for the Nat ord, Santa Fe shooters

[Johnny Peppers]

Back during hunting season a Browning A Bolt in .270 Winchester was brought into the local gun shop with the bolt locked up. The gunsmith tapped the bolt handle back and forth with a rawhide mallet until it turned loose. The cartridge case was welded to the bolt face, and required considerable force to remove it. Only about 1/3 of the headstamp was left, and the primer pocket was approximately double it's original diameter. On the A Bolt, the cartridge case is almost totally supported, but the approximately 1/16" just ahead of the extractor groove that is not supported had expanded to look like a mini magnum belt. The cartridge was the first one out of a new box of Remington .270 ammunition. The owner of the rifle was going to send the remaining box back to Remington, but I never heard the outcome.
Just goes to show that just because you are using factory ammo you are perfectly safe. Had the ammunition been shot in a rifle that did not support the cartridge case like the Browning, the results would have been distasterous.

[Dollar Bill]

I have a friend who had a Santa Fe. I shot it once and commented that it looked like a cheap knock off of a 1903. I had no idea they were sand castings! Fortunately, that rifle burned up in a house fire. Unfortunately, there were about 20 real milsuprs that went with it. I still have his 2 1911s that were in the fire, sitting in a can of kerosene.

So would a 30-06 field gage by the correct choice to check 1903s with?

[lovemymilsurps]

I have a friend who had a Santa Fe. I shot it once and commented that it looked like a cheap knock off of a 1903. I had no idea they were sand castings! Fortunately, that rifle burned up in a house fire. Unfortunately, there were about 20 real milsuprs that went with it. I still have his 2 1911s that were in the fire, sitting in a can of kerosene.

So would a 30-06 field gage by the correct choice to check 1903s with?

yeah field gauge them always for your satey, but don't bother ever with fielding a N.O. because my headspace was fine until the receiver started letting go

[Dollar Bill]

It sounds like if you are brave (dumb) enough to continue shooting one after reading this thread, you'd be smart to chech HS after every shot!

[Doug Rammel]

What would one of these sell for as a parts gun?

[lovemymilsurps]

What would one of these sell for as a parts gun?

no more than $450

[Chuckindenver]

i buy them regularly at shows, never paid more then 250.00, worth the some of the GI parts, and trash the receiver.

[ralfus]

I bought a Nat Ord 1903a3 3 years ago for $115. Refinished the wood. Had to counterbore and recrown it. It shot great, about 1.5" at 100 yds with M2 equivalent ball loads. I planned on scoping it and making a A4 clone. Have everything but the base. Have not shot it in over a year.

Thanks to this thread I'll never shoot it again. I'll soon scrap the receiver and find a Remington receiver to take its place. Anybody got a Remington Sportered receiver to sell?

That Nat Ord bugged me anyway. The rear sight dovetail was boogered and it never had a clip slot.

I also remember a couple of Federal Ord 1911 receivers coming apart at the range that I worked at. One frame split down the middle in the shooters hand. Interesting connection.

[lovemymilsurps]

I bought a Nat Ord 1903a3 3 years ago for $115. Refinished the wood. Had to counterbore and recrown it. It shot great, about 1.5" at 100 yds with M2 equivalent ball loads. I planned on scoping it and making a A4 clone. Have everything but the base. Have not shot it in over a year.

Thanks to this thread I'll never shoot it again. I'll soon scrap the receiver and find a Remington receiver to take its place. Anybody got a Remington Sportered receiver to sell?

That Nat Ord bugged me anyway. The rear sight dovetail was boogered and it never had a clip slot.

I also remember a couple of Federal Ord 1911 receivers coming apart at the range that I worked at. One frame split down the middle in the shooters hand. Interesting connection.

southernohiogun.com has them, 199.95 for a rem complete action but you either have to have an ffl on file to view them or have an ffl order one for you

[Chuckindenver]

those are recovered drill rifle recceivers...stay clear..