doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com What's the story on improper heat treating on 1903

The "greased ammunition" issue arose as a result of the "tin can" bullets issued at an early stage in the development of bullet jackets. The material used had the reputation of creating serious metal fouling. The solution to the problem was to lubricate the bullets in loaded ammunition with commercial lubricants, which inevitably found their way onto the mouth and even the body of the cartridge case. This caused two different problems, both potentially serious.

First, coating a cartridge neck with an incompressable substance inhibits the expansion of the neck when the cartridge is fired, duplicating, in effect the problem caused by firing an oversized bullet.

Secondly, lubricating the case body interferes with the ability of the case to obturate and adhere to the chamber walls, resulting in a percussive blow to the bolt when the case if first pushed forward by the firing pin blow and then slammed back against the bolt, when the case fails to cling to the chamber walls. Either could cause a destructive event.

All,

Please send photos of high grade, known makers of low number springfield to me ASAP. I have the greatest concern for your safety and well being. These must be taken off the streets and stored at my home as soon as is possible.

Gary Duffey

I have shot these low numbered 03's for many years with no concern as long as headspace and ammo are correct. I even buy WW2 surplus corrosive cheap to shoot in the two I now shoot regularly. I am partial to Denver '43 good stuff. Had a couple of Sedgley's same story never a problem. Everyone should decide themselves. If you are afraid to shoot some nice Military rifles I would be interested to buy them cheap;

When a cartridge case ruptures in any way, be it a soft case head or splint in the case the gas escapes into the action. When that happens the floorplate is blown out, the stock is split and most likley the extractor is blown off.

The rifle is out of service regardless if it was a low-number or high-number.

If I understand the design of the 1903 correctly it was made to withstand cartridge failure. It very clearly stated that the rifle must pass firing two each of the following defective cartridges when designed.

1.Crossed filled on head to nearly the thickness of the metal.

2.Cut at intervals diagonally through the extractor groove.

3.With four longitudinally cuts the whole length of the cartridge shell from rim forward.

I think that today many people believe that any case failure in a low-numbered action will result in the action breaking. IMO this is just not true.

90 years of old wive's tales, mis-information, misguided information, and rumors- repeated ad infinitum in the shooting press and most recently on the internet= a lot of misinformed people.

Were/are there rotten eggs in the '03 receiver basket? Sure, just as there were/are rotten eggs amongst pretty much any other group of 100 year old guns. Will I refrain from using one? Nope.

= a lot of good buys still to be had if in the right place at the right time. Perhaps we should add to and perpetuate the rumors.
Art

I still want to build a copy of an early sporter with the rear sight ring still in place, similar to some of the early Wundhammers, etc., and to do that would require a proper early action, hopefully one with the "curly" numeral characters.

Do you think this guy would lower the price if we told him it was a low-numbered 1903 I like this rifle a lot, but suspect it will never leave the pawn shop.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=305336758

You really have to noodle to try to determine the marketing strategy at play between $19,979.00 and a straight $20 grand???????

The rifle certainly is nice and also very interesting...thou not my cup of tea

"There is a fine patina overall."

For that kind of money I could do with a little less patina! I suppose it could be restored, but the barrel is probably junk given the external appearance. Do we think it is worth even 10% of the asking price?