Springfield Model 1903: Museum Quality! Should I Shoot It?
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- Опубліковано 19 сер 2024
- After many years, I finally found a Springfield 1903 in mint condition with what I believe to have all original issued parts! I share some tips on what to look for and take this bad boy to the range for some function testing. This gun roars!
A gun that you can't shoot or don't for some reason is just art I own my grandfather's Springfield A-3 and his bayonet along with his original web belt that he brought back after the war he stayed in Europe until late 1920 assigned as a MP with the occupational forces I still take the old girl out once in a while and shoot a box of ammo just for Pops it still shoots as good as most modern rifles using just iron sights out to 300 then my old eyes just can't carry the load . I'm 72 will turn 73 in April and I think me and Pops old girl are going on a date for my birthday Thanks ✌️
That is an awesome story! Thank you so much for sharing. We are so lucky to have brave soldiers like your grandfather who fight for our freedoms . God bless you!
I am so jealous of that gun. It is amazing. Just shoot it a little, clean it, and store it. Congrats on a great video and thanks for sharing!!!
That's a beautiful example, and happy to see you did shoot it. Mine is a low serial number made in 1906 with a refurbished barrel from 1917, and a refurbished stock from the 1940's so it appears to have been used in both world wars. It has a "Hatcher hole" drilled in the receiver for pressure relief and it's lasted this long so I don't worry much about shooting it despite the metallurgy concerns regarding low serial numbers. I do use M2 ball ammo and not modern hunting loads which is recommended for M1 Garands and 1903's. Thanks for sharing your new "baby" with us.
Thanks so much for sharing, that sounds like an amazing gun! I mentioned to another comment that the bolt on my gun is in fact made by Remington ("R" under bolt handle) and it appears to have been reparkerized (green) which means it was likely jazzed up for WWII. That is still cool in my book.
Watch that Goddamned firing pin! Sometimes the Springfield's two-piece firing pin can weaken and separate, causing the rifle to fire when the bolt is run home. This happened to Jack O'Connor, and the poor bastard nearly lost the thumb on his right hand! Of course, it also splattered him with unburnt powder, etc. He should have got Eleanor to try it out first!😛
@@DJones476he tough guy act impressed no one.
Mine is also a low number Springfield Armory receiver from 1906 249391. But mine is kind of special it was one of the low number receivers turned back into Springfield Armory then stripped down of all parts and the receiver left in a bin for later use. Some years later it was pulled out and rebuilt into a new rifle with a new Nickle/steel bolt new barrel and new stock. When I got this rifle last month it was from a estate sale for $45 just the complete barreled receiver assembly and the original stock no handguard magazine buttplate and no screws. But I finally finished getting it put back together today. Oh and the barrel is pristine too.
Nice gun, they are really solid. I was fortunate to get a parade model a few years ago.
Great rifle, looks like a 1918 to me. I have a Rock Island dated September 1918 and it's absolutely stunning, so my guess is that it never went overseas. Only thing touched up later on it was the stock was rearsenaled but it is an original Rock Island stock. Hope you enjoyed shooting yours!
My late 1918 Rock Island saw a lot of action. Refurbed at least twice. Once with a 1929 dated barrel. Ended up as Lend-Lease to Greece. Bore is pretty rough, like a refurb Mosin-Nagant. It still shoots something that resembles a group. Probably won't mess with it. Just keep it as is.
@@donwyoming1936 Awesome, love the Rock islands, cool it went to Greece too
Rock on! I too have a 1903 Springfield that was built in 1911.
I also reload for it.
i got a 1903 from the beginning of 1918, the barrel was replaced at 8-44 , so august 1944, 2 months after D-day, i love how its been used in ww1 and 2 and is still in a decent condition with some battle damage on the wood, also its got a T. marking on the stock, which i have no clue of what it means...
Yes! That is so cool. The history is amazing
It has a double heat treated bolt and the receiver is of an appropriate serial number range. Reinforcing screws in the stock should keep it from splitting. Id keep an eye on bore erosion for value purposes, but it should be plenty safe to shoot.
Thats a real nice 03. I have one i got from the CMP and no way as nice as that beauty, thx for showing ! I subed ya too.
