doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com 1903 NRA sporter

Forgive me, I'm a Stevens boy's rifle guy & know little of the details of 1903's.

In my trades, I came by a cut down high number Springfield 1903 that has a has a Lyman 48 sight on it. Both the barrel & stock were cut & are total POS's, so those need to be replaced. The action & trigger guard have the original finish & are nice.

Can a reasonable NRA sporter look alike be put together using a new CMP C stock & a CMP replacement barrel?

I know the sporter butt plate differs from the issue one. I assume (that's dangerous) that a Krag barrel band would be about right. Which barrel would be better, the 1903 contour or the A3? Were the NRA Sporters parkerized or blued?

The other possibility for this action is to put together a classic style sporter, maybe in 270.

Regards,
Ron

Pics would be good.... I've been thinking of a similar project myself. Criterion makes the barrels for CMP. It would be worthwhile to see if their A3 contour has the step machined in the middle of the barrel. The project action I bought has a Remington A3 barrel that I had to have that step removed on a lathe. I like the way it looks now & it does not have the spline cut for the 03 rear sight on the barrel shank.

As for changing the caliber if the original barrel is toast, I would consider a re-bore to 338-06 or 35 whelen. I haven't used them myself, but I have heard positive feedback: www.35caliber.com

That said, my project has languished as I came across two real NRA sporters. Both have been modified, but have Lyman 48's and excellent barrels. One was restocked and the other received a white line pad and grip cap treatment. I feel both of these are a better use of my funds and time. If you are dedicated, these can be found for a fair price.

-Tom

Beware of the Remington 4-groove A3 barrels. I have one in which one pair of grooves measures 0.308" and the other pair measures 0.3085". Not an accurate barrel, but it passed WW2 inspection.

I have a Shilen #3 30 cal barrel blank right here, but a CMP barrel comes parkerized & with the sight cuts. Even if the CMP barrel has the center cut, I think that would be less work & I'd save the Shilen for another project.

Regards,
Ron

Bought this one in 1982 to use as a Silhouette Rifle. Aftermarket barrel drilled for the scope mount T 10 came with it. Retired it from Competion mid 80's. Re-barreled with Arsenal 1935 vintage added a Lyman 48 and Arsenal Front sight. Action and stock numbers match and are in the Springfield Serial number book as a Sporter.



I don't shoot many modern rifles anymore sold almost all my bolt guns, kept this as too good to let go. Doubt if it has any collector value, still feels better than anything new.

Boats

On Aftermarket barrels. At the time I re-barreled this one looked at all the avalable new barrels. None suited me and 03 Barrels would have been a step down. Finaly found Origional issue barrel for more money than I wanted to spend, still worth it.

If somebody is making a good reproduction now like to know about it.

Boats

I picked up a prewar Win model 70 super grade a while ago. The bore scope showed a lot of tool marks. In fact it's rougher than military barrels of the period. When I hear someone say, "they don't make'm like they used to!", in the back of my mind is, "thank god!"

A good barrel is a good barrel, no matter when it was made. However I don't want to gamble on a old barrel for this one. It will never be original, but I want it to look close & be a shooter.

Regards,
Ron

While I can't speak to their quality from personal experience, Criterion offers short chambered barrels for the 03, Krag and Garand. The DCM uses them for their rebuilds and sells them through their outlets and on line. The pricing is hard to beat.

They were originally a division of Krieger but have since spun off to a stand alone company.

http://criterionbarrels.com/

Like you say a good barrel is a good barrel. However 1930's production Arsenal barrels are pretty good, particularly compared to some of the new stuff out there.

When my Sporter had its commercial barrel and many thousands of rounds through it accuracy at the 500 meter ram line on painted Steel Rams had gone to 12 inch 10 shot groups, bench rest with the T 10. Throat was completely gone first few inches. When the Arsenal barrel marked 1935 went on same 168 Gr Match Kings will put 10 shots into 6-7 inches at 500 meters. Considering the instinct aiming point, 03's lock time, sporter shaped stock that does not ride bags all that well and 10 power scope not much can be done to make it group tighter. Particularly if you measure 10 shot groups. It may pick up another � to � Moa if it had a Douglas barrel mounted.

Set realistic expectations you won't be disapointed with a Springfield Arsenal barrel.

Boats

Re Tom Davis: "As for changing the caliber if the original barrel is toast, I would consider a re-bore to 338-06 or 35 whelen. I haven't used them myself, but I have heard positive feedback: www.35caliber.com"

First hand experience on several barrels: Couldn't be more satisfied. Good quality, fast turn-around, good prices. 'Nuff said.