Just bought yesterday. Couple of questions. It has the cutout of course. They say stock should have a notch. Dont see it. Stock looks like a scant style. Not sure if original stock. Barrell is 11/19 so probably original. Hope I got a decent deal. Very good shape. Using the cmp bullet gauge at bore is close to 2. Have not shot it yet. Super nice condition. Trying to add pictures. Grrrrrr
Springfield 1903 mark 1
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Nope, youre good.
Some sporter stocks have a bit less pronounced notch. So long as it stays in position and doesn't stick out too much, its fine.
Normal shooting postion is up, or "ON" anyways. The only reason to have it down is for handling empty so the bolt doesn't lock open when cycling it, or keeping the magazine loaded and in reserve while you shoot single shot. The cutoff keeps the bolt from coming back far enough to pick up rounds in the magazine when if OFF position. Ejector still works and all, just wont pick up the rounds in the magazine.
Shooting single shot with the magazine loaded was a trench warfare idea. Keep the gun full in case the Huns came up over their trenches and attacked. Flip the cutoff over to ON and you were ready to go.
Some sporter stocks have a bit less pronounced notch. So long as it stays in position and doesn't stick out too much, its fine.
Normal shooting postion is up, or "ON" anyways. The only reason to have it down is for handling empty so the bolt doesn't lock open when cycling it, or keeping the magazine loaded and in reserve while you shoot single shot. The cutoff keeps the bolt from coming back far enough to pick up rounds in the magazine when if OFF position. Ejector still works and all, just wont pick up the rounds in the magazine.
Shooting single shot with the magazine loaded was a trench warfare idea. Keep the gun full in case the Huns came up over their trenches and attacked. Flip the cutoff over to ON and you were ready to go.
Jim Watson
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Agreed, stock is a WWII "scant grip" type.
Looks like a standard cutoff, too; most were refitted with standard cutoff and sear.
Looks like a standard cutoff, too; most were refitted with standard cutoff and sear.
Thanks all for info. Figured stock was replaced. Did not have the finger grips. I noticed on the ladder site there seems to be a swivel type feature. Can you use that to fine tune windage. Will shoot this weekend. Florida weather is great.
Let us know how it goes. The majority are very good shooters with ammo they like. Even wartime production guns seemed to have very good consistency.
Be advised, the "point blank" range with the rear sight all the way flat was I believe 547 yards, meaning aim at the middle of a standing enemy and it would hit him out to that range. What that means to the target or recreational shooter is that they usually shoot rather high at 100 yards. Some people make a new front sight blade so it can be zeroed at a closer distance. You can also stand up the sight and use either the notch or aperture sight on the standing leaf. I think one or the other (or both) can be set for 100 yards.
There was a thread on the forum I linked below about making a front sight blade for easier shooting at 100 yards. I thought it was a sticky at the top of the page for this section, but the one I was thinking of wasn't there. The thread about accurizing the 1903 may have some of the sight info though, I didn't read it in detail. If its not in that thread, looking around should turn it up, it was a pretty simple way they were doing it.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=36&sid=f113e2723bd0e66253a4cbbb3b84228d
ETA: Hey wait, look here. The topic of "how do I bring down my groupings?" is in the sticky section.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=116&sid=f113e2723bd0e66253a4cbbb3b84228d
1903's having different stocks or other parts isn't unusual, they were rebuilt or repaired whenever needed. They were in general service quite a while, in reserve, and used by state Nat Guards for years after they went out of general service in the regular army. I personally think the other stock types besides the scant grip are more attractive. The early straight grips with finger grooves on the fore end and screw type cross bolts are nicest looking. Later straight grips did away with the finger grooves, and eventually used plain pins for the cross bolt reinforcement. The regular type pistol grip (as opposed to the scant, which was sort of a stop gap idea) stocks used for a while are very nice looking also. The details can get to be an obsession, or at least a matter of interesting study.
Another good reference for 1903 stuff,
http://m1903.com/
Be advised, the "point blank" range with the rear sight all the way flat was I believe 547 yards, meaning aim at the middle of a standing enemy and it would hit him out to that range. What that means to the target or recreational shooter is that they usually shoot rather high at 100 yards. Some people make a new front sight blade so it can be zeroed at a closer distance. You can also stand up the sight and use either the notch or aperture sight on the standing leaf. I think one or the other (or both) can be set for 100 yards.
There was a thread on the forum I linked below about making a front sight blade for easier shooting at 100 yards. I thought it was a sticky at the top of the page for this section, but the one I was thinking of wasn't there. The thread about accurizing the 1903 may have some of the sight info though, I didn't read it in detail. If its not in that thread, looking around should turn it up, it was a pretty simple way they were doing it.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=36&sid=f113e2723bd0e66253a4cbbb3b84228d
ETA: Hey wait, look here. The topic of "how do I bring down my groupings?" is in the sticky section.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=116&sid=f113e2723bd0e66253a4cbbb3b84228d
1903's having different stocks or other parts isn't unusual, they were rebuilt or repaired whenever needed. They were in general service quite a while, in reserve, and used by state Nat Guards for years after they went out of general service in the regular army. I personally think the other stock types besides the scant grip are more attractive. The early straight grips with finger grooves on the fore end and screw type cross bolts are nicest looking. Later straight grips did away with the finger grooves, and eventually used plain pins for the cross bolt reinforcement. The regular type pistol grip (as opposed to the scant, which was sort of a stop gap idea) stocks used for a while are very nice looking also. The details can get to be an obsession, or at least a matter of interesting study.
Another good reference for 1903 stuff,
http://m1903.com/
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The Mk1 stocks are kind of hard to find. The cutout for the Pederson ejection port is a dead giveaway when you spot one. Also nearly all original Mk1's will have a "WJS" cartouche. I also noticed that your cutoff and spindle been replaced with standard 1903 parts. none of which will effect the way it shoots of course.
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