Thanks for the nice comment. The gun is super cool. I am going to make a follow up video, because there are some things I learned, like I think the finish was green parkerized for WWII and the bolt looks like it is replacement from Remington.
@@themedhunter Hunter some of my M1 carbines have that green ting. Some collectors say that comes from being in COSMOLINE for a long time. but that is not a sure thing. I know that there are different makers of cosmoline and some could make the finish that light green. I like that light green.
The safety. To the left - fire, to center - safe, To the right-locked. I have a 1903A1 that I bought at an estate sale . Dated 1941, it's still covered in cosmoleline. Never fired.
Awesome rifle! Handguard, bolt and rear sight adjustment knobs appear post WWI era. But it’s hard enough to find original (pre-WWII) barreled actions anymore. Enjoy!
We shoot the one great grandad brought back from France. He got it originally during the Mexican Incursion as part of the nm state guard. Don't shoot it a ton, but it does still get shot. I'd say shoot it and enjoy it. 😉
Thanks so much for sharing! That is the best par to posting videos is to hear peoples' stories. Do you know the serial number on the receiver? You can look up the year it was made on line if you are interested.
Carve your initials in the stock and spray paint it gold.
My father-in-law bought four 03s in the late 70s from a American Legion post back in the late seventys that were still in their original wraps that came from the factory never issued tried to get one for years but he wouldn't sell them he told me he'd gift me one when he died he's 92 an I'm 67 an I'm still waiting
LOL!
That's actually a new bolt, so I hope it's actually a real WWI receiver... because the bolts been replaced. The old ones were thick and were not swept back.
I have a 1905 dated Rock Island with a 42 SA barrel that I remilitarized from the sad sporter is was.
I got an unissued. Smith-Corona M1903A3. Those are not particularly rare, though. Many lend-lease M1903A3s came back still in the original crates & wrap.
Beautiful!!! Bucket list!!!!
Wow! What a treasure!
30-06 is an Awesome round !
Not only should you shoot it. You should cast your own bullets and load your own ammo for it.
I bought a deactivated 1903, numbers matching dated 1918, I removed the plug in the breech so now it can be fired again.
That's awesome!
how did you do it i wonder, i own some deacts myself but i couldnt think of a way to remove the pin
My cousin has an '03. Very early serial number. So early the barrel was changed to chamber 30-06.
He must have had the "3003" version which is super cool!
Awesome rifle. I have the REM 03-A3. Need a Bayonet 🥴
The 03-A3 is probably my favorite rifle and second is the K31 Swiss
Shoot it, but just make sure you clean it properly after every shoot!
I've actually shot one. But I don't own one. I own a Springfield Armory M1 Garand..traced it's history it was used in WW2
That's awesome. I got one from the CMP which is a good shooter, but not much of a collector (new barrel, new stock)
I want a m1 grand😊
Probably the best way to get one is through the civilian marksman program (CMP); It is a little bit of work because you have to fill out paperwork and send it confirmation of their requirements, but the guns are great shooters
Beautiful rifle.
I’d have to shoot it.
Thanks! I couldn't resist either, it was very fun to shoot and I could really feel the history.
Is there a book or reference guide you recommend? My dad has a 1918 made 1903 that was sporterized decades ago before he got it. We're thinking of returning it to original configuration. It's a high number for RIA, 300k serial number.
It is funny you should ask because I just bought this book through Amazon. It is really well written. www.amazon.com/dp/1780960115?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Brophy’s or Poyer’s books on the 1903.
What it was made for.i shoot my model 1917 proudly if badly!!!!¡!!!!!!!
Unfortunate that most 1917's were destroyed. I read that they were superior battle rifles to the '03.
@@jessestreet2549 the sights are awesome. York used one in his exploits.
If absolutely perfect in mint unfired condition? I wouldn't buy it. If lightly used then yeah, pay the price if you can and SHOOT IT!
i have that bayonet and scabbard
It's too bad those long bayonets bent & broke so easily. So many lost to damage.
You are not operating the bolt correctly. For all o3's use the palm of your hand to open and close the bolt. It is not a Mauser or Lee enfield. It will get sticky on you using your thumb and fore finger.
I did, it was amazing!
I once impulse bought a refrigerator
I have a 1903A3 in unissued condition and I'll never shoot it.
The one I have has a barrel from 09 and the receiver is from 1911 strange 🤔