.30-06 loads for the 1903

[Smith357]

I'm looking for a starting point for a 1903-A3 Springfield. What bullets work best in a 1944 barrel, heavy or light? Boat tail of flat base? So far the 150 grain factory ammo has been less than outstanding, adequate but just barley at 3 MOA. I now have the brass for reloading. I would like to get it down to 1.5 MOA or better.

 

[krs]

Loading might not give you much help. The ordnance spec. for accuracy in the 1903a3 rifle was 4 moa. You're already doing good!

 

[USSR]

What bullets work best in a 1944 barrel, heavy or light? Boat tail of flat base?

I'd suggest anything between 150 and 190 grains, flat base for close range target use, and boattail's for 300 yards and beyond.

Don

 

[GeauxTide]

P-17 Loads

My P-17 of the same period digests 150 Hornadys in WW Cases over 52gr. of 4064 without complaint for about 2 MOA, which is about what I can do with 60 year eyes. Manual said 53 was max.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Question abt. the rifle...

Smith 357--Is this an original military '03-A3, or sporterized?

I have a dilemma in advising you. If original--At this point in history, there are only so many of these old war veterans left, and you should probably preserve it "as issued." And live with the military level of accuracy. OTOH, the Springfield can be made quite a bit more accurate by sporterizing as we did in the 1960's and earlier, so if yours is already bubba'd, you should be able to do better.

Some of these military rifles, just by happenstance, are much more accurate than the run of the mill.

My Springfield (actually a Remington) with its free-floated bbl and Timney trigger, not to mention cutting down the military stock and mounting a 'scope instead of the rear sight, will easily stay inside of 1.5 MOA. There were a zillion of 'em floating around, relatively cheap, when I bought mine as a starving college student who couldn't afford a "nice" civilian deer rifle.

Anyhow, a 165 grain SGK over IMR 4350 has done it for me for years & years. IMR 4064 worked good too. IMR 4320 not so much. I started using boat-tails simply for ease in loading. Recently switched to a 165 grain Nosler Accubond or Ballistic Tip, just because the SGK's lead tip gets dinged up in the magazine and in handling--otherwise it is an excellent bullet.

 

[Doug b]

I had a sporterized 03-A3 back in the 70's that liked the same load Smokey Joe's liked,165gr.SGK and IMR 4350.Only trouble with the rifle was cases busted (just forward of the web area) after 3 or 4 loads,heavy loads busted even sooner.

 

[Smith357]

Anyhow, a 165 grain SGK over IMR 4350 has done it for me for years & years. IMR 4064 worked good too. IMR 4320 not so much. I started using boat-tails simply for ease in loading. Recently switched to a 165 grain Nosler Accubond or Ballistic Tip, just because the SGK's lead tip gets dinged up in the magazine and in handling--otherwise it is an excellent bullet.

Thanks guys for giving me a starting point. 165 ballistic tips sound good to me, I have used .223 and .243 ballistic tips in the past and they did very well. And I think I still have some 4064 in my powder locker.

The rifle is a Remington and was sporterized. My best guess is back in the 60s from the look of the stock inlays. Who ever did it did a very good job. The action and barrel is fully bedded.

 

[33rowdy]

Looks like a dream Smith!

 

[NuJudge]

Any .30-'06 that will not shoot well with a 180gr flat base and 56 gr of IMR 4350 will not shoot anything well.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Niiiice!

Smith 357--A more elegant job than mine, to be sure. Is it the original military trigger under that shoe? If so, a Timney or similar will considerably improve things, IMHO.

If more accuracy is wanted after the target trigger, you might try free-floating the bbl--that will just involve loosening the action in the stock, slipping a piece of sandpaper beneath the bbl, and removing enough of the bbl bedding so that the sandpaper slides freely when the action is tightened back into the stock. You want the bbl free of the stock, all the way back to the bulge around the chamber.

ETA--Then there's always the standard: Are all the mounting screws for the 'scope nice and tight, and is the rifle tightened firmly into its bedding? And is that old Redfield 'scope nice and healthy? Me, I sure wouldn't accept 4 MOA from a rifle like that.

Anyhow, nice looker--someone with time and $$ spent considerable of both on the old girl. Thx for sharing!

Doug B--Military rifles tend to have big sloppy chambers, the better to feed muddy ammo under less than ideal conditions. Neck-sizing-only lets you fire-form the brass and then not stress the case body any further. I find this improves case life considerably.

 

[Slamfire]

That's a nice rifle!

I have many 03's. They will shoot well with a 168 SMK, 47.0 grains IMR 4895, LC/WW/Fed/R-P cases (just pick one) and any darn standard primer. OAL LT. 3.30"

I have also shot out to 600 yards, a 168 SMK or 175 SMK with 55.0 grains IMR 4350 any case, any standard primer, OAL LT 3.30". This load was in a match rifle, not a service grade 03.

 

[FredT]

Try the 168 and the 180 Match Kings. The 165 Ball Tips should be tried also. All of them are great groupers.