Thinking about doing a custom rifle on a 1903

[jonc]

I've been considering what I want to do with my pawn shop find from about 5 years ago. It's a remington 1903 thats been sporterized. It had a redfield mount, an old redfield scope, and kind of a funky stock on it with an aftermarket safety lever, turned down bolt handle, and shortened barrel. I have already put a timney sportsman trigger in it for a nice pull.

Here's what i'm thinkin of doing with it but I would like some ideas and opinions from people that are more experienced in this type of thing. I want to do an E.R. shaw barrel in 35 whelen improved, I was thinking 20" for a nice handy rifle but i'm not sure exactly what options I want to get with it. I would also like to get one of ed lapours 3 position model 70 style saftey bolt shrouds for it. I think it would allow me to get the scope lower to the bore of the rifle. I was also thinking about getting one of boyds prairie hunter stocks but i'm not sure if I should do walnut or laminate. The other thing i was thinking was having the action/barrel hard chromed or at least reblued.

What are your thoughts?

 

[LoonWulf]

Your plan sounds good to me.
I prefer a barrel longer than 20" for the most part, but have balistically your not going to loose a whole lot. I would suggest getting a heavier tapper barrel, especially if going with a boyds Laminate sporter stock, they tend to be kinda butt heavy. The extra weight tho will help soak up some of the recoil.

I happen to REALY like working with ERshaws barrel department, they have been excellent to deal with and the cost has been low compared to how well all of the barrels ive gotten from them have shot. I would probably send them the whole action to work over, and you can have them blue it at the same time. Cost for a CM barrel installed will be about 350OTD, with bluing your looking at 475ish.
If you want a more weather resistant finish you may want to look and see if there is a local Cerrakote shop, or other shop that can do the other high durability coatings.

I LIKE boyds stocks, but if not going with a laminate, I would probably get a old Fajen off ebay or Gunbroker, they are actually a little heavier than boyds walnuts (denser imo, and less internal milling), but they balance alot better, usually cost about 80-100 bucks semi finished or lightly used, and generally have nicer grain.
Bishop also made stocks for the 1903s, but im not a fan of the styling of bishop stocks.

I had some form of low saftey on my 1903, but never used any of the replacement shrouds or other safeties.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Springfiel...865657?hash=item2aa9d3f0b9:g:tPwAAOSwpoJbBIs7
thats the stock i like but id never pay more than 150 for one even in perfect condition.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

There's a kind of nice Facebook page for Sporterized/Custom '03s.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1254714641214817/

A pleasant, nonjudgmental environment full of ideas.

I think I'd certainly re-blue it and go walnut. Laminate's tough as all get out but many look like bowling balls and the weight increase is usually considerable.

Todd.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Having had all my old Redfield scopes fail badly on me I would be highly suspect of it. I bought 5 or 6 in the mid 1970's and every one made a trip back to Denver where they were located. One scope failed 3 or 4 times before I threw it against a wall insuring it would never fail me again. Just something to keep in mind. Good luck on your rifle. BTW the Redfield mounts are bullet proof.

 

[jonc]

I've been looking at both the bishop and fajen stocks on eBay and GunBroker. I haven't found one I've liked enough to buy yet though, I'm definitely keeping that option open. I'm really hooked on the looks of this one I pulled off google

 

[jonc]

Having had all my old Redfield scopes fail badly on me I would be highly suspect of it. I bought 5 or 6 in the mid 1970's and every one made a trip back to Denver where they were located. One scope failed 3 or 4 times before I threw it against a wall insuring it would never fail me again. Just something to keep in mind. Good luck on your rifle. BTW the Redfield mounts are bullet proof.

I took it off and put a Mueller apv scope on for now. I'm thinking of going with a vx3i 1.75-6

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I took it off and put a Mueller apv scope on for now. I'm thinking of going with a vx3i 1.75-6

You can't go wrong with Leupold. You can call their custom shop & get just about any rectile they offer. I called them about getting a German no 1 which they don't list & I was told they would do it. Cost is $50. over price of scope.

 

[Bushpilot]

What are your thoughts?

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan. I like the idea of the 3 position safety. My sporterized 03 has an old aftermarket thumb safety that barely clears my scope. If the stock wasn't notched out for it I'd replace mine with a 3-position.... If it were me I'd go walnut and blue but hey that's what is cool about a custom, you can build it just the way you like it...

 

[jonc]

You can't go wrong with Leupold. You can call their custom shop & get just about any rectile they offer. I called them about getting a German no 1 which they don't list & I was told they would do it. Cost is $50. over price of scope.

Oh nice. I have a xv3 1.5-5 with a German #1 and I love it

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Post a picture when your done .I love a restore!

 

[Offfhand]

The trim lines of the '03 action and barrel lend themselves very well to conversion to a custom sporter. As seen here by this R.F. Sedgley rifle, which was done about 1930. Known as the "poor Man's Griffin and Howe" the Sedgleys had simple but classic lines that are as elegant today as 90 years ago and well worth duplicating by anyone interested in building a beautiful '03 sporter that he can be proud to own. Sadly, I don't know of any current producer of wood stocks who can duplicate the Sedgley, with current choices being clunky and clumsy by comparison.

 

[Bushpilot]

Offfhand, You have some of coolest, classic rifles, very elegant.... This one is no exception...

 

[jonc]

I love it. I bought a used stock off eBay last night. It's a diamond in the rough so to speak... I'll try to post up a photo

 

[jonc]

Here is a photo of it, I'm planning on rebedding then adding a Schnabel ebony tip like the stock I posted above then refinishing it real nice

 

[LoonWulf]

Nice, ive seen those a few times...bishops i THINK. They usually end up with really nice wood, but since they are old benefit from a good refinishing.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The trim lines of the '03 action and barrel lend themselves very well to conversion to a custom sporter. As seen here by this R.F. Sedgley rifle, which was done about 1930. Known as the "poor Man's Griffin and Howe" the Sedgleys had simple but classic lines that are as elegant today as 90 years ago and well worth duplicating by anyone interested in building a beautiful '03 sporter that he can be proud to own. Sadly, I don't know of any current producer of wood stocks who can duplicate the Sedgley, with current choices being clunky and clumsy by comparison. View attachment 791507 View attachment 791508

I have seen a few Sedgley rifles and they were all low number Springfields. Someone told me that they had developed a process of re heat treating that made them safe, but that could be just a rumor.