M1903 Build project (shooting results now up!)

[Claven2]

So here is the single-heat-treat (low S/N) barrelled action I picked up. I have 95% of the missing parts to restore the rifle to a WW2 era rebuild clone, but before I start, I AM still chasing up a lead for a double-heat treat stripped receiver here in Canada - hopefully that pans out as it would likely be preferable as a shooter.

Receiver seems to be a 1909-made Springfield. I need to re-use the barrel's rear sight base, too bad someone staked it when it spent its life as a 1940's era sporterized rifle (grr...). It should mostly clean up though and most ppl (except me) won't notice it used to be staked.



The bolt looks to be around 1918-1919 if my guess is right. It likely came off another rifle and has the punch-mark on the underside to show it was re-proofed after being fitted to (likely THIS) new/refurb receiver. Single small gas hole, swept bolt, not NS marked and no 03/A3 type relieve cuts. I *think* I'm right on its vintage but am open to others' interpretations.







There's a little bolt stop peening, but I don;t think it's that bad.



Barrel has a soldered-on front sight (I think it's silver solder and not worth removing) over the markings. I can see two "2" digits, so I'm thinking February 1942. This is backed up by the rear sight adjustable base being a Remington-made part and the parkerized finish on the barrelled action. What seem odd to me though is that Remington was supposed to have removed SHT receivers from circulation when they did refurbs of earlier rifles. Odd to me that this one slipped by. IMO this barrel is not a post-war civilian replacement. The rear sight base is properly installed and indexed and the rifle has other evidence of a WW2 era refurb (e.g. mix of 1905-1919 parts, Remington rear sight, re-proofed bolt, stamped Remington follower, etc.) What do you guys think? Barrel isn;t salvageable though, it's silver-soldered, drilled and tapped for the front sight, and the barrel is bulged with a noticeable ring 6 inches back from the muzzle. (Note that the receiver didn't grenade - lol) I have a 1943 RA 03/A3 bbl I'm going to convert to an 03 bbl to get past this hurdle.





Since I'm using NOS straight-grip wood and it's going to be a Claven2-assembled mongrel, I will be following Brophy's instructions on which parts to parkerize, oil black or blue. Why not, eh?

What do you guys think?

Some more random parts pics from the rifle:

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