FedOrd Springfield

[Chainsaw2]

My late father had an old Federal Ordinance 03A3 "Springfiled". It was made with an investment cast receiver and surplus parts.

I know it needs to be checked by a competent gunsmith prior to firing to see if it's safe. Does anyone have any idea as to the general 'safeness" of this rifle?

Thanks!
jim

 

[Slamfire]

Anything made by Federal Ordnance or National Ordnance is guilty till proven innocent. The quality control throughout the entire production was highly varible.

The following thread is worth reading.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=517213&highlight=Federal+Ordnance

At this site, the section dealing with National Ordnance is very interesting.

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_NATORD3.HTML

 

[Chainsaw2]

Thanks! This thing will get cleaned up and the firing pin removed to be a keepsake. Now that I saw the pictures of that guy with the injury and the ruptured brass I remember the same thing happining to my father. He fired a ball load, and the brass had three evenly spaced hairline ruptures in the same place. The gas blew back and caused the cocking piece to hit his thumb and almost break it. We thought it was an over pressure round, but now I bet it wasn't. He never fired it after that, and I guess it was a good thing. I'd be afraid to fire a cast bullet load in it at 1200 fps.

I'll just find a decent Mauser and use that instead.

Thanks again!!!
jim

 

[Slamfire]

Thanks! This thing will get cleaned up and the firing pin removed to be a keepsake. Now that I saw the pictures of that guy with the injury and the ruptured brass I remember the same thing happining to my father. He fired a ball load, and the brass had three evenly spaced hairline ruptures in the same place. The gas blew back and caused the cocking piece to hit his thumb and almost break it. We thought it was an over pressure round, but now I bet it wasn't. He never fired it after that, and I guess it was a good thing. I'd be afraid to fire a cast bullet load in it at 1200 fps.

I'll just find a decent Mauser and use that instead.

Thanks again!!!
jim

Jim, Thanks for sharing that account about your father. He certainly saved himself from serious injury because he stopped shooting that rifle. I will reference your account the next time someone asks about the safety of these actions.

Without a doubt your action has developed excess headspace. Regardless of the pressure of the fired cartridge, as long as it stretches, the next one could have a case head separation.

Firing pins can be replaced. Someone in the future may buy one, install it in your rifle, fire a round, and have an injury.

The receiver is worthless but any action to “dewat” your rifle will ruin the bolt or the barrel. I have handled a number of CMP ROTC turnbacks, drill rod was pounded in the muzzle and the breech, the barrel welded to the receiver, sometimes the bolt was welded to the receiver.

It is my opinion that the best way to make this thing safe is to remove the barrel, sell the good GI parts, and with a large hammer, smash the receiver flat.