How many 1903 lovers out there?

[MountainBear]

MountainBear reminded me. I have a stash of bolts and other 03 goodies.
I probably need to find that stuff a home.

Umm, yup @Medic!. I'm a bit of a hoarder. If @Ura-Ki doesn't have a happy home for them, let me know. I will give any and all spare 1903 and 03a-whatever parts I can afford a loving home...

 

[MountainBear]

I am staying up on all the political things going on around me, eternally grateful that I teach in an area where students didn't really protest. I will fight for my rights, but I am very happy in little subsections like this where we can just talk about guns and not as much as the politics.

 

[MountainBear]

Sometimes it isn't all fun and games with rifles. When the wife says finish the new nursery, the 03a3 "Tanker" has to take a break in the vice...

 

[Ura-Ki]

Glad to see the "Tanker" nearing completion, thats going to be a sweet rifle

 

[MountainBear]

Just a little more fitting on the upper band, the a little rebuild of the stock tip with some acraglas, a bit of machining on the barrel, and she'll be a shooter...

 

[MountainBear]

No innocent rifles were harmed in the building of the abomination...

The receiver had been drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, the barrel had been chopped, the bolt is a WWII replacement, and at least some of the stock hardware is repro. The stock itself had an inch "duffel-cut" off the tip, and was inletted for a turned down bolt.

This is just for fun and an homage to the "tanker" Garands people make...

 

[SIG34]

Great guns wish I still had mine... but traded it

 

[cordwood]

 

[MountainBear]

Very nice! I will need to get a family photo one of these days...

 

[MountainBear]

Here's the family photo, as promised.

Left is a shorty little sporter I've been building. Next to that is the 1917, then the tanker 03a3 (sight spline keyway needs to be milled still), the Smith-Corona, the 03a-forgery, 1903 Mark I target rifle, and the original(ish) Remington 03a3. Laying down are more projects. A complete 1903 missing a stock, a 1921 Carbine project, a 1903 receiver with a good backstory, my 03a3 drill rifle project, and a receiver for a 1941 USMC sniper project.

The only gun I bought original was the Remington on the right. All the rest have been rebarreled, restocked, rebuilt, etc. by necessity.

I hope someday to be able to afford original stuff, but until then, I will build what I can't afford.

 

[cordwood]

Here's the family photo, as promised.

Left is a shorty little sporter I've been building. Next to that is the 1917, then the tanker 03a3 (sight spline keyway needs to be milled still), the Smith-Corona, the 03a-forgery, 1903 Mark I target rifle, and the original(ish) Remington 03a3. Laying down are more projects. A complete 1903 missing a stock, a 1921 Carbine project, a 1903 receiver with a good backstory, my 03a3 drill rifle project, and a receiver for a 1941 USMC sniper project.

The only gun I bought original was the Remington on the right. All the rest have been rebarreled, restocked, rebuilt, etc. by necessity.

I hope someday to be able to afford original stuff, but until then, I will build what I can't afford.

View attachment 448284

that's a nice bunch you have there

 

[MountainBear]

Made some headway on the drill rifle reactivation. The brand spanking new Remington 2-groove is on, but I need to hand ream the chamber out.



Got the crack in the stock spread and douched out.



Then little by little, with a toothpick, got acraglas wicked into the crack until no more would go in. Then waited for a bit, let it settle, and put in a little more.



There was a good amount of squeeze-out when it was clamped, so I am pretty confident that crack will be going nowhere.

 

[Ura-Ki]

OK, now before Y'All blast me for modifying an perfectly good 03 Springer, I did start out with a Sporty One, and went from there! This was swiped from the interwebs, but is VERY close to mine. I modified the existing front sight on mine to take a 1911 Thin and Tall Trit post, and welded the whole thing to the top of the muzzle brake, while welding a extension and bayonet lug to the bottom of the brake! The rear sight is a Modified SAW M-249 shortend so that it fits the rear receiver ring, and still allows the Feed lips to be used! Other then that, same exact stock and overall look, though mine is a bit meaner looking! THIS is the modern fighting bolt action all others are judged by, and its still a 1903, best bolt action rifle EVER!

 

[saxon]

some where in Oregon is my old HB made by Shook of so cal about 30+years ago. o3 that could shoot 1/4" groups at 200 yards
wish I never had to pawn it, I still look for it to this day

 

[MountainBear]

If I found it, I'd shoot it too!

 

[MountainBear]

The repair turned out pretty decent. Had to block it down just a bit, which necessitated a bit of BLO. There is certainly a bit of a color difference, but it will blend with time. And I'm not sure I'm too worried about aesthetics.
The crack is nice and tight everywhere. I didn't try too hard, but I didn't get any flex. It will have a chance to completely set for another few weeks while I finish the rest.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Look n nice Bear!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Yes indeed ...very nice repair work...
Andy

 

[MountainBear]

Today was the last crack fix on the stock. The handguard was nicely split from the back, 6" forward. I got it spread, cleaned, and glassed back together. Put a little release agent on the barrel in case of drips. Wrapped in surgical tubing for a few hours. I will let it set up for a week or two before shooting it. Need to punch the chamber and it will be a shooter again. Ugly and straight shooting!


Last work in the shop for the week. Back to the grind tomorrow.

 

[MountainBear]

Chamber has been reamed out, stock repairs have been made and cured, and another drill rifle is fully reactivated and ready for the range.
Still need to find a canvas sling for her and she'll be grand.
Probably won't refinish this one for now, just keep it oiled and leave the stainless welding rod beauty mark on the cutoff area and the stock repair beauty marks will blend with time. An ugly duckling truck gun.
As Clint Smith says, beware the man who steps out of a truck and slings up an 03a3. He probably knows how to use it!

Another nice addition to the growing Springfield family (even if it is technically a Remington)!