reloading for the 1903

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scythefwd

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ok folks... Got some questions for you that reload for the 1903.

I have a 800000 SN 1903, no A nothing. Its got a 4 groove barrel, from what I can find its a 1:10. I used 168's for my .308 with a 1:10, anyone have any esperience loading for these barrels? Specifically if it preferred a certain weight range, or a specific powder, etc..
 
Every 03 & 03A3 ever made is 1/10 unless it has been re-barreled.

They will shoot anything from 110 varmint bullets to 220 grain RN.

Just pick one, and it will shoot it.

rc
 
I have a 1903/A3 it is G.I. except that the man that gave it
to me put a Timney trigger on it and a real nice set of Lyman
peep sights. With 168 Grain Seirra target bullets it will shoot
around a minute at 100 yds. all day long, off of a sandbag.

Zeke
 
I have a custom 1903 that will shoot well under an 1 inch at 100 yards with 110 gr Hornady VMax bullets and IMR 4064.
 
3/4 MOA with a Springfield in a military stock with open sights is Very Unlikely.

Even the hand picked sniper rifles were not that good.

rc
 
All you can do is shoot it and see what it likes.

Nobody can hand you load data and say 'this will shoot 3/4 MOA in your rifle'.

But again, if you find any 1903 Springfield that will shoot 3/4 MOA??

You have found the Holy Grail of Springfield's!!!
And you are one heck of a shooter!

rc
 
The period service rifle load was quite mild as compared to today's off the shelf ammunition. The cartridge was loaded to a velocity and pressure was a not to exceed. As powder technology improved pressures dropped. I have found data in the pre War Army Ordnance Magazine showing match ammunition of the time being in the low 40K psia with a 174 FMJBT.

I recommend, and have shot thousands of rounds of a 168 Match, 47.0 grs IMR 4895, any case and any primer. This just about duplicated period velocities and this was a popular target load in the 30-06. Another loads is a 168 with 55.0 grains IMR 4350. This is only to be used in a bolt rifle as ports pressures in a Garand would be too high. Another load, is a 168 Match with 48.0 grains IMR 4064.

The M1903 was an accurate service rifle but the accuracy depended on a number of things. One was the bedding. I have found that over the years the rear receiver tang compresses the wood and that tilts the action in the stock. This is something that must be fixed as the action ends up bowed and the barrel is no longer touching the wood stock at the upper ferrule. You can shim the tang, I used to just drill a big through hole through the stock at the rear action screw and pour in Devcon epoxy and build an epoxy column for the rear of the action to sit on.
 
Loads

The most accurate load.....consistently accurate....that I use in all my rifles chambered for .30-06 is 54 grains of AA4350 and a Remington 165 PSP. I have been able to shoot MOA groups with all my .30-06s, including a 1903 Springfield using the aperture on the ladder.
 
All you can do is shoot it and see what it likes.

Nobody can hand you load data and say 'this will shoot 3/4 MOA in your rifle'.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect to hear that either. But if I have 5 folks saying they couldnt get 150's or 180's to shoot no matter what they did.. or they could only get it to shoot 2" groups with x projectiles and others confirm that... then it does give me a place to start by telling me the components that aren't worth trying, at least at first.
 
I've been using 46.5 Varget with any good 168 Match bullet. I doubt that its MOA but it will clean a SR target at 200 yds. prone with a sling. Garand safe as well.

Laphroaig
 
MEheavy - Thanks for the link.

I know its an extruded powder, so I'm actually unlikely to use it anyways.. stick powder just doesnt seem to load without a good bit of spillage from my PM (dillon 550). I'm gonna move over to a garand safe ball powder like bl-c2.
 
I've never had much luck w/ BL(C)2 or H114
(Maybe they just don't like me) :banghead:

But if you pick up some AA2520, it's a spherical powder that meters like water
and performs both predictably & well in everything from 223 - 30-06
 
168gr SMK's are NOT hunting bullets. You will find IMR4064 with 'em will give you consistent accuracy for target shooting. IMR4064 is an M1 Rifle powder, but don't expect the same load to shoot the same way out of both rifles.
"...have 5 folks saying they couldn't get 150's or 180's to..." They are doing something wrong. The 1903 Springfield was made to shoot 150's. 180's are a standard too.
 
Actually, the 1903 was made to shoot the "Ball Cartridge" bullet, which was 150 grains. Then in 1926, the standard bullet was changed to the Ball, caliber 30, M1, which weighed 172 grains, and was a boattail design, with a 9 degree boattail, at 2,700 fps, the same velocity as the older 150 grain round.

Due to difficulty in maintaining pressure at the higher velocity, in 1940, the 150 grain FB bullet was re-adopted as the "Cartridge, Ball, Caliber 30, M2", and was the load used in World War II for all .30 caliber firearms using the .30-06.

Condensed from Cartridges of the World, 10th Edition.

I've fired everything from 110 gr. to 220 gr. bullets through my 1903's, 1903A3's and M1 Garands. Some are more accurate than others.

Powder burn rates for the Garand should fall between IMR 3031 as the fastest, and IMR 4320 as the slowest, to maintain proper port pressure and not bend the op-rod.

All of my 1903 style rifles have relatively short chambers, measuring near SAAMI minimum.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Every 03 & 03A3 ever made is 1/10 unless it has been re-barreled.
Click to expand...

That is not true, an alarm was sounded accuracy improved. I would have been happy with 'more accuracy', Springfield was not. Springfield insisted the problem with more accurate be fixed.

F. Guffey
 
But again, if you find any 1903 Springfield that will shoot 3/4 MOA??

You have found the Holy Grail of Springfield's!!!
And you are one heck of a shooter!
Click to expand...

I've had two Springfield sporters that would shoot under an inch with loads they liked. My dad used to shoot the one with 110 gr handloads and would get sub inch groups.
 
Lots of good advice, I prefer the 4895 to duplicate the military ball load (stated above). Remember that rifles with serial numbers before "about" 800,000 did not have double case hardened receivers. My point is to not push these rifles with hotter loads. The receiver may let go. Buy an 03A3 if you want to push it.
 
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