1903 A1 National Match

[Mustang51]

A couple of months ago 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. SRS even has a copy of the original sales ticket.

Based on this, I went ahead and put a bid in on it. I hadn't heard anything back from the auction house, so I assumed I hadn't won.

Last week they called and advised that I had won the NM rifle and a 1903A4 that I had also put a bid in on. There were a limited number of pics and description.







Description advised as follows...

A .30-06 ‘MODEL 1903 A1 NATIONAL MATCH’ BOLT-MAGAZINE SERVICE RIFLE, serial no. 1402726, 24in. barrel with blade fore-sight and tangent rear sights to 2850 yards, the muzzle with ‘S.A’ over the ordnance bomb and '1-38’, receiver marked ‘U.S. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1903. 1402726’, polished bolt marked ‘N.S.’ and etched with the serial number, pistolgrip stock with sling swivels and chequered steel buttplate with trap

 

[Jim Watson]

Ooh, aah.

 

[Mustang51]

LOL...

The 1903 National Match arrived at my FFL and I got a chance to give it the once over. Unfortunately, it will be a few weeks before I can bring them home due to Cali's infamous 10-day "cooling-off" period.

The stock is in great shape. There is a drawing number on the buttstock, but not the serial number. There are "S's" stamped in the magazine cutoff cutout. I took a few pictures before it went into the safe to start the 10 day "cooling off" period.











Buttplate appears correct



Barrel is excellent, measures a "0" on the CMP muzzle gauge, and has the star gauge mark.



The bolt is lightly electro penciled with the serial number.

 

[gillmeister692]

Per Bowers Firearms:

Your S/N 1,402,726 was produced in calendar 1931, when 34,264 A1s were made by Springfield Armory. As you mentioned, it received a new barrel in 1938.

The "C"-stock is gorgeous. I'm very envious. Enjoy shooting this beauty.

 

[Bart B.]

The firing pin appears cocked. Dry fire it or open the bolt the pull the trigger to lower it while closing the bolt. It's spring will last a lot longer for best accuracy if not compressed in the firing condition.

Good lookin' '03!!!!

 

[Mustang51]

Your S/N 1,402,726 was produced in calendar 1931, when 34,264 A1s were made by Springfield Armory. As you mentioned, it received a new barrel in 1938.

The "C"-stock is gorgeous. I'm very envious. Enjoy shooting this beauty.

Thanks, gillmeister. I'm looking forward to shooting this.

I've ordered a history letter and hopefully the original DCM sales ticket from the Springfield Research Service. Meanwhile, a friendly poster on another forum gave me a picture of his copy of the DCM records confirming that my rifle had been sold by the DCM originally as a 1903A1 National Match rifle.

 

[Mustang51]

The firing pin appears cocked. Dry fire it or open the bolt the pull the trigger to lower it while closing the bolt. It's spring will last a lot longer for best accuracy if not compressed in the firing condition.

Good lookin' '03!!!!

Thanks, Bart. The rifle arrived cocked and while grabbing a few pictures before it went into my FFL's safe for the obligatory 10 day "cooling off" period, I noticed that it was cocked. It is not cocked any longer.

 

[bannockburn]

Mustang51


Wow, two beautiful '03s there! Thanks for the photos, they both look great!

 

[Bart B.]

Those 1903 Match rifles would shoot arsenal National Match ammo lots into 2 to 3 MOA at 600 yards. A popular way to improve accuracy was to pull the military 172-gr. FMJBT bullet then replace it with a 180-gr. FMJBT match bullet from Western Cartridge Company or Winchester.

Arsenal match ammo used bullets from 3 or 4 different bullet production lines but cases, primers and powder lots were all from the same run. Some bullet making machines and their dies made more precise bullets than others. .30-06 match ammo specially made with a good lot of bullets from one production line would shoot about 1 MOA at 600 in good M1903 match rifles.

 

[Reloadron]

Congratulations on a few real nice rifles, enjoy them.

Ron

 

[Mustang51]

Wow, two beautiful '03s there! Thanks for the photos, they both look great!

Thanks, bb. I'll take a "group shot" of them when I get them home.

 

[Mustang51]

Those 1903 Match rifles would shoot arsenal National Match ammo lots into 2 to 3 MOA at 600 yards. A popular way to improve accuracy was to pull the military 172-gr. FMJBT bullet then replace it with a 180-gr. FMJBT match bullet from Western Cartridge Company or Winchester.

Arsenal match ammo used bullets from 3 or 4 different bullet production lines but cases, primers and powder lots were all from the same run. Some bullet making machines and their dies made more precise bullets than others. .30-06 match ammo specially made with a good lot of bullets from one production line would shoot about 1 MOA at 600 in good M1903 match rifles.

Thanks, Bart. I'm really looking forward to shooting this as soon as I can bring them home. I've got some 175, 180, and 190 gr 30.06 match ammo from Hunting Shack

 

[Mustang51]

Congratulations on a few real nice rifles, enjoy them.

Thanks, Ron.

 

[Mustang51]

The bore is amazing...shiny and sharp, with a "0" on the CMP gauge.

 

[Mustang51]

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

 

[Vern Humphrey]

24in. barrel with blade fore-sight and tangent rear sights to 2850 yards

Not to nitpick, but the Springfield does not have a "tangent rear sight." It has a folding ladder rear sight.

Tangent sights are found mostly on Mausers, and are a curved base, with the elevation controlled by sliding the sight adjuster forward to elevate the rear sight.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

nice rifle!







I'll bet the criminals buying and selling stolen guns in the back ally & out on the street really hate that 10 day cooling off period, must really slow them down!

 

[Mustang51]

Not to nitpick, but the Springfield does not have a "tangent rear sight." It has a folding ladder rear sight.

Tangent sights are found mostly on Mausers, and are a curved base, with the elevation controlled by sliding the sight adjuster forward to elevate the rear sight.

Yeah, these auction houses sometimes get the details wrong on these items.

nice rifle

Thanks, OGG!

 

[30Cal]

Sweeeeeeeeet!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Zeke/PA]

Beautiful rifle!
Enjoy shooting it!

 

[agtman]

Agree.
Beautiful piece of history. Enjoy!

 

[LoonWulf]

beautiful gun, these are one of the few military rifles ive always really liked.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys! Really looking forward to getting out to the range with this.