 groove barrel and had it installed on the gun.
With my target handloads it is very accurate.
LVSteve
Member
The Brits had the added factor of Cordite as their propellant, perfect for throat erosion during rapid fire. In the milsurp shooter world, a good two-groove Enfield will shoot accurately for as long as most collectors will need.
Another issue with 303 British is that the best ammo for Enfields has a flat base with exposed lead. Yes, some rifles with minimal wear will shoot boat tails well and do so for a long while, but once throat erosion gets going, flat base is the way to go.
Not sure if John Garand designed that sight. But, the 03A3 sight and the M1 Carbine sight are almost identical. To me, they are perfection in a battle rifle.
charlie sherrill
Member
If your great great uncle was with the 442 that means he trained about five miles from my house at Camp Shelby Mississippi. They were probably the most decorated division in WWII. Several of them came back here to live after the war. I dated the daughter of one of them (Herbert Sasaki) when I was in high school. There is a nice memorial dedicated to this unit at the Camp Shelby Military Museum. I have four 03/03A3's including the Smith-Corona.
OP
Picked it up, and it is exceptionally clean and in excellent condition. The cartouches are strong. The wood is straight and clean, and the parkerization is perfect. I’m taking it to the range tomorrow for what may well be its first shots ever.
Trooper224
Member
The 'A3 is for the masses. The '03 is for the classes. 
OP
Or those with laser eyes lol…the sights on the 03 suuuucckThe 'A3 is for the masses. The '03 is for the classes.
Trooper224
Member
Plebe.
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The sights on a 98K are terrible, the 03 are worse. The 03A3 sights are much more useful and easy to use. If you are poking holes in paper the 03 sights are much better, if you are defending yourself the 03A3 are waaay better. They both kick like a mule compared to the 98K.
OP
I shot it alongside my RTI-special Enfield (which keyholes, anyone know where I can find a .303 barrel?). The .303 is gentle and calm and easy to shoot, like a midwestern girl who wants to play homemaker. The .30-06 is angry, high-energy and wants to hurt you for pulling the trigger- like dating a Mexican girl. But it hits so good!
OP
Update – it’s an excellent shooter. Barrel dated May 1943, park station is perfect. Front site hood is a little shorter than I would’ve anticipated but still leaves some room to see the target between the hood and the top of the side blade. Even with my mediocre skills and vision, I was putting up 2” groups at 100 yards from an unsupported position. Working the boat left-handed isn’t as dorky as I remember, I still slightly prefer the Enfield action to the Springfield. For some reason, the Garand is still a challenge for me to work with, this Springfield is easier for me. It shoulders nicely. It looks classy and I really enjoy shooting it. I would honestly put it against any modern rifle. Also, being able to attach my bayonet is a huge plus.
From my reading, it seems the 03 a Three‘s were still pretty common on the front lines even into 1945. I don’t know where this particular rifle has gone, but I know many a Three‘s were used by grenadiers, artillery men, MPs, etc. One of the few photos we have of my great uncle in the 4/42 has an A3 in the background, so who knows?
All in all, I am glad to have the opportunity to possess and shoot this piece of history, and now I kind of want to typewriter to go with it- kind of like a plowshares into swords into plowshares situation.
From my reading, it seems the 03 a Three‘s were still pretty common on the front lines even into 1945. I don’t know where this particular rifle has gone, but I know many a Three‘s were used by grenadiers, artillery men, MPs, etc. One of the few photos we have of my great uncle in the 4/42 has an A3 in the background, so who knows?
All in all, I am glad to have the opportunity to possess and shoot this piece of history, and now I kind of want to typewriter to go with it- kind of like a plowshares into swords into plowshares situation.
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