Hutch
Member
Well, it started off with a "sporterized" 1903A3 an acquaintance offered me at a good price. So I bought it. A little background is in order. I'm not a good rifleman, especially with iron sights. I blame it on my vision, but the truth is, I've never seemed to be able to get a rifle to print decent groups with iron sights. Period. Prior to the arrival of the Springfield, my inventory of old battle-rifles included a coupla Garands, a Turk Mauser, a Yugo Mauser, and a Chinese copy of the Noisy Magnet (M44). Off a bench, I MIGHT be able to hold 'em in 6 or 8 inches at a hundred yards. This kinda confirmed my assessment of my abilities as a marksman. I'm okay with that.
Comes the 03A3 with a Lyman or Williams receiver sight in place of the original, and a gold bead put on the front blade. I benched the rifle at 50 yards, and HOLY SMOKES!!! I'm getting 1-1.5 inch groups with standard US M2 ball ammo! I went back to the range with some old handloads to dispose of, and I, bat-bland and stone-fingered, put 5 in a group .4 inches. I'm still in shock-and-awe.
Well, that opened the floodgates. In 4 days, including a gun-show weekend, I pick up US-Property Savage SMLE, and Eddystone 1917, and a re-arsenaled M91/30 Nagant, and a sho-nuff, still in militree config 1903A3. I can't wait to get 'em to the range and see if my muse is still with me. I looked at the prices of .303 ammo, and wound up buying some brass, bullets and dies.
Does anyone have any experience in shooting these old veterans that have rough, pitted bores? I knew they were kinda iffy (the 1917 and the SMLE), but I thought I'd see if they might surprise me, accuracy-wise. If they'll shoot 3 or 4 MOA, I'll be satisfied.
Who'd'a thunk it?
Comes the 03A3 with a Lyman or Williams receiver sight in place of the original, and a gold bead put on the front blade. I benched the rifle at 50 yards, and HOLY SMOKES!!! I'm getting 1-1.5 inch groups with standard US M2 ball ammo! I went back to the range with some old handloads to dispose of, and I, bat-bland and stone-fingered, put 5 in a group .4 inches. I'm still in shock-and-awe.
Well, that opened the floodgates. In 4 days, including a gun-show weekend, I pick up US-Property Savage SMLE, and Eddystone 1917, and a re-arsenaled M91/30 Nagant, and a sho-nuff, still in militree config 1903A3. I can't wait to get 'em to the range and see if my muse is still with me. I looked at the prices of .303 ammo, and wound up buying some brass, bullets and dies.
Does anyone have any experience in shooting these old veterans that have rough, pitted bores? I knew they were kinda iffy (the 1917 and the SMLE), but I thought I'd see if they might surprise me, accuracy-wise. If they'll shoot 3 or 4 MOA, I'll be satisfied.
Who'd'a thunk it?
