Springfield 1903 Magazine Problem

Hello again. For a while I've had this problem but never got around to figuring out what's wrong.


The problem starts when loading the magazine. I snap the 1st one in, and it pops right back out. I snap a 2nd one in while holding down the first, and they both stay in. Now if I load up 5 rounds into the magazine, the first 4 feed fine, but upon opening the bolt after firing the 4th round the 5th one pops out. It happens every single time and for the life of me I can't figure out what the heck is wrong. I love the gun and it's extremely accurate, but picking up flung rounds all the time is getting really annoying. Can someone help me please?!?!?

It was my grandpop's rifle and while he did a lot of work to it, he said besides drilling for the scope mount, he never did anything to the receiver itself. He made the trigger a dream, free floated and glass bedded the barrel/stock, added back up sights. I'm totally lost with it.

mookiie: That was my initial thought, but it seems like if the spring was too weak it would have feeding problems, not retaining problems.

Float Pilot: Ok I'll try that. There are no problems using an '03A3 follower in a straight '03 though, right?

1KPerDay said:

No issues, no. And a weak spring may cause retaining problems because the round isn't held snugly enough against its "lip" if that makes sense. Also the contour of the follower may have been softened or changed allowing the rounds to move to the center to readily. A new spring and follower is a cheap test and it may fix your issues. If someone indeed messed with the feed lips, you have larger issues.

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Ok thanks. The follower does look quite worn, which I'm honestly not really that surprised about anyway. It has had a lot of rounds through it between the US army, my grandpop, and me...

jhnrckr said:

is the magazine cutoff switch working correctly?

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I'm not quite sure I know what your talking about here. Care to explain?

gunner69 said:

There is a lever, on the left rear of the action, that holds the magazine rounds in "reserve." That is called the magazine cut off. With it "on" you are able to add single rounds to the rifle, without charging rounds from the magazine.

Am I clear in my explaination?

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Yea I know what your talking about. Actually, until someone said something I hadn't really paid any attention to this, but the rifle won't feed a new round unless that selector is in the "on" position. When in the "off" position the open bolt won't retract the last 1/8" necessary to feed the next round from the magazine. I just leave it in the "on" position at all times.