Rechambering a 1903A3

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JG727

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I have a 1903A3 that's been badly sporterized, and I think I want to rebarrel it.
The action/bolt are in pretty good shape, and won't be hard to clean up.
The stock is a lost cause and I'm considering making one for it.
My goal is to and up with a very pretty gun that is in the style of the older (proper) sporterized 1903's. Pretty wood, good sights, classic lines. Something I could hunt with but could just as easily target shoot with.
So, the reason I'm here is this:
What should I chamber it in?
.30-06 is the classic choice, but I'm recoil sensitive, and I want this gun to be "accessible" to my friends and family, particularly women, and people of small stature.

I'm partial to 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, and already have the dies to reload it. It's relatively low-recoil, accurate, and has the capability of taking most game found in the South.

What am I not considering?
I'd love suggestions for chamberings, and any other aspects I'm not considering.

Thanks in advance!
JG727
 
I have a stock for a 1903A3 if you are interested. it was inletted to allow for a bent bolt but it was rounded to match the bolt release on the opposite side so it's not very noticeable to the untrained eye. it has a matching handguard and I even have front and rear sight posts so you could convert it back to military configuration if you want to. just send me a PM if you are interested.

as for rebarreling the most common one I see bubba doing is 300 winchester magnum but that kindof rolls in the opposite direction that you are looking for. rechambering for a smaller bullet is always more difficult than chambering for a larger one. there are a number of chamber inserts that would allow you to fire 30 carbine, 30 mauser, or 32 ACP out of a 30-06 and they are a real blast but they are single feed only.
 
I'd suggest one of two classic cartridges - 7x57 Mauser or .257 Roberts. Both are good highly capable champerings that would go well with a sporterized 1903 Mauser^h^h^h^h^h^hSpringfield. Neither are especially common but you can find ammo for them plus if you reload, both are tremendously rewarding. I'm terribly fond of 175 soft points in 7x57 personally.

Almost forgot to say, the 6.5 Swede is on my short list for this kind of rifle too. I just like 7x57 that little bit better.

Good luck with the project!
 
My roommate has a Win. 70 he chambered in .35 Whelen. Its fun but not really in the realm of what I'm looking for. I'm willing to sacrifice terminal performance for lighter recoil.

In that vein, how is the recoil of .25-06?
Or .257 Roberts?
 
280 Remington, the Ackley improved version is worth the effort...


otherwise the 6.5x55 or the 7X57 will make a nice rifle,
 
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.25-06 is no pussycat but it dosn't kick near as hard as a .30-06.

The thing is its really more of a 'varmint' round than an all around big game rifle. Sure you can use it on deer, but I think its far too light for elk. Your maximum bullet weight is about 120 grains. At range the wind really moves those bullets around, even when they are zipping along at over 3000fps.
 
Many elk have been killed with a 25.06.
Not much room for error, but far from being a stunt.
120grn 25.06 and 130grn 270 are pretty much even in the killing power department. Jack O seem to think that 270 was enough gun...

That said, my go to elk rifle is a 225, grn, 338 win mag... I was more of an Elmer Kieth fan...
 
.257 Roberts has about the same or less recoil as my .243, is usually of superior accuracy, and mild report...My all-time favorite deer cartridge.
 
I was in the same boat when I inherited a badly bubba'd 1903-A3. Since I had a nice stash of 308 and a Garand in the same caliber it seemed a logical choice to rebuild it in 308. I had Criterion cut me a .308 barrel, added some surplus USGI parts, and ended up with a faux 1903-A4. If you aren't interested in the historical look then that opens up a lot more caliber options.
 
Do you reload ammunition? If so, you can use recipes that produce less recoil than factory ammunition. The 35 Whelen is a great cartridge for cast bullets.

If you don't reload, the 6.5 is a great cartridge but not often found on the 03A3. I have seen a couple of beautiful 03 sporters and while most of them were the original 30-06, one was a 7x57 and the other was the 400 Whelen.
 
I saw a 1903 rebarreled in 6mm Remington yesterday. It was in a pawn shop and had a very _very_ VERY heavy barrel on it. I'm currently shopping for a 6mm rem, but I want on that's a little easier to tote around without a fork lift. The stock was a custom job and didn't feel right at all. But that could have been because the bones in my forearm were bending from the weight.

There's also an 03 around here somewhere that's been rebarreled to 8x57. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of the ?x57 mauser chamberings (6mm Rem, 257 bob, 7x57, 8x57) and a 6.5x55 would work great also. What about something like a 260 Remington or 7mm-08?

Matt
 
I have a bubbaed 1903A3 that I got in a trade. Due to current aircraft expenditures,the re-barrel project has been on the back burner...

I already have a bunch of heavy caliber bear blasters,,,, So I was thinking about rebarreling it in either::::

25-06 Had one in college and they shoot a long way. They are kinda loud...
6.5mm x 06,,, don't know why or why not...
6.5x55mm I already have six or seven rifles in that caliber, so why bother...
7x57mm Mauser,,, I already have a couple of these as well...
280 Remingtion.... Maybe the improved version... It is having a resurgance of interest up here as a high mountain goat and sheep cartridge.

Shorter rounds like the 260, 7mm-08 are too short to work correctly in the long magazine box...
 
I was considering some of the mid-length cartridges ( .308 7mm-08) but I'm not sure if I will need to modify the magazine to feed properly.

I have a Mauser I rebarreled in 6.5x55 so I have the dies and components on hand.

Any one have pictures of a nicely sportorized 1903A3?

I'd probably go with a sporting contour barrel. Not anything in the range of varmet barrels but heftier than the pencil barrels you find on some factory hunting rifles
Next question:
sight suggestions?
 
if you went with one of the 30-06 cartridge family rounds, you could always use reduced loads for them. hodgdon has a web page specifically for that, using h4895 powder ( http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf ) these loads are designed specifically for youth shooters, and could very well suit your needs. and when you sell the rifle, it would be in a caliber that more people would be interested in. i know all about recoil sensitivity. my brother has had surgery twice on the same (right) shoulder. another thing to consider is a nice soft recoil pad. i know that is not part of the military gun scheme, but a gun you can not shoot is not worth owning. the "limbsaver" line is my favorite. and they soak up a LOT of recoil. combine that with the reduced loads, and it should accommodate almost anyone.
 
It'll definitely get a pad, especially if I carve the stock (vs getting a 90% inletted stock)

I'm considering. 30-06,

Anyone have any opinions on good adjustable sights like Lyman and Williams make?
 
The first thing I'd do is shoot the rifle. If the barrel is any good, I'd keep it and spend the money saved on a reloading kit and components. That way, you can reload to match your recoil tolerance -- a 130 grain bullet at around 2400 fps is a gentle load, and plenty for deer, coyotes, and so on.
 
As others have said, if you want to keep the rifle in .30-06 but don't want to shoot a lot without beating up your shoulder, consider reloading down.

After working my way down from a 45 gr. starting load for IMR 4895, I've settled on 36 gr. under a 147 gr. FMJBT. It is easy shooting and very accurate out to 200 yds in the 1903, 1903A3, and 1917.
I keep cases with the same rifle and necksize only. That load is very easy on the brass, the rifle, and the shooter.

When it's my sons' turn to shoot, they use standard loads and mess with my elevation. :)

Tinpig
 
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