Starting a new project.
About two years ago, I bought a D&T Springfield 1903 barrelled receiver 1916 dated with a postwar 1919 .30-06 barrel off of gunbroker for cheap. Built it out into a WWI display model (not for firing due to the ht problems) with the appropriate bolt. Did some more research, both online, and comparing pictures and serial numbers with Brophy, and believe that the receiver actually came from a 1903 Hoffer Thompson Galler rifle trainer (has the appropriate 22 stamped on the bridge of the receiver, in the same font, etc.). Thought about locating a .30 caliber barrel, sleeving it, having the chamber converted to Hoffer Thompson which apart from the barrel and the chambering (designed so a .30-06 round would not be able to feed) and perhaps a different firing pin spring was nearly identical to a 1903. It used a special cartridge adapter that resembled a misshapen rifle round and allowed a .22 short to be fired within the converter. Brophy suggested that reject receivers were used at least initially to create these rifles along with obsolete sights for the shortlived .30-03.
But, the more that I thought about it, I was concerned that a) a direct replica might be confused with the real deal after I shuffle off of this world, b) the accuracy of the gallery rifle was apparently abysmal, c) that the project might turn out badly as the hoffer-thompson chambers are not that well documented, would require a special reamer, and so on.
For those reasons, I am considering making the a full military 1903 chambered in .22 LR. To do this, I have been gradually acquiring 1922 M2 parts, the Holy Grail was the M2 .22 barrel which I have just now acquired through an Ebay auction (long story there omitted). The barrel is worn with shallow pitting on the outside but it is uncut, has the original front sight base, and the bore and chamber are shiny with some wearing on the rifling, and the chamber end with the special extractor cut is fine. I may reline the barrel or not after shooting it. Have a suitable machined block for the 1903 receiver, magazine, trigger guard, etc. The receiver is tapped for a Lyman aperture sight already which is why I got it cheap.
My questions are (1) whether I should try to rebarrel a potentially low number Hoffer Thompson SHT brittle receiver which has already been rebarrelled and apparently shot with .30-06 or (2) should I find another low number stripped receiver which are around fairly cheap and build a 1903 replica of a 1922 M2 where I would be less worried about cracking and breaking a rare receiver.
I am not worried about the potential for a future buyer mistaking a 1903 receiver for a 1922 Springfield as even the sight impaired could note the receiver markings. Already have a nicely grained 1903 Remington WWII sporterized stock for a 1903 and and can use the parts already acquired to make it a full .22 copy of a 1903 as well.
I would use the good barrel taken off of the 1903 Hoffer Receiver for another project which is why I bought the barrelled receiver for $75 in the first place. The reason I bought the barrelled receiver was to make a shootable 1903 high number or mark I rifle in the future. Already have a 03a3.
I am doing something similar with a bare early SMLE receiver as well but not as far along on that project.
I'll try to post pix later.
About two years ago, I bought a D&T Springfield 1903 barrelled receiver 1916 dated with a postwar 1919 .30-06 barrel off of gunbroker for cheap. Built it out into a WWI display model (not for firing due to the ht problems) with the appropriate bolt. Did some more research, both online, and comparing pictures and serial numbers with Brophy, and believe that the receiver actually came from a 1903 Hoffer Thompson Galler rifle trainer (has the appropriate 22 stamped on the bridge of the receiver, in the same font, etc.). Thought about locating a .30 caliber barrel, sleeving it, having the chamber converted to Hoffer Thompson which apart from the barrel and the chambering (designed so a .30-06 round would not be able to feed) and perhaps a different firing pin spring was nearly identical to a 1903. It used a special cartridge adapter that resembled a misshapen rifle round and allowed a .22 short to be fired within the converter. Brophy suggested that reject receivers were used at least initially to create these rifles along with obsolete sights for the shortlived .30-03.
But, the more that I thought about it, I was concerned that a) a direct replica might be confused with the real deal after I shuffle off of this world, b) the accuracy of the gallery rifle was apparently abysmal, c) that the project might turn out badly as the hoffer-thompson chambers are not that well documented, would require a special reamer, and so on.
For those reasons, I am considering making the a full military 1903 chambered in .22 LR. To do this, I have been gradually acquiring 1922 M2 parts, the Holy Grail was the M2 .22 barrel which I have just now acquired through an Ebay auction (long story there omitted). The barrel is worn with shallow pitting on the outside but it is uncut, has the original front sight base, and the bore and chamber are shiny with some wearing on the rifling, and the chamber end with the special extractor cut is fine. I may reline the barrel or not after shooting it. Have a suitable machined block for the 1903 receiver, magazine, trigger guard, etc. The receiver is tapped for a Lyman aperture sight already which is why I got it cheap.
My questions are (1) whether I should try to rebarrel a potentially low number Hoffer Thompson SHT brittle receiver which has already been rebarrelled and apparently shot with .30-06 or (2) should I find another low number stripped receiver which are around fairly cheap and build a 1903 replica of a 1922 M2 where I would be less worried about cracking and breaking a rare receiver.
I am not worried about the potential for a future buyer mistaking a 1903 receiver for a 1922 Springfield as even the sight impaired could note the receiver markings. Already have a nicely grained 1903 Remington WWII sporterized stock for a 1903 and and can use the parts already acquired to make it a full .22 copy of a 1903 as well.
I would use the good barrel taken off of the 1903 Hoffer Receiver for another project which is why I bought the barrelled receiver for $75 in the first place. The reason I bought the barrelled receiver was to make a shootable 1903 high number or mark I rifle in the future. Already have a 03a3.
I am doing something similar with a bare early SMLE receiver as well but not as far along on that project.
I'll try to post pix later.